Bayern need to show ‘reaction and grit’ in Heidenheim

Encounters between Bayern and Heidenheim have not been common occurrences in the past, but they have been full of goals. A total of 15 have been scored across a 5-4 DFB Cup quarter-final win for FCB in 2019 and the 4-2 victory in the reverse fixture in the Bundesliga this season. Now Bayern visit the Bundesliga’s newest club for the first time ever on Saturday (kick-off at 3.30pm CEST, live coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our text commentary and free web radio). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our preview.

Check out the best photos from final training on Friday:

State of play

Goalkeeper Sven Ulreich had called for “a different side to us against Heidenheim” following last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund. That result saw the gap to league leaders Bayer Leverkusen grow to 13 points, but giving up is not an option for Bayern. This fixture in Heidenheim is also important to build confidence going into next week’s Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal. “We’re not happy with the situation but will do all we can to squeeze out the maximum possible success,” said Thomas Tuchel at his press conference on Friday in reference to the final stage of the season.

Bayern managed a 5-2 win at Darmstadt prior to the international break, which is the sort of result they want to build on as they visit the Bundesliga’s other promoted side and respond to defeat last week. “It’s important to win and show grit. We need to show a reaction. We need the basics in our game again. That’s how we work off the performance we had against Dortmund,” add Tuchel. “It’s our demand to have enough fire in our bellies to straighten things out, at least for this short period, to give an answer for what we lacked against Dortmund.”

Read more from Tuchel at his pre-match press conference:

Opponent: Heidenheim

The Bundesliga debutants have looked very comfortable at the top table this season. Although Frank Schmidt’s side have won only one of their last 11 games (D7, L3), they are sitting comfortably in 11th place and 10 points clear of the bottom three. Given the fact no team in the era of three points for a win has ever been relegated when that far ahead this late in a season, it means they can likely plan for another year of Bundesliga football.

Heidenheim also proved again last time out that they are always capable of catching out top teams, with only a late equaliser denying them victory away at VfB Stuttgart last week in a 3-3 draw. Tuchel and his team are aware of this fact: “Tomorrow will be a classic David vs. Goliath, an emotional stadium that will support the home team. Heidenheim have nothing to lose.”

Read up on the facts ahead of the game:

Team news

Bayern visit Heidenheim without Manuel Neuer, Leroy Sané, Kingsley Coman, Noussair Mazraoui and Aleksandar Pavlović, as well as long-term absentees Sacha Boey (hamstring), Bouna Sarr (ACL) and Tarek Buchmann (muscular). However, Raphael Guerreiro is available again following his thigh strain.

The hosts will have to do without the suspended Nikola Dovedan as well as long-term injury concerns Elidon Qenaj and Thomas Keller. Norman Theuerkauf also misses out ill.

What the coaches say