FC Bayern Munich has regained the top spot in the Bundesliga without much glamor and celebrated a proper dress rehearsal for the European Cup hit against Paris St. Germain.
The record champions won 2-1 (1-0) at VfB Stuttgart, who were threatened with relegation, and because of the better goal difference they again overtook Borussia from Dortmund, who were tied on points. Defender Matthijs de Ligt (39th minute) and striker Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting (62nd) scored the goals for Munich in front of 47,800 spectators.
In the second leg of the Champions League against PSG on Wednesday, however, they will have to improve. VfB remains in 15th place, but just like the new tail light VfL Bochum, they only have 19 points. Juan José Perea’s goal in the 88th minute came too late for the home side.
Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann ordered French central defender Dayot Upamecano back into the starting XI in Stuttgart with a view to the premier class cracker. His compatriot Benjamin Pavard, who will miss Wednesday due to a suspension, had to go to the bench. But a relaxed warm-up for PSG was initially unthinkable.
VfB, who had suffered a severe setback in the relegation battle with a 2-1 loss at FC Schalke 04 a week earlier, started briskly and tried to put Bayern under pressure in the middle. The Swabians, who had taken a 2-2 draw from Bayern in the previous two league duels, were not really dangerous in the first few minutes. A long-range shot by Hiroki Ito, who played on the hosts’ left side of defense instead of the suspended Borna Sosa, flew just wide of the Bayern goal on the right (17′).
As the game progressed, the record champions gained more possession and a certain dominance. Leon Goretzka could have taken care of the Munich leadership. VfB keeper Fabian Bredlow parried his header from close range (21′). Ten minutes later, Upamecano hammered the ball over the goal from two meters free.
Then de Ligt was in the spotlight twice – first at the back, then at the front. After goalkeeper Yann Sommer lost an aerial duel against Konstantinos Mavropanos, the Bayern defender saved on the line (37′). A short time later he just pulled from the second row – and scored. Bredlow may not have seen the Dutchman’s concealed low shot until late, but did not look good with the international’s second goal of the season. On the other side, Silas missed the potential equalizer with a deflected shot (43′).
At the beginning of the second half, the game was briefly interrupted because pyrotechnics had been set off in the guest fan block. Before that, the VfB supporters had already ignited a lot. The next eye-catcher was on the pitch after an hour: A combination initiated by the very conspicuous Jamal Musiala over three stops was completed by Choupo-Moting to make it 2-0. In the days before the game, the Cameroonian had extended his contract with Bayern until mid-2024 – and immediately repaid the trust with another goal.
It was Munich’s 100th away goal in the Bundesliga against Stuttgart. They are the first club to achieve this mark against an opponent in the Bundesliga. For a long time it looked as if the game would be decided. But Perea’s header made Bayern tremble again at the end.
