Bayer 04 held to 3-3 draw away at Heidenheim

Head coach Kasper Hjulmand made four changes to the team that had started Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League game away at Arsenal. Mark Flekken returned in goal for the first time since his injury in January, replacing Janis Blaswich, while Exequiel Palacios, Montrell Culbreath and Schick came in for the suspended Edmond Tapsoba, plus Martin Terrier and Christian Kofane.

Tillman and Schick put Leverkusen in control

The visitors took control of proceedings from the start, with Aleix García having the first shot from distance inside eight minutes. Heidenheim allowed very little in the following stages until García opened them up with a pinpoint cross in the 22nd minute for Tillman to volley home at the far post. That goal allowed the Werkself greater freedom and they got a second when Alejandro Grimaldo’s cross from the left was met by the head of Schick with 35 minutes gone.

Heidenheim twice level despite Schick brace

After having almost 70 percent possession in the first half, Bayer 04 again controlled the ball in the second period until the 56th minute when Behrens got a slight touch on a free-kick and got a goal back. Substitute Nathan Tella sought an immediate response but his shot from a tight angle went off goalkeeper Diant Ramaj and onto the crossbar. The hosts then had the chance to level when Robert Andrich gave away a penalty, which Pieringer converted with 72 minutes played.

Leverkusen kept pushing forward to respond and retook the lead when Schick headed in Grimaldo’s corner for his 73rd Bundesliga goal in red and black, going third in the club’s all-time list ahead of Herbert Waas. However, Frank Schmidt’s side were able to hit back again as Pieringer also bagged a brace with his late header. The Werkself tried to snatch the lead back one final time but couldn’t make anything count as they were held to a third straight draw in the league.

Wolfsburg after break

The last international break of the season means several players will be away with their national teams before returning to club action on Saturday, 4 April at home to Wolfsburg (15:30 CEST).

Match stats:

Heidenheim: Ramaj – Busch, Mainka, Gimber (Föhrenbach 46'), Behrens – Kerber (S. Conteh 64'), Schöppner (Niehues 46'), Dorsch (Beck 83') – Dinkci, Zivzivadze, C. Conteh (Pieringer 64')

Bayer 04: Flekken – Culbreath, Quansah, Andrich (Kofane 85'), Grimaldo – Garcia (Fernández 82'), Palacios – Maza, Tillman (Oermann 82'), Poku (Terrier 46' (Tella 54')) – Schick

Goals: 0-1 Tillman (22'), 0-2 Schick (35'), 1-2 Behrens (56'), 2-2 Pieringer (72'), 2-3 Schick (79'), 3-3 Pieringer (85')

Yellow cards: Schöppner, Kerber, Beck, Busch - Schick, Garcia, Maza, Quansah

Referee: Robin Braun

Attendance: 15,000 (sold out) at the Voith-Arena