Bayern go into their final game of a long 2025 away at Heidenheim on Sunday (kick-off at 17:30 CET, live coverage on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app with our text commentary and free web radio). For Vincent Kompany and his team, the objective is to finish the year with a win. However, they face a host that has found some form again of late and will take the fight to the champions, who themselves are out for a reaction from last week’s dropped points against Mainz. Here’s all you need to know as the Bundesliga leaders visit the team in second bottom.
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Kompany was asked at Saturday’s pre-match press conference what lessons he had learned from the 2-2 draw with Mainz, where Bayern dominated the stats with 24 shots to five and a remarkable 85 percent possession. “We had lots of chances. If we’d played the game ten times, we would’ve won nine. That can happen sometimes in football,” the Belgian said.
It’s that taking of chances that will be key in the town of Heidenheim. “You need to find your best form in front of goal so you can put the ball away. That’s what we want to show on Sunday,” Kompany insisted. Bayern also need to provide the right response following the Mainz game and ensure they go into the winter break with a victory. “We feel we need to show a reaction,” the boss clearly stated.
Read up on the pre-match facts:
A look at the table should ensure plenty of confidence. Bayern are unbeaten in the Bundesliga and know they will lead the way going into 2026, already boasting 38 points and 51 goals from the first 14 games. Only Union Berlin and Mainz have so far managed to take points off the defending champions.
Catch up with the pre-match talk here:
Opponent: Heidenheim
Heidenheim have put a disappointing start to the season behind them somewhat with some good results of late. Their pair of 2-1 wins at Union Berlin and against Freiburg have allowed Frank Schmidt’s side to move off the foot of the table. Although they were beaten by the same score last time out at relegation rivals St. Pauli, the mood in Heidenheim has certainly improved. They now need that to carry them into Sunday’s game, of which Schmidt said, “There’s nothing more difficult than playing against Bayern.”
The veteran coach made it clear that the roles of favourite are clear. “But we still have to play the game,” Schmidt insisted. Mainz showed that a supposed underdog can get a result against Bayern. “We at least saw how it can be done,” he added, while also stressing that the previous game very easily could’ve gone another way: “If they had taken their chances better, it would’ve been very different.” For him, the two key factors will be that his side have luck on their side in important moments and that his goalkeeper has a good day.
Get the lowdown on Heidenheim:
Team news
Jamal Musiala has trained again with the team following his broken leg and ankle but isn’t in consideration for this game. Konrad Laimer serves a suspension for five yellow cards, while Manuel Neuer (hamstring), Nicolas Jackson (Africa Cup of Nations) and Sacha Boey (ill) also miss out. In addition, Joshua Kimmich will miss the final game of the season as well. “We’ve still had enough guys to train fully this week and know what it’s all about,” Kompany stated on Saturday.
Heidenheim will be without Budu Zivzivadze and Nick Rothweiler. Adrian Beck’s involvement will be decided later.
Try our matchday quiz for this game:
What the coaches say
These are the sorts of games where you need to expect the opposition to look for momentum. They’re a club and a coach who always have belief. Obviously we want to quickly take that hope away and perform to our best.
Vincent Kompany
We need to try and make the impossible possible. What that ultimately means for us, we’ll judge after the game.
Frank Schmidt (Heidenheim)
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