Bayern Munich vs Heidenheim

A ‘David vs Goliath’ Bundesliga clash pits leaders Bayern Munich and minnows Heidenheim against each other at the Allianz Stadium.

Bayern Munich’s first Bundesliga defeat of the 2023/24 season arrived on Matchday 13, hence psychological pressure on Vincent Kompany’s side following a gut-wrenching DFB-Pokal exit at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen during midweek (0-1). Yet to lose a league fixture this season (W9, D3), the Bavarians boast a four-point lead on second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt pre-round after salvaging a late draw in last weekend’s Der Klassiker against Borussia Dortmund (1-1). That result formed part of Bayern’s halted eight-game unbeaten streak in all competitions (W7, D1), marking one of four matches in their last five to feature under 2.5 goals. Back at the Allianz Stadium, where they’ve conceded only one league goal this term, Kompany’s charges search for a fourth consecutive home clean sheet in the Bundesliga for the first time in five years.

Chances are visiting Heidenheim will allow Bayern to achieve that feat, with the visitors entering this round bereft of confidence after losing all four competitive post-November international break matches via multiple-goal margins. All three Bundesliga defeats in that sequence ominously saw the visitors concede 3+ goals, including a humiliating 4-0 home loss to Frankfurt last weekend. Heidenheim’s ‘all or nothing’ mentality has resulted in four defeats from six away league outings this season (W2), including three in a row ahead of this trip. Understandably stranded in the bottom three amid a full-blown crisis, Frank Schmidt’s side can at least draw heart from the fact two of their three Bundesliga victories this season have come away from home.