Heidenheim 3-3 Leverkusen: Pieringer double in dramatic finish dents visitors´ top four hopes

Bayer Leverkusen’s hopes of securing Champions League qualification took a blow as they were held to a dramatic 3-3 draw by basement club Heidenheim on Saturday.

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 following 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’ 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 their lead seven minutes later when Schick rose highest to head home again.

But the Werkself were not able to hold onto their 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.

Full Time.

90+7′ | 3-3 | #FCHB04 pic.twitter.com/K64DdlG6AG

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) March 21, 2026

Data Debrief: Leverkusen stumble once more

With just four points separating Leverkusen from the Bundesliga top four, Champions League qualification remains within reach, but Hjulmand will know his side must improve.

Leverkusen are now winless in their last three league matches, drawing all three, and they could hardly complain about sharing the spoils in this encounter.

The visitors produced 1.62 expected goals (xG), only marginally higher than Heidenheim’s 1.57 xG, highlighting how little separated the two sides despite some clinical finishing from both.

Bottom-placed Heidenheim, meanwhile, were inspired by a superb display from Pieringer, who scored twice from his two shots, generating an individual xG of 1.01.