Rock-bottom Heidenheim twice fought back from behind to secure a 3-3 draw with Bayer Leverkusen, ending a run of three straight Bundesliga defeats but extending their winless league streak to 14 matches (D4, L10).

Bayer Leverkusen had won each of the last five meetings between the sides, including a 6-0 victory in the reverse fixture, and they made a steady start here before taking the lead with their first shot on target after 22 minutes.

After dominating possession without finding a breakthrough, a brilliant delivery from Aleix García split the Heidenheim defence and allowed Malik Tillman to arrive unmarked at the back post, where he guided a composed side-foot finish into the net.

Chances remained limited, but Bayer Leverkusen doubled their lead 10 minutes before half-time when Patrik Schick powered in a close-range header from an excellent cross by Álex Grimaldo, marking the 10th time in 11 games against top-six opposition that Heidenheim had conceded at least twice.

An uphill task awaited Heidenheim after the break, though they nearly pulled one back when substitute Julian Niehues struck the outside of the post with a sliced effort.

Shortly after, fortune turned in their favour as an inswinging delivery from Hennes Behrens drifted through a crowded box and ended up in the net, with the goal standing after a VAR review despite a possible touch from Patrick Mainka.

That goal shifted the momentum of the match, and Heidenheim drew level 18 minutes from time when Robert Andrich brought down Marvin Pieringer in the box, allowing the striker to step up and convert the resulting penalty to set up a dramatic finish

However, parity lasted only seven minutes as Álex Grimaldo and Patrik Schick linked up again, this time from a corner, with the striker heading in from close range to complete a brace—matching his tally from the reverse fixture.

Undeterred, Heidenheim responded once more, equalising in the 85th minute from a corner of their own as Marvin Pieringer’s header left Mark Flekken rooted.

That ultimately proved to be the final meaningful action of the match. Despite a spirited second-half display, the point does little to ease Heidenheim’s relegation concerns after three seasons in the Bundesliga, with the club now nine points adrift of the relegation play-off spot.

Meanwhile, sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen have won just one of their last nine matches in all competitions (D6, L2), leaving them four points off the teams above them in the race for European qualification.