• Budu Zivzivadze wins 1. FC Heidenheim Player of the Season award
• The Georgian striker scored six Bundesliga goals during the 2025-26 campaign
• Heidenheim suffer relegation to 2. Bundesliga after three seasons in top flight
• Captain Patrick Mainka and loanee Arijon Ibrahimović also receive multiple votes

1. FC Heidenheim have named Budu Zivzivadze as their Player of the Season. The Georgian forward receives this honour despite the club dropping out of the Bundesliga.

The side from Baden-Württemberg could not repeat their great escape from last term. A 2-0 defeat against Mainz on the final day brought their three-year stay in Germany’s top division to a close.

Zivzivadze battled hard to keep the team up. The 32-year-old found the net six times in total. Five of those goals came in the final six matches of the season. Like many of his colleagues, he faced difficult spells earlier in the campaign. However, he discovered his best form when the pressure mounted.

The attacker will now ply his trade in the second tier. His profile fits the demands of that division perfectly. At six feet two inches tall, he provides a strong physical presence. He holds up the ball well, dominates in the air, and contributes to defensive duties. These attributes should serve Heidenheim well as they chase promotion.

The highlight of his season arrived against Bayern Munich. On Matchday 32, he struck twice in a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Allianz Arena. He first stretched to divert Marnon Busch’s header past Jonas Urbig. Later, he cut inside Michael Olise and bent a fine finish over the goalkeeper. Eren Dinkçi had earlier put Heidenheim two goals up. Leon Goretzka levelled for the hosts with a brace. A late deflected effort from Olise denied the visitors a historic victory.

Club captain Patrick Mainka also earned recognition. He secured three votes from our writing team for his defensive work. The 31-year-old ranked sixth in the league for duels won with 345. He maintained an 88.65 per cent pass accuracy rate. He featured in every single minute and collected just one yellow card. He also chipped in with two goals.

Bayern Munich loanee Arijon Ibrahimović received three nominations as well. The youngster managed two goals and four assists during his spell.

• FC Bayern Munich rescued a 3-3 draw against 1. FC Heidenheim with a heartbreaking equaliser in the sixth minute of added time.
• Budu Zivzivadze scored twice for the visitors, who led 3-2 until the final seconds of the match.
• The result leaves Heidenheim stranded on 23 points, seriously damaging their chances of escaping the Bundesliga relegation zone.

A historic upset appeared certain until the final moments of the match at the Allianz Arena. However, 1. FC Heidenheim ultimately left Munich with only a single point after suffering a devastating blow in the dying seconds of their clash with FC Bayern Munich.

The visitors seemed set to complete one of the most remarkable victories in Bundesliga history when they held a 3-2 advantage deep into injury time. Unfortunately for Frank Schmidt’s side, a cruel twist of fate in the 96th minute saw the ball cross the line following a long-range strike from Michael Olise, forcing Heidenheim to settle for a 3-3 draw.

Before kick-off, attention had focused on Bayern’s forthcoming Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain. This distraction appeared evident in the hosts’ early display, while Heidenheim approached the fixture with the desperation of a team battling relegation.

Despite Bayern controlling the ball for long periods, the underdogs struck first after 22 minutes. Marnon Busch delivered a dangerous cross from a set-piece situation, allowing Budu Zivzivadze to fire home and establish a new club record by scoring in four successive Bundesliga appearances.

The surprise deepened nine minutes later when Busch again provided the assist, threading a precise pass to Eren Dinkçi, who calmly beat goalkeeper Jonas Urbig to double the advantage. Bayern’s defence, including Jonathan Tah, struggled to contain the swift counter-attacks.

Vincent Kompany’s team finally responded just before the interval. Leon Goretzka curled a spectacular free-kick into the net, reducing the deficit to 2-1 and marking Bayern’s first successful direct free-kick of the campaign.

Trailing at half-time for the first time in a home league match under their current manager, Bayern introduced several key players including Harry Kane, Joshua Kimmich and Michael Olise. This change in personnel transformed the rhythm of the contest.

Twelve minutes into the second period, Olise’s corner found Goretzka, who powered a header past the goalkeeper to level the scores at 2-2. Although Bayern dominated possession thereafter, Heidenheim remained dangerous on the break.

