Method for heating the combustion air of an internal combustion engine, and internal combustion engine for carrying out a method of said type

A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder head and at least two cylinders, in which each cylinder has at least one inlet opening for a supply of combustion air into the cylinder, the method comprising:

• activating a heating device for heating the combustion air when the engine is operating in a deceleration fuel shut-off (DFSO) mode including a fuel supply of the engine being deactivated while the engine rotates and the combustion air is supplied to the at least two cylinders, the heating device arranged in an overall intake line coupled to the engine, the overall intake line including at least two merged intake lines, each intake line leading to an inlet opening of a respective cylinder.