Lowly Heidenheim dents Leverkusen's top-four hopes
Bayer Leverkusen's hopes of securing UEFA Champions League qualification took a blow as it was held to a dramatic 3-3 draw by basement club Heidenheim in the Bundesliga.
With the race for a top four Bundesliga finish heating up, Kasper Hjulmand's side had little margin for error and looked in control at the Voith-Arena after racing into a two-goal lead within 35 minutes.
Malik Tillman opened the scoring 22 minutes in, coolly slotting in at the near post after Aleix Garcia's bending cross, before Patrik Schick doubled Leverkusen's lead with a composed header from Alejandro Grimaldo's delivery.
Heidenheim flew out after the restart and pulled one back through Hennes Behrens's inswinging cross-shot, before substitute Marvin Pieringer sparked a dramatic finale.
Pieringer levelled the scores from the penalty spot after being fouled by Robert Andrich in the 72nd minute, though Leverkusen restored its lead seven minutes later when Schick rose highest to head home again.
But the Werkself were not able to hold on to the lead, with Pieringer sending the home fans into raptures in the 85th minute as he powered home Adrian Beck's corner to rescue a point.
With just four points separating Leverkusen from the Bundesliga top four, UEFA Champions League qualification remains within reach, but Hjulmand will know his side must improve.
Leverkusen is now winless in its past three league matches, drawing all three, and could hardly complain about sharing the spoils in this encounter.
