1. FC Heidenheim mounted an incredible comeback, battling from two goals down twice to secure a thrilling 3-3 draw against Bayer Leverkusen in a pulsating Bundesliga encounter. Marvin Pieringer's late double ensured a vital point for the home side.
The match at Voith-Arena was a clash of differing ambitions. Relegation-threatened Heidenheim, sitting 18th in the league, sought a much-needed victory. Leverkusen, in sixth, aimed to solidify their European qualification push.
Bayer Leverkusen started with clear intent, controlling possession and pushing forward. Their efforts paid off in the 22nd minute when Malik Tillman opened the scoring, latching onto an incisive pass from Aleix García before calmly slotting home.
Patrik Schick then doubled the visitors' advantage in the 35th minute. He met a precise cross from the influential Alejandro Grimaldo, heading past the Heidenheim goalkeeper. Leverkusen appeared to be comfortably in charge, holding a strong two-goal lead.
At halftime, Heidenheim faced a significant challenge. Manager Frank Schmidt needed a strong response and perhaps some tactical adjustments to inspire his team. The home crowd hoped for a turnaround in fortunes.
Heidenheim emerged from the break with renewed determination. Hennes Behrens ignited their comeback in the 56th minute, finding the net with a powerful shot following good build-up play by Marvin Busch. This goal injected belief into the home side.
The turning point arrived with the introduction of Marvin Pieringer. Just minutes after coming on, Pieringer earned a penalty and then confidently converted it in the 72nd minute, sending the crowd wild as Heidenheim drew level at 2-2.
However, Leverkusen quickly hit back. Patrik Schick scored his second goal of the game in the 79th minute. Grimaldo once again delivered a superb assist, allowing Schick to restore Leverkusen’s lead with a sharp finish.
Yet, Heidenheim refused to yield. Pieringer completed his double and the comeback in the 85th minute. He finished calmly from an Adrian Beck assist, securing a dramatic 3-3 deadlock. The Voith-Arena erupted in celebration.
The statistics reflected the tight contest. Leverkusen held more possession with 62% and had 12 total shots compared to Heidenheim’s 9. Both sides registered 5 shots on target, and their expected goals (xG) were very close, Heidenheim at 1.57 and Leverkusen at 1.53.
This hard-fought point is a morale booster for Heidenheim in their battle against relegation. For Leverkusen, dropping points in such a dramatic fashion will be a frustrating setback in their quest for European football.
