Bayern Munich pulled off a dramatic last-gasp equalizer to escape with a 3-3 draw against last-place Heidenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday, just days before their crucial Champions League semifinal second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
With the clock already in the 10th minute of stoppage time, Michael Olise's powerful strike hit the post and ricocheted off Heidenheim goalkeeper Diant Ramaj's back into the net, giving Bayern an unlikely point. It was a moment of pure chaos that summed up Bayern's recent form perfectly.
This marks the third consecutive match where Bayern have found themselves trailing at halftime. The pattern began with last weekend's thrilling 4-3 comeback win at Mainz, where the already-crowned Bundesliga champions faced a three-goal deficit. That was followed by Tuesday's wild 5-4 loss to PSG in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal—a result that leaves them needing a strong performance at home to advance.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany opted to rest key players ahead of the PSG clash, making seven changes to the starting XI. Stars like Manuel Neuer, Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise, Luis Díaz, and Harry Kane all began the match on the substitutes' bench.
The gamble nearly backfired spectacularly. Heidenheim's Budu Zivzivadze and Eren Dinkci put the hosts ahead before Leon Goretzka pulled one back with a free kick just before halftime. Kompany responded by sending on Kane, Díaz, Olise, and Kimmich for the second half.
Goretzka leveled the score in the 57th minute with his second goal of the match, but Zivzivadze restored Heidenheim's lead in the 76th. Just when it seemed Bayern would suffer an embarrassing defeat, Olise's late heroics saved the day.
The draw leaves Heidenheim on the verge of relegation, while Bayern will need to tighten up defensively before PSG visits. With their Champions League hopes hanging in the balance, Kompany will be hoping his team can rediscover their winning form when it matters most.
In other Bundesliga action, Union Berlin fought back to draw 2-2 with Cologne, earning their first point under new coach Marie-Louise Eta, who became the first female head coach in league history. Tom Rothe pulled one back in the 73rd minute, and substitute Livan Burcu appeared to have won it in the 89th before Cologne equalized.
Hoffenheim and Stuttgart played out a 3-3 thriller in their battle for Champions League qualification, while Hamburger SV won 2-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt to move above Union Berlin in the standings.