Bayern Munich vs. Stuttgart preview: Hosts looking to remain unbeaten

Bayern Munich will look to maintain their unbeaten start to the Bundesliga season when they welcome Stuttgart to Allianz Arena on Saturday.

Bayern Munich

After taking 14 points from six games Bayern went into the international break as the league leaders thanks to their goal-difference advantage over second-placed RB Leipzig. The Bavarians kicked off the Bundesliga season with three consecutive victories over Freiburg, Holstein Kiel and Werder Bremen. However, their run of league victories was brought to an end by a 1-1 draw against reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen.

Vincent Kompany’s side went on to lose 1-0 in their Champions League clash with Aston Villa, before they returned to Bundesliga action with an entertaining 3-3 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. Bayern fought back from 2-1 down to establish a 3-2 lead thanks to goals from Dayot Upamecano and Michael Olise. However, they were ultimately denied all three points by Omar Marmoush’s 94th-minute equaliser.

Having gone three competitive games without a victory, Bayern will be keen to return to winning ways in a tricky league clash against Stuttgart. The Bavarians are usually a tough team to beat on home turf, with their last 19 home league games producing 15 wins, two draws and two defeats.

Team News

Bayern will have to make a late decision on Upamecano’s availability, while Jamal Musiala remains sidelined with a hip issue. The hosts are also without Sacha Boey, Josip Stanisic and Hiroki Ito.

Stuttgart

Stuttgart will begin matchday 10 in ninth position after winning two, drawing three and losing one of their six league matches. After losing their opener against Freiburg, die Schwaben went on to play out a 3-3 draw with Mainz on matchday two. Stuttgart officially got their campaign up and running with consecutive victories over Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund.

However, Stuttgart were unable to add to those victories in their final three matches before the international break. Die Schwaben played out three consecutive draws in all competitions, including league matches against Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim. Their 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim may have felt like a win after Ermedin Demirović netted a dramatic equaliser in the ninth minute of stoppage time.

Stuttgart are now preparing for their first meeting with Bayern since recording a 3-1 home victory in May. They can also take confidence from the fact they have avoided defeat in three of their last five away games against Bayern (W1, D2).

Team News

The visitors are likely to be without Justin Diehl, Chris Führich, Luca Raimund, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Nikolas Nartey and Leonidas Stergiou.