Clear victory in Heidenheim
©IMAGO
With the last line-up, but with all confidence, FC Bayern secured the autumn championship in the Bundesliga for the 28th time. At the end of the year, the Munich team deservedly won 4-0 (2-0) against relegation-threatened 1. FC Heidenheim and celebrated their 22nd win in their 25th competitive game of the season. Heading into the new year and the last two games of the first half of the season in January, coach Vincent Kompany’s team, which remains undefeated nationally, is nine points ahead of rivals Borussia Dortmund. The record champions ended the entire 2025 calendar year unbeaten away from home – for the third time in their history after 1986 and 2013.
Josip Stanisic (15th minute), Michael Olise (32nd), Luis Díaz (86th) and striker Harry Kane (90th + 2) scored in front of 15,000 spectators for the Munich team, who were able to spend a relaxing Christmas after an outstanding first part of the season. Heidenheim, however, suffered its tenth defeat in the 15th league game of the current season. After an extremely difficult year, including a last-minute relegation save in the previous season, the Swabians overwintered in a direct relegation zone.
Bayern had to do without numerous stars. In addition to the injured goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, the suspended Konrad Laimer, the ailing Joshua Kimmich and Nicolas Jackson, who traveled to the Africa Cup, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Tom Bischof, among others, were also sidelined at short notice. The Munich team who were able to play showed the reaction Kompany had hoped for to the poor 2-2 draw against Mainz the previous week.
The record champions appeared dominant, especially before the break – initially without creating any great chances, but stressful for the hosts. At times Bayern had more than 80 percent possession of the ball and pushed the Heidenheim team deep at the back. Coach Frank Schmidt’s team rarely made any relief attacks and remained largely harmless in the first half.
Stanisic rewarded Bayern for their superiority by taking the lead. After a corner from Olise, FCH keeper Diant Ramaj parried a header from Jonathan Tah, then Stanisic rose up and nodded in to make it 1-0. Even a good quarter of an hour later, Ramaj was unable to clear the ball optimally. Hiroki Ito brought him dangerously in front of the goal again, Olise made it 2-0.
The second half started turbulently. Star striker Harry Kane, who led Bayern as captain this time, only hit the left post from the turn (53′). Then the aluminum rattled on the other side: Heidenheim’s top scorer, Stefan Schimmer, who came on at half-time, headed his head onto the crossbar (56′). The hosts now played a little better. After goalkeeper Ramaj almost invited Bayern to make it 3-0 by losing the ball to Kane, Arijon Ibrahimovic, who was on loan from Munich to Heidenheim, hit the ball just over the goal (68′).
Ten minutes later, Schimmer failed from a promising position to Neuer representative Jonas Urbig. Overall, Heidenheim didn’t show enough to take the dominant Bavarians off track. Shortly before the end, Díaz went one better with a header and Kane with a low shot for the guests.