Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich will look to maintain their unbeaten run when they hit the road to face VfB Stuttgart.
Bayern Munich are already eight points clear at the top, and they will be looking to maintain their dominance when they face a struggling VfB Stuttgart side that has only won one out of their last four Bundesliga games.
The home team are sixth on the points table with 22 points in their 12 outings. While Die Schwaben were off to a flying start to the season with six wins in eight outings, things have not been that great for them in recent weeks.
They have only won one out of their last four league outings. While the home side’s last Bundesliga outing ended up in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Hamburger SV, they are heading into this fixture on the back of a 2-0 win over VfL Bochum in the DFB-Pokal.
Stuttgart will be confident about their chances, but they are going up against a team that are top of the Bundesliga with 34 points in their 12 outings, with 11 wins and a draw. Union Berlin were set to stun them at the start of November, but Harry Kane’s late strike kept their unbeaten run intact.
Bayern have since won their last two league outings and are heading into this fixture on the back of a 3-2 win over Union Berlin in the DFB-Pokal. The Bundesliga defending champions are clear favourites to claim all three points in this fixture. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
VfB Stuttgart
The home team will be without the services of quite a few first-team stars. Ermedin Demirovic, Justin Diehl, Luca Jaquez, Yannik Keitel, and Dan-Axel Zagadou are all unavailable for VfB Stuttgart for this fixture against Bayern Munich.
The home side will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, where Alexander Nubel will take charge in goal. In the heart of the defence, Jeff Chabot will start alongside Ramon Hendriks and Finn Jeltsch.
Lorenz Assignon and Maximilian Mittelstadt will be the wing-backs for the home team. Meanwhile, Angelo Stiller will pair up with Chema Andres in the centre of the park. The duo will try to ensure the Bayern Munich midfielders do not dominate the proceedings.
In the final third, Bilal El Khannouss and Jamie Leweling will feature as the two attacking midfielders behind Deniz Undav, who will spearhead the VfB Stuttgart attack against Bayern Munich this weekend.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Nubel; Jeltsch, Chabot, Hendriks; Assignon, Chema, Stiller, Mittelstadt; El Khannouss, Leweling; Undav
Bayern Munich
The visitors are expected to be without the services of Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala. Meanwhile, Aleksandar Pavlovic is a slight doubt for this outing.
Bayern Munich will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Manuel Neuer will take charge in goal. Konrad Laimer and Josip Stanisic will be the full-backs, while Dayot Upamecano will pair up with Jonathan Tah in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka will form the double pivot in the centre of the park. They will look to control the tempo and ensure Bayern Munich dominate the proceedings.
Michael Olise and Luis Diaz will feature out wide on the flanks, while Serge Gnabry will feature in the number ten role behind Harry Kane, who will lead the line for Bayern Munich against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Laimer, Upamecano, Tah, Stanisic; Kimmich, Goretzka; Olise, Gnabry, Diaz; Kane
Key Stats
- Bayern Munich are unbeaten in the Bundesliga after 12 rounds of fixtures (W11 D1).
- VfB Stuttgart will be looking to avenge their Super Cup loss to Bayern Munich from August.
- Vincent Kompany’s team have only lost one out of their 21 games across competitions this term.
- The Bavarian giants have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six outings (11 goals conceded).
- While Stuttgart have only won one out of their last four league outings, they have four wins in their last six games across competitions.
Player to Watch
Luis Diaz
Diaz has been enjoying a sensational debut campaign at Bayern Munich since joining them from Liverpool during the last summer window. The 28-year-old has been involved in 20 matches across competitions, and he has contributed towards 18 goals.
The Colombian winger has become a go-to man for Vincent Kompany in no time. Having contributed towards two goals in their last league outings, Diaz will be eager to add to his tally when he faces Stuttgart away from home.
Prediction
VfB Stuttgart 1-3 Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich travel to Stuttgart full of confidence as they look to extend their unbeaten run and tighten their grip on the Bundesliga title race. Vincent Kompany’s side have been relentless this season, with Harry Kane leading the line and Luis Diaz in sensational form out wide.
On the other hand, VfB Stuttgart, despite their recent dip in league form, remain a competitive side at home and will look to frustrate Bayern Munich while relying on Deniz Undav and Jamie Leweling to threaten on the break.
But with the away side’s attacking firepower and strong mentality in crucial moments, the visitors are expected to find a way through and continue their dominant run. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for the away team.