Bayern Munich rounded off a successful first half of the season with a win against Heidenheim on Sunday. The Bavarian club strengthened their hold on the top spot in the Bundesliga, leading second-placed Borussia Dortmund by nine points.
Vincent Kompany made a few changes to the starting XI that played against Mainz a week ago. Hiroki Ito returned to the starting XI to replace suspended Konrad Laimer in the left-back position. Leon Goretzka started alongside Raphael Guerreiro in the center of the park.
Bayern started the game strongly, pinning Heidenheim in their half and circulating the possession at a good tempo. Luis Diaz had a terrific attempt blocked in the third minute. The early exchanges of the game set the half perfectly for the visitors.
Jonathan Tah came close to scoring the opening goal in the 12th minute. The German defender had his header saved brilliantly by Diant Ramaj. Michael Olise delivered a perfect cross to find Tah in the box.
Bayern eventually opened the scoring through a set-piece three minutes later. Olise delivered another brilliant cross from the corner to find Tah at the back-post. The German defender headed the ball across the goal. Josip Stanisic did the rest by finishing the move from the close range to give Die Roten a deserved lead.
Kompany’s men further imposed their control on the game after scoring the first goal. The visitors didn’t create several chances in the next 15 minutes, but their next big chance eventually doubled the lead. Lennart Karl delivered a brilliant cross in the box from the right side of the pitch. Hiroki Ito attempted a shot from the far post, which eventually reached Olise in front of the goal through a deflection. The French winger made no mistake to convert the chance from close range to double Die Roten’s advantage.
Even contest in second half
Bayern continued from where they left off in the first half. Harry Kane came close to scoring Die Roten’s third goal of the evening as he unleashed a shot from a tight angle after spinning his marker. The English forward was alert to get the ball after Luis Diaz’s ferocious shot was deflected in his path. Kane’s attempt grazed the far post and narrowly missed making it 3-0 for Die Roten.
Heidenheim looked much better going ahead in the second half as they hit the crossbar in the 55th minute. The two sides were creating chances at will during the next 20 minutes. Bayern loanee Arijon Ibrahimovic had a chance to halve Die Roten’s lead after a wonderful team move from Heidenheim. However, the youngster couldn’t keep his shot down from the edge of the box.
After a period where both teams were throwing punches at each other, Luis Diaz managed to seal the three points for Die Roten in the 86th minute. Stanisic did well to carry the ball from the right flank until the byline before delivering an inviting cross to find Diaz in front of the goal. The Colombian headed the ball into the net to seal the victory for Die Roten.
Harry Kane was searching for his goal throughout the game. His perseverance eventually paid off in the added time. Serge Gnabry found him at the edge of the box. The English striker managed to beat two defenders by showing composure and eventually putting the ball past the goalkeeper.
It was far from a vintage performance from Bayern, but they thoroughly deserved the three points. The winter break gives a perfect opportunity for Bayern players to recover and get ready for a challenging second half of the season.