Bayern Munich throw away two-goal lead in defeat to Heidenheim

Bayern Munich suffered another Bundesliga defeat as they let a two-goal lead slip in a 3-2 loss to Heidenheim.

Bayern took a 2-0 advantage into half-time after goals from Harry Kane and Serge Gnabry, but Kevin Sessa and Tim Kleindienst both struck for the hosts early in the second period.

Kleindienst grabbed the winner with 11 minutes to play, putting another dent in Bayern’s already slim Bundesliga title hopes as Thomas Tuchel’s side fell 16 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen with six games to go.

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— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) April 6, 2024

The defeat means Bayern head into Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg with Arsenal on the back of successive defeats.

Bayern had an early effort when Gnabry found Leon Goretzka, who had his shot blocked, and Gnabry was the creator again minutes later, but Thomas Muller – making his 700th competitive appearance for the club – was unable to reach the cross at the back post.

Heidenheim had a chance from a corner but although the delivery was cleared, Kim Min-jae did well to block Jonas Fohrenbach’s shot from the rebound and Muller came close at the other end after pouncing on a loose ball with his eventual shot deflected for a corner.

Bayern took the lead in the 38th minute when Kane latched on to Gnabry’s flicked cross from the right and the England captain tucked the ball into the bottom corner to score his 32nd Bundesliga goal of the season.

They doubled their lead seven minutes later as Alphonso Davies fired in a cross from the left to an unmarked Gnabry in the centre of the box and the Germany winger easily headed the ball past Kevin Muller.

Heidenheim made a triple substitution at the break and the changes immediately paid off when Sessa came off the bench to pull one back in the 50th minute after the midfielder pounced on a loose ball and broke forward to slot home.

They equalised just one minute later through Kleindienst, who got on the end of a deep cross from Jan-Niklas Beste to poke the ball in at the right post.

Bayern tried to restore their lead when Kane’s strike was saved by Muller and substitute Mathys Tel nearly made an instant impact but was also denied by a solid save from the home goalkeeper.

Kane then blasted the ball wide from inside the box.

Heidenheim were also pushing for a winner when Beste picked Sessa out but Sven Ulreich saved his shot and Beste was involved again, curling a free-kick just over the crossbar just minutes later.

Kleindienst then fired the hosts in front in the 79th minute, when Marvin Pieringer teed-up the striker, who rolled the ball into the far bottom corner to seal three points.