Bayern blows two-goal lead in Heidenheim horror show
Bayern Munich's hopes of claiming a 12th straight Bundesliga title are all but over after it surrendered a two-goal lead at Heidenheim to lose 3-2, leaving a 16-point gap to leader Bayer Leverkusen with only six matches left to play.
Tim Kleindienst completed a memorable comeback for the hosts in the 79th minute after they had struck twice in two minutes early in the second half, earning an historic first win against the might of Munich to the delight of the fans at Voith Arena.
Bayern, which takes on Arsenal this week in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg, has now lost its past two league matches with embattled coach Thomas Tuchel set to leave at the end of the season.
Worse still for Bayern is that even second place isn't a guarantee now, with third-placed VfB Stuttgart joining it on 60 points after a 1-0 win at Borussia Dortmund, which failed to back up its rousing win over Bayern last week and has now dropped to fifth place.
"In 10-15 minutes in the second half we gave away everything we had built up until that point," Tuchel said after the match. "We had chances to turn the game again. But then we conceded a goal way too easily."
"I can't explain it. Obviously we struggle to keep our concentration on a high level. It is difficult to explain. I can describe it but it is difficult to explain."
Tuchel will also be suspended for next week's home game against FC Koln after he was cautioned at Heidenheim.
Bayern, the winner of the past 11 consecutive league titles looked to be cruising to a comfortable win after first half goals from Harry Kane and Serge Gnabry. Tuchel had demanded a reaction after last week's loss to Dortmund.
But the hosts struck back with two goals in two minutes after the restart, Kevin Sessa and Kleindienst finding the net and leaving Bayern shell-shocked.
Heidenheim stubbornly held off Bayern attacks as it looked for a way to get back in front, and a burst from the back would eventually lead to the winner. Kleindienst completed the counter attack with a cool finish to hand his side its most famous win.
Heidenheim, the first newly promoted club in Bundesliga history to beat Bayern after coming from two goals behind, is now 10th on the table with 33 points.
