Bundesliga
Heidenheim's fixtures against Bayern Munich are the quintessential David vs. Goliath match-up of modern German football, pitting domestic giants against plucky Bundesliga newcomers. But Frank Schmidt's side have shown in every previous encounter that they can more than trouble the mighty Bavarians.
bundesliga.com takes you through the only three previous encounters and the drama of David pushing Goliath all the way...
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Starting with a bang
“I never experienced a game like it before." - Those were the words of then Bayern head coach Niko Kovač, who had just seen overseen a 5-4 victory for a 10-man Bayern side in the DFB Cup back in April 2019.
It was arguably one of the greatest ties ever seen in the cup's history. And for Schmidt's Heidenheim to produce that performance, in what was only their second appearance in the quarter-finals, was astonishing.
Coming into the tie after beating Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in the third round, Schmidt's giant-killers were hungry for more. An early goal from Leon Goretzka would have shook the nerves of any other side, but not Heidenheim, who not only equalised but would go on to take the lead into half-time thanks to goals from Robert Glatzel and club legend Marc Schnatterer. They were also helped by an early red card for Niklas Süle, who fouled then Heidenheim midfielder Robert Andrich.
Kovač rang the changes at the break and Robert Lewandowski would go on to be the catalyst for a second-half comeback, making it 4-2 for Bayern. And yet, there were more twists to come. Glatzel got another before making it 4-4 with a penalty, completing a memorable hat-trick at the Allianz Arena. Just as it seemed like Heidenheim might manage the unthinkable, Marnon Busch conceded a penalty and Lewandowski did the rest.
Looking back at that game during an interview with bundesliga.com last year, Schmidt said, "We were in it right until the end. We could have won the game. We were behind in the first half but we turned it around, with that Heidenheim DNA again, we didn’t hide, we pressed high."
"I think we gave a very good showing of ourselves that day, we could at least believe that it was possible."
Running it back in Bavaria
Round two of this match-up would be at the Allianz Arena once again, but this time Heidenheim faced Bayern as a fellow Bundesliga side. For them to be at this level was quite special, especially after spending so many years in Bundesliga 2 and lower divisions before that. Schmidt's longevity at the club coupled with the core of players who have been there from the start makes Heidenheim's story all the more endearing.
Many of the players who featured in that 5-4 cup defeat were also going to be involved in round two. Schmidt spoke glowingly of these players ahead of the game and how they defined the club.
"It’s part of the philosophy we have in this team, with players - it’s not just the coach who’s been here a while! Lots of players like Kevin Müller, Patrick Mainka, Norman Theuerkauf, to name just three. And from there you get the advantage of living that philosophy every day, and we achieve things together, and it's deep-rooted in so many moments and so many minds for our players," he said.
"So that helps to integrate new players quickly and show them the direction we want to go in. This team is built around longevity in lots of areas, and staff is part of that. But when the coach is there so long, it is also important to get new blood in."
Watch: Heidenheim - from sixth tier to Europe
The game itself was yet another crazy goal-fest that ebbed and flowed. Thomas Tuchel's side got off to the best possible start after a brace from Harry Kane to put them in the driving seat at half-time. At the hour mark though, Heidenheim were quick to punish Bayern's mistakes and equalised thanks to goals from Jan-Niklas Beste and Tim Kleindienst. Once again, Schmidt's team were on the verge of something truly special.
It wasn't meant to be though, as a timely goal from Raphaël Guerreiro poured cold water on any Heidenheim hopes of a comeback, and a late goal from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting sealed the deal.
Six goals shared and yet another pulsating encounter between these two sides.
Watch: Bayern Munich 4-2 Heidenheim - highlights
Never-say-die Heidenheim
The third installment of Bayern vs. Heidenheim would take place at the 15,000 seater Voith-Arena, Heidenheim's home.
At this point, Bayern had a point to prove after losing Der Klassiker the previous week which left them 13 points adrift of leaders Leverkusen, who would be on the brink of winning the title if Heidenheim managed to do the unthinkable on home turf.
And indeed, on Matchday 28 of the 2023/24 season, David would finally go on to get the better of Goliath, and of course they did it the hard way.
Bayern took a commanding lead into half-time in typical Bayern fashion with goals from Kane and Serge Gnabry. For the third time in as many meetings, they held a two-goal advantage.
And just when Heidenheim fans would have feared an embarrassing scoreline, Schmidt's charges came into the game and quite remarkably equalised with two goals in two minutes, thanks to Kevin Sessa and Kleindienst. Drawing 2-2 against Bayern on a beautiful April summer day would been good enough 9 out of 10 times, but this was finally to be Heidenheim's day.
Bayern lost control of the game after Heidenheim's equaliser, and eventually the home side's efforts would pay off in the biggest way possible. Kleindienst collected a cutback from Sessa and slotted past Sven Ulreich in the Bayern goal to make it 3-2. A truly "historic" achievement as Kleindienst would later describe it aptly.
Watch: Heidenheim 3-2 Bayern Munich - highlights
Reflecting on the game more recently, Schmidt was asked by bundesliga.com about why Bayern Heidenheim games have always tended to be thrillers.
He said: "When I think back, yes [they are]. Last season in Munich, we were 2-0 down – justifiably 2-0 down – and then in the space of a few minutes levelled the game by the 70th minute. But they then had the individual quality to prevail because we made mistakes. You can’t allow that in a game like that.
"And then at home, when you’re 2-0 down against Bayern as a promoted club but then manage to win 3-2, something extraordinary has to have happened. It just shows once again in football that you should never give up, at no time. We’ve taken that on board and will show it again in every game against Bayern."
They will have an opportunity to show that nitty-gritty spirit once again as they prepare to travel to the Allianz Arena on Matchday 13. After getting one over the Bavarians on home turf, can they go one better and win away? Certainly never count David out.