In the province, FC Bayern suffered the next blow: led 2-0, lost 2-3 – 16 points behind league leaders Bayer Leverkusen. The record champions’ appearance was not a successful dress rehearsal for the Champions League quarter-final game against Arsenal.
It was already clear before kick-off: the championship after the 2-0 defeat against Borussia Dortmund was as good as over – a title is only possible in the Champions League. Nevertheless, Thomas Tuchel did not believe that his team had problems with motivation for the game in Heidenheim: “You will find a number of reasons why you can let it go here. We have a lot of injuries, we are behind in the league, the fans are against us. I think even more,” said the coach on “Sky”. And emphasized: “But there is an overriding reason why you always want to give your all: We want to go to London, to Wembley.”
Tuchel changes defense
But before the important Champions League game at Arsenal FC (Tuesday, April 9th/from 9 p.m. live in the radio report) Thomas Tuchel is tormented by personnel concerns. The coach only had seven substitutes available in Heidenheim. Compared to the Dortmund game, Tuchel surprisingly changed FC Bayern Munich’s defense: Dayot Upamecano and Minjae Kim started in central defense instead of Matthijs de Ligt and Eric Dier. As expected, Serge Gnabry replaced Leroy Sané, who was missing due to injury, on the offensive.
FC Bayern dominated the game in Heidenheim, there was no sign of the bloodless performance from the previous week. However, the record champions again had problems with the build-up game and lacked ideas against Heidenheim, who were sometimes deep.
FC Bayern lead 2-0 at half time…
It wasn’t until the 27th minute that the game’s first notable chance came: But Thomas Müller only hit the side netting in his 700th competitive game for FC Bayern. Almost ten minutes later, Harry Kane saved Munich with his 32nd goal. Shortly before the break, Serge Gnabry increased the score to 2-0.
Everything seemed to be clear now – but the Heidenheimers proved once again that they can make things difficult for any team in the league. On the last matchday, the newly promoted team turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead against VfB Stuttgart and only conceded the equalizer deep into stoppage time.
… but then Heidenheim turns the game around
The home team came out of the locker room full of energy and rewarded themselves for their courageous approach with a goal from substitute Kevin Sassa (50′). And just a minute later, cheers echoed through the Heidenheim stadium again. Tim Kleindienst scored the equalizer – the Munich defense didn’t look good on both goals.
Heidenheim now seemed to have been changed and acted more courageously. There was no longer any sign of a class difference – like in the first half. The Baden-Württemberg team was able to catch up 0-2 in the first leg, but then lost 2-4.
Should little Heidenheim beat big FC Bayern this time? And of all things at the dress rehearsal for the important Champions League game in London? The game picked up speed – it was a test of chances for both sides. But Kane & Co. forgave on Bayern’s side. The hosts did better: Kleindienst scored to make it 3-2 (79′). FC Bayern tried hard to score an equalizer, but there was little to be seen of a final offensive.
Referee has to go out: Unusual change in Bayern game
After halftime, a strange situation arose: Because referee Robert Schröder was struggling with circulatory problems, the fourth official, Patrick Alt, had to step in for him at the start of the second half. For the 39-year-old business IT specialist from Illingen in Saarland, it was his first time in the upper house after 83 games in the second division.