The visitors reclaimed the lead with fourteen minutes remaining. Zivzivadze collected the ball on the left flank, cut inside, and unleashed a curling shot reminiscent of Arjen Robben into the far corner, making it 3-2.

A frantic conclusion followed as Bayern poured forward seeking salvation. Goalkeeper Diant Ramaj produced several magnificent stops to preserve Heidenheim’s advantage against relentless pressure. The referee indicated nine additional minutes, raising the tension inside the stadium.

With what proved to be the final kick of the game, Olise attempted a shot from distance. Ramaj managed to push the ball against the upright, but it rebounded cruelly off the keeper’s body and rolled agonisingly over the line. The equaliser sparked celebrations among Bayern supporters while leaving Heidenheim players collapsed in despair.

The final whistle confirmed a result that feels like victory for Bayern but disaster for their opponents. Instead of climbing toward safety, Heidenheim remain on 23 points, now trailing VfL Wolfsburg by two points and FC St. Pauli by three. Both rival clubs still possess games in hand, making the survival mission increasingly difficult for Schmidt’s men.

Had the result held for just seconds longer, Heidenheim would have achieved what no bottom-placed team has managed since Hannover defeated Bayern in 2006. Instead, they departed Munich with nothing but devastation and regret.

• FC Bayern Munich plan sweeping changes to their starting eleven as they prepare for a crucial UEFA Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
• 1. FC Heidenheim are desperate for points to escape the relegation zone and gained confidence from a 2-0 victory over FC St. Pauli last weekend.
• Georgia striker Budu Zivzivadze enters the match in red-hot form, having scored in his last three consecutive appearances.

The Bundesliga returns this weekend with a fascinating encounter at the Allianz Arena. Reigning champions FC Bayern Munich host 1. FC Heidenheim on matchday 32 in a fixture that pits title winners against relegation battlers.

The hosts have already secured the domestic championship. Their focus has now shifted to the semi-final second leg of the UEFA Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain. This means head coach Vincent Kompany will rest several star names on Saturday. Last weekend provided a warning when a heavily rotated Bayern side trailed 1. FSV Mainz 04 by three goals at half-time. Senior players had to come off the bench to rescue the situation.

A similar pattern could emerge here. The Bavarian giants possess remarkable squad depth, yet any complacency could prove costly. Heidenheim arrive in Munich fighting for their survival. Their 2-0 win over FC St. Pauli last week injected fresh belief into a campaign that appeared doomed. They remain four points behind the relegation playoff position with only three matches remaining. Frank Schmidt’s men require maximum points and favours from other grounds to climb to 16th place.

The reverse fixture earlier this season ended in a comprehensive 4-0 triumph for Bayern. However, the stakes are entirely different this time around.

Keep an eye on Budu Zivzivadze. The Georgian forward terrorised second-tier defences last season. He appears determined to avoid an immediate return to the 2. Bundesliga. The striker has found the net in his last three outings, making him the primary threat for the underdogs.

Team news presents challenges for both benches. Bayern will miss Serge Gnabry, Raphaël Guerreiro, Jonas Karl and Francisco Bischof. Kompany would have preferred these options available for selection. Otherwise, the full senior squad is fit, though several youth academy graduates are expected to feature.

Heidenheim cannot call upon the Conteh siblings, Christian and Sirlord, nor Mathias Honsak. Arijon Ibrahimović, Jan-Niklas Gimber and Marvin Kaufmann are also doubtful for the clash. Schmidt is unlikely to alter his approach much from the side that defeated St. Pauli given the emotional significance of that result.

Predicted FC Bayern Munich XI: Jonas Urbig; Josip Stanišić, Min-jae Kim, Hiroki Itō, Konrad Laimer; Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka; Michael Olise, Cherif Ndiaye, Brajan Gruda; Jonatahn Jackson.

Predicted 1. FC Heidenheim XI: Kevin Müller; Patrick Mainka, Benedikt Gimber, Jonas Föhrenbach; Marnon Busch, Jan-Niklas Beste, Lennard Maloney, Marvin Pieringer, Adrian Beck; Budu Zivzivadze, Eren Dinkçi.