HEIDENHEIM, Germany (Reuters) -Reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen needed a stoppage-time goal from substitute Emiliano Buendia to snatch a 1-0 win over hosts Heidenheim on Saturday to keep their Bundesliga title hopes alive and stay six points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
Xabi Alonso's team still looked to be feeling the effects of Tuesday's shock German Cup semi-final exit to third-tier club Arminia Bielefeld until Buendia curled a shot in off the post in second-half stoppage time.
The hosts had a much livelier first half and a string of clear chances, including one through Adrian Beck who narrowly missed the target in the 17th, with Leverkusen lacking any punch up front.
Heidenheim also hit the crossbar through Benedikt Gimber in the 28th.
Leverkusen's Alonso brought on fresh legs in Arthur and Patrik Schick in the 68th minute but it was Buendia, another substitute, who scored the winner.
"We really did not play a good game and never got into our rhythm," Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah said. "In the end we had that bit of luck because we kept at it and kept believing in ourselves."
Leverkusen, who last season won a domestic league and Cup double, are in second place on 62 points, six behind leaders Bayern Munich, with six matches left to play.
(Reporting by Karolos GrohmannEditing by Toby Davis)
