Top of the table at the winter break! Heidenheim match seals the deal

Vincent Kompany revealed that the training week leading up to this final match in Heidenheim reminded him of times that are fortunately long gone: “It was like during the coronavirus pandemic,” said the FC Bayern head coach, “whenever the doctor came, we had to worry that we would lose another player.” As a result, nine players were unable to take part in the last competitive match of the calendar year on Sunday: Neuer, Laimer, Bischof, Pavlović, Musiala, Boey, Kim, Jackson – Kimmich missing for the first time since February. But those who remained did an outstanding job at 1. FC Heidenheim: FC Bayern won 4-0 (2-0) at the second-to-bottom team and celebrated Christmas four days early – with four goals.

FC Bayern unbeaten in Bundesliga away games in 2025

The record champions did not lose a single one of their 16 Bundesliga away games (twelve wins, four draws) in the entire 2025 calendar year – this was only the third time this had been achieved, occurring also in 1986 and 2013. The 41 points collected in the 15 games played so far this season are a club record – only in 2013/14 did the team have the same number of points at this stage of the season. And the away win meant that, with two matchdays remaining in the first half of the season in January, they had already secured their 28th ‘Herbstmeisterschaft’, sitting top-of-the-table at the winter break with a nine-point lead over second place – the second-largest lead for a league leader at this stage in the history of the league. “We sometimes feel like we did when we first started to play football,” replied defender Jonathan Tah when asked about the secret to their unique success: “It's the combination that makes it work: we have fun and that's how we win games!”

“The Club World Cup was a gift for us”

Max Eberl summed up the evening in Heidenheim similarly: “The Club World Cup was a gift for us, even if it ended dramatically. But as a team, together with the entire staff, we had an incredibly great time, which meant a lot. We grew closer together, focused and concentrated. And with every success, the team became more confident and stable. The lads feel the trust of the coaches and the club, there’s a real sense of togetherness now.” It was only natural that Vincent Kompany was also beaming after the 4-0 win in the last game. The coach also sang the praises of the team spirit: “I'm very proud of the team,” he said, “you can’t take for granted how the squad covered the many absences today.”

Before the match, not much had gone in Heidenheim's favour. But 1. FSV Mainz 05 had shown the week before that even 85 percent possession for FC Bayern in a match – the next Bundesliga record – is not necessarily enough to win a game (2-2). On top of that, FC Bayern had five players on the bench who had not yet played a single minute in the Bundesliga. Nevertheless, the remaining professionals started in their usual fashion: FC Bayern played with overwhelming dominance. There was not a hint of weakness to be felt, even up in the stands in Heidenheim. Max Eberl saw it that way too: “The team approached today’s game and situation in the same highly professional, highly focused and concentrated manner as they did in the very first game.”

Stanišić heads Bayern into the lead

The ball circulated through the ranks, Heidenheim dug in deep – ready to launch a surprise attack if they managed to win the ball. Josip Stanišić had therefore hoped for an early goal before kick-off to nip this danger in the bud. The underdogs were not to be allowed to rise above themselves in this tight, noisy stadium. So Stanišić made his own wishes come true: after a quarter of an hour, Olise’s corner found its way to him via Jonathan Tah's head after a rehearsed move, and Stanišić pushed the ball over the line from close range. It was already the third headed goal for the Croatian international, making his Bundesliga goal-tally six for the season.

Heidenheim more present than Mainz 05

Heidenheim seemed to be more physically present and even more aggressive than Mainz 05 – but committed fouls in dangerous areas. FC Bayern was unable to capitalise on this – not yet, anyway. The 2-0 came from open play: a quick, skilful switch of play freed the team from the clutches of the Heidenheim defence, Karl's cross to Kane ended up with Ito, whose pass was pushed over the line by Olise from close range, his ninth shot on goal of the game (32’). It was the Frenchman's seventh goal of the season, with only Harry Kane (21) having more direct goal contributions than Olise (15, seven goals, eight assists) at that point. Bayern led deservedly at half-time, having collected 15:3 crosses, 79 percent possession and 6:0 shots on goal.

“We changed things around at half-time, occupied the spaces differently and attacked earlier,” revealed Frank Schmidt, Heidenheim's coach. He was in charge at FCH before Lennart Karl was even born yet. Heidenheim became bolder, no longer sat so deep and now pressed Bayern’s channels. However, the hosts were still unable to prevent the decisive moment. It was luck that came to their rescue when Harry Kane's shot from a turn hit the outside of the post (53').

Scary moments at the other end

However, Heidenheim also caused some scary moments at the other end of the pitch: brahimović (on loan from Bayern) narrowly missed after a cross, Schimmer somehow hit the crossbar with his head, and later Jonas Urbig reacted outstandingly in his third Bundesliga appearance of the season to save a volley with his leg. Kompany praised: “When other goalkeepers save 20 shots, it's normal. But Urbig and Neuer also have the quality to intervene when necessary – as they did today.” Urbig thus remains without conceding a goal in the Bundesliga, while the 4-0 win was FC Bayern’s eighth clean sheet in 15 games – also the best record in the league.

Statistics suddenly favoured Heidenheim

Last-minute goal statistics favoured Heidenheim: the hosts had already scored five times this season after the 83rd minute. But this time it was Bayern who scored: Luis Díaz flew in to meet a cross from Stanišić and headed home his eighth goal of the season to make it 3-0 (87'). This put the Colombian joint second in the scoring charts. And: it was only the second time that Stanišić had scored a goal and provided an assist in a Bundesliga match.

Vincent Kompany used the opportunity to bring on the second debutant of the day after Portuguese U19 international David Santos: at 16 years and 344 days, Cassiano Kiala is the second youngest Bayern player in the Bundesliga after Paul Wanner (16 years, 15 days).

Debutants given another cause for celebration

The youngsters had even more to cheer about: Harry Kane’s 4-0 goal after some brilliant footwork marked the 100th goal involvement in 78 games for the England captain – and the final nail in the coffin of a one-sided game with a deserved winner, who now go into a short but well-earned break. And that: overjoyed and highly satisfied. “My conclusion for the year is that we have built a good foundation. The titles will be decided in March, but we now have the foundation. Our squad will be further strengthened in January, at just the right time. Now we're taking a break – and then we'll continue,” said Vincent Kompany.