Vincent Kompany believes Bayern Munich have laid a foundation for future success with their efforts in 2025, as they aim to complete a full calendar year without an away Bundesliga defeat.
Bayern visit Heidenheim for their final game of 2025 on Sunday, looking to pull nine points clear of their closest rivals at the summit.
They have taken 38 points from their first 14 Bundesliga matches this season – only Bayern themselves in 2015-16 have collected more points from their first 14 league games (40).
The German champions have not lost any of their 15 away Bundesliga games in 2025 (W11 D4), and for the third time ever after 1986 and 2013, they could complete a calendar year without an away defeat in the Bundesliga.
"We've gradually become more stable in terms of our confidence," Kompany told reporters. "The last game has its own story, and then there's the next game.
"We've lost very little this year and won quite often. In March, we'll be playing for the prizes. We want to take the next step at these important moments.
"This year, we've laid a good foundation for next year, and next year, we'll be in a positive position to try and win everything.
"I believe that the important moments always come in the spring. It's always difficult to summarise a year when you're actually at the beginning of the year."
Bayern striker Harry Kane has a chance to make history this weekend, having recorded 99 goal involvements in 77 Bundesliga games (80 goals, 19 assists).
He is destined to shatter the record for fewest games required to reach a century, with Arjen Robben (119 matches) the fastest to reach that mark since detailed collection of assist data started in 2004-05.
Hello Harry! pic.twitter.com/C3G3QGstf0
— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) December 19, 2025
Kane's late penalty salvaged a point for Bayern last week as they failed to win for just the second time in the Bundesliga this season, drawing 2-2 with Mainz.
And Kompany knows his team cannot afford to produce another performance like that, adding: "We feel we need to show a reaction.
"After that game, you couldn't really say we played a perfect game. We conceded a goal from a set piece and a counter-attack. Heidenheim will be hoping for the same tomorrow."
Heidenheim are 17th in the table with just 11 points from 14 matches, only behind St. Pauli – who occupy the promotion-relegation play-off place – on goal difference.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Heidenheim – Stefan Schimmer
Schimmer has been directly involved in five Bundesliga goals as a substitute this season (four goals, one assist), a joint-league high alongside Koln's Said El Mala.
He has recorded a goal involvement on each of his last three appearances from the bench (two goals, one assist) – only Arminia Bielefeld’s Jonas Kamper (in April and May 2007) has registered a goal involvement in four consecutive Bundesliga matches as a substitute on record (since 2004-05).
Bayern Munich – Lennart Karl
In-form Karl recently registered his fifth goal involvement in the Bundesliga (three goals, two assists) at the age of 17.
That is a new club record, with no Bayern player having previously provided as many goal involvements in the Bundesliga before their 18th birthday.
Karl has also struck three times in the Champions League this season, netting against Club Brugge, Arsenal and Sporting CP.
5 - Bayern Munich's Lennart Karl yesterday recorded his fifth direct goal involvement in the Bundesliga at the age of 17 (3 goals, 2 assists) – a new club record, never before has an FCB player achieved so many goal involvements in the Bundesliga before turning 18. Precocious. pic.twitter.com/TjiZKa04G1
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) December 15, 2025
MATCH PREDICTION – BAYERN MUNICH WIN
Heidenheim have avoided defeat just once in four Bundesliga matches against Bayern, winning 3-2 at home in April 2024.
Bayern have scored more goals per game against Heidenheim (3.5) than any other current Bundesliga side, but they have also conceded more goals per game to them (1.75) than anyone else, so entertainment could be on the cards.
Heidenheim have only lost one of their last five Bundesliga home games (W2 D2), which was a 3-0 defeat against Borussia Monchengladbach. This run of five matches has garnered eight points, as many as their previous 18 home matches in the competition (W2 D2 L14).
But Bayern are clear favourites with the Opta supercomputer, having set a new record for the most goals scored through the first 14 matches of a Bundesliga season (51).
Bayern also have the best defence in the Bundesliga this season, having conceded just 11 goals, while Heidenheim have the worst, with 30 conceded.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Heidenheim – 9.5%
Bayern Munich – 77.9%
Draw – 12.6%