Following their midweek UEFA Conference League defeat in extra time, Heidenheim would have been forgiven for a slow start, and yet the visitors to Red Bull Arena did exactly the opposite, netting twice inside the opening quarter hour.
The first arrived in the seventh minute in spectacular fashion, as after Leipzig failed to clear their lines, Mathias Honsak made them pay by lashing a loose ball into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Coming into the game, Heidenheim were sat second-bottom of the Bundesliga but they showed incredible desire and fight, doubling their lead in the 13th minute.
After Willi Orban tripped Marvin Pieringer in the box, the striker picked himself up and slotted the spot-kick away.
Marco Rose’s men struggled to gain a foothold in the contest, but they went into the half-time break with the belief that a comeback might materialise after halving the deficit in first-half stoppage time.
Kevin Kampl’s cross into the box was controlled by Benjamin Sesko, allowing Lois Openda to lash home at the near post.
The home side came out for the second half with renewed energy and looked to draw level early on. That intent was clear to see, with Openda almost netting his second of the afternoon after breaking through on goal, only for Kevin Mullerl to race off his line and smother the ball.
The Heidenheim goalkeeper was being kept busy as he was called into action moments later, being forced to dive down low to get a hand to Ridle Baku’s curling effort.
Die Roten Bullen maintained that pressure and were awarded a penalty on the hour mark when Openda was brought down by Tim Siersleben.
Following a lengthy VAR review, Sesko stepped up and tucked in from the spot with aplomb.
Rose would have expected that goal to further the wind in the Leipzig sails, but the hosts failed to capitalise with Heidenheim on the ropes. In the end, the comeback produced only a draw, resulting in Leipzig missing out on breaking into the top four. Heidenheim, however, pick up their first Bundesliga point in six games.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig)
