A good day after all for Laterkusen | OneFootball

Emi Buendía’s added-time goal earns Bayer Leverkusen victory at Heidenheim

Super-sub Emi Buendía struck a 91st-minute winner as Bayer Leverkusen snatched victory away at Heidenheim to keep within six points of Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga title race.

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Heidenheim 0-1 Bayer LeverkusenGoals: 0-1 Buendía 90’+1 (assist: Hofmann)

The reigning champions entered the match nine points behind league leaders Bayern Munich, while Heidenheim were fighting to distance themselves from the relegation zone. The stage was set for a crucial encounter at both ends of the table, with Leverkusen also looking to bounce back from their midweek DFB Cup semi-final defeat to Arminia Bielefeld.

Omar Traoré's dynamic runs were a constant threat to the Leverkusen defence throughout the match. (Christian Kaspar-Bartke)

Heidenheim dominate first half

The home side started the match with unexpected vigour, putting the champions under immediate pressure. Adrian Beck had a golden opportunity to give Heidenheim the lead in the 11th minute, but his shot went agonisingly wide with only Lukáš Hrádecký to beat. The hosts continued to press, and in the 26th minute, they came even closer when Benedikt Gimber's effort struck the crossbar and the post following a corner. Marvin Pieringer was particularly active for Heidenheim, testing the Leverkusen defence with multiple attempts. Leverkusen, in contrast, struggled to find their rhythm, with their only notable attempt coming from Amine Adli, whose 36th-minute shot sailed wide. As the half-time whistle blew, Xabi Alonso's men found themselves fortunate to be level, having been outplayed by Frank Schmidt's determined Heidenheim side.

Benedikt Gimber struck the crossbar and post for Heidenheim. (THOMAS KIENZLE)

Leverkusen's late show

The second half saw Leverkusen attempt to assert themselves, but Heidenheim continued to create the better chances. Pieringer came close again in the 66th minute, forcing a save from Hrádecký. Alonso responded by introducing Patrik Schick and Arthur in the 68th minute, hoping to spark some life into his team's performance. The changes seemed to have little immediate effect, with Heidenheim maintaining their dominance. In the 78th minute, Schick had a chance to put Leverkusen ahead but his header went wide. As the match entered its final stages, it seemed Heidenheim would secure a well-deserved point. However, in a cruel twist of fate, Leverkusen struck in added time. Buendía, who had come on as a substitute in the 77th minute, found space on the edge of the box and fired a shot that clipped the inside of the post before nestling in the net. It was only Leverkusen's second shot on target in the entire match, breaking Heidenheim hearts and securing an unlikely victory for the visitors.

Player of the Match: Adrian Beck

Despite ending up on the losing side, Beck's performance epitomised Heidenheim's valiant effort. The midfielder was at the heart of his team's attacking play, creating numerous chances and coming close to scoring himself. Beck's energy and creativity caused constant problems for the Leverkusen defence, and he was instrumental in Heidenheim's dominance throughout much of the match. His ability to link play and drive his team forward was a key factor in Heidenheim's impressive display against the reigning champions.

Bundesliga Match FactsxGoals: Heidenheim 1.61 - Leverkusen 0.45Fastest player: Léo Scienza (Heidenheim), 34.47 km/hLowest goal probability: 0-1 by Emiliano Buendía (Leverkusen), 8.94 percentMost pressed player: Adrian Beck (Heidenheim), 22 times under pressurePass efficiency: Aleix García (Leverkusen), +4.29

Fantasy Heroes: Frans Krätzig (Heidenheim, 248 Points), Patrick Mainka (Heidenheim, 211 Points), Adrian Beck (Heidenheim, 202 Points)

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