Match report | Dominant but defensively vulnerable: Bayern win against Heidenheim thanks to Musiala | Bayern Munich – 1. FC Heidenheim 4:2 | 13th matchday | Bundesliga 2024/25

Jamal Musiala scored three times as a joker.
IMAGO/DeFodi images

Heidenheim had beaten FC Bayern nine times in three duels so far, but after four defeats in a row, coach Frank Schmidt chose a defensive approach this time. So surprisingly, it wasn’t the people of Munich who dominated the party right from the start.

Dominant Bayern cheer after Kimmich’s corner

86 percent of ball possession and twelve shots on goal were in the statistics of the record champions up to the break, who started in five different positions compared to the 0-1 home defeat in the DFB Cup against Leverkusen: Peretz was again between the posts for Neuer (rib problems). Pavlovic made his starting eleven comeback, Goretzka stayed out. In addition, Boey, Guerreiro and Müller started in place of Laimer, Coman and Musiala (all three bench).

Tactically, coach Vincent Kompany ordered Guerreiro behind Müller into the center of midfield. His team quickly responded with smaller chances from Müller (12th) and Sané (15th) and finally celebrated after a Kimmich corner: Upamecano started out of the crowd from the far post into the middle and headed in powerfully (18th).

Dayot Upame Schlagcano celebrates his.
IMAGO/Sven Simon

Harmless Heidenheimers

Despite their dominant style of play, the Munich team continued to emerge from the game and were rarely as dangerous in front of the goal as Davis was in the 39th minute when he failed to hit the post. Müller also directed a Kimmich long-range shot over the crossbar (40).

The FCB had everything under control, also because the guests, who had Siersleben, Traoré, Kerber and Honsak starting instead of Busch, Dorsch, Scienza and Kaufmann after the 4-0 defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt, simply did not pose a threat in the final third. The meaningful balance after 45 minutes: zero shots on goal.

Upamecano’s misfire – Joker Musiala stings

In the second half too, things initially only went in one direction, towards the Heidenheimer Tor. Pavlovic narrowly missed it (49′). However, the Munich team allowed themselves a misfire at the back and gave the guests the equalizer: After an intercepted ball, Upamecano played back improperly and into the path of Honsak, who rounded Peretz and made it 1-1 with the guests’ first shot on goal (50th).

However, the record champions were not shocked and restored the old distance just six minutes later: Musiala, who came on immediately after the goal, used his space and welded the ball flat into the corner from around 14 meters (56th).

Dorsch makes it exciting again

So the guests’ budding hope was quickly lost, as the Munich team continued to dominate, but missed further good opportunities from Olise (62′) and the lively Musiala (74′). Both failed because of keeper Müller.

When substitute Goretzka scored with a deflected shot to make it 3-1 (84th), the party seemed to have decided, but Bayern once again did not present themselves attentively in defense and so ex-Munich player Dorsch, who was also substituted, gave the guests another goal close (85th). The final decision ultimately went to Musiala again in stoppage time (90+1).

This is how it continues: Bayern will play Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions at Schalke on Tuesday (9 p.m.). In the Bundesliga, FCB travels to Mainz next Saturday (3:30 p.m.).

The FCH is also in international action again, on Thursday (6.45 p.m.) in Istanbul against Basaksehir. On Sunday (3:30 p.m.) VfB Stuttgart will be waiting at home.