Bayern end year with commanding victory at Heidenheim

FC Bayern beat Heidenheim 4-0 in the Bundesliga on Sunday to end the year on a high. Josip Stanišić and Michael Olise handed Munich a two-goal lead before half-time. Luis Díaz and Harry Kane added gloss to the scoreline in the closing stages as Bayern take a nine-point lead into 2026.

With eight senior players unavailable, Bayern lined up with Jonas Urbig in goal and Stanišić, Dayot Upamecano, Jonathan Tah and Hiroki Ito in defence. Leon Goretzka and Raphaël Guerreiro anchored a midfield featuring Olise, Lennart Karl and Díaz, with Kane up front. Serge Gnabry, Alphonso Davies, David Santos, Cassano Kiala and Wisdom Mike came on for Karl, Ito, Guerreiro, Upamecano and Olise in the second half.

Dominant display

Bayern were in the driving seat throughout, with the hosts looking to strike on the break. Díaz and Ito saw efforts blocked and a Tah header was saved, but Munich took the lead when Tah headed back Olise’s corner and Heidenheim goalkeeper Diant Ramaj parried, with Stanišić heading home from close range. Vincent Kompany’s men saw a number of shots blocked but made it two after the half-hour mark, Ramaj clearing only as far as Ito, whose shot was blocked, with Olise quickest to react.

Ramaj saved from Kane before Marvin Pieringer miscued at the other end. Ito also fired over as Bayern went into the break two goals to the good.

Díaz and Kane on target

Karl fired over and Kane hit the outside of the post after the restart, but Heidenheim started to find their feet. Substitute Stefan Schimmer’s header hit the bar before Ramaj denied Kane. Bayern loanee Arijon Ibrahimović blasted over and Ito was again off target. Díaz had a couple of efforts saved, with Schimmer’s volley also drawing a fine stop from Urbig to maintain his clean sheet.

Bayern banished any last lingering doubts in the closing stages, Stanišić’s cross finding Díaz, who headed home. Kane wrapped it all up when he sidestepped a number of defenders and beat Ramaj for his 100th goal involvement in the Bundesliga.

The result means Bayern top the table on 41 points during the winter break. The Bavarians will be back in action on 6 January when they travel to face Red Bull Salzburg in a friendly before entertaining Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on 11 January.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen