Bayern Munich soar past VfB Stuttgart to open title defence in style
Bayern Munich beat VfB Stuttgart 5-1 on opening night to start their season in perfect fashion as Dayot Upamecano, Michael Olise, Aleksandar Pavlović and Luis Díaz all got on the scoresheet.
Bayern Munich 5-1 VfB Stuttgart
Goals: 1-0 Upamecano 21’ (assist: Kimmich), 1-1 Vagnoman 52’, 2-1 Olise 55’ (assist: Kimmich), 3-1 Vagnoman o.g., 4-1 Pavlović 82’ (assist: Saibari), 5-1 Díaz 90’+2 (assist: Saibari)
Both sides made two changes from their respective wins in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup and the DFB Cup as they aimed to get their Bundesliga campaigns off to a promising start. Nathaniel Brown once again started in the number 10 position for Bayern, whereas Grischa Prömel and Dženan Pejčinović both made their Bundesliga debuts for Stuttgart.
Tomás hits bar before Upamecano breaks through
Stuttgart began brightly and nearly stunned the champions when Ramon Hendriks whipped in a cross that Prömel headed across goal for Tiago Tomás, whose effort from close range crashed off the top of the bar.
Bayern gradually took control, and Olise struck the post with a free-kick before the breakthrough arrived on 21 minutes, when Joshua Kimmich's corner was flicked home by Upamecano at the near post for the opening goal of the new campaign.
Díaz then squandered a huge chance when clean through, as Fabian Bredlow made sure it was only a 1-0 deficit at the break. The Stuttgart custodian also produced fine stops from Brown and Konrad Laimer before the interval.
Vagnoman levels before Bayern pull clear
Stuttgart drew level early in the second half when Josha Vagnoman fired home after Manuel Neuer had initially saved brilliantly from Jeff Chabot's header.
However, the reply from Bayern was immediate. Kimmich's pass sent Olise through, and the Frenchman finished calmly to restore the lead. Three minutes later, Vagnoman turned villain, diverting Alphonso Davies's low cross into his own net for 3-1.
Olise then had a fourth chalked off for offside before substitute debutant Ismael Saibari twice turned provider, teeing up Pavlović to sweep home a fourth and then feeding Díaz, who added the fifth in stoppage time.
Man of the Match: Michael Olise
Olise capped a superb display with a goal and a hand in the game's flow, restoring Bayern's lead within minutes of Stuttgart's equaliser with a composed finish after a Kimmich pass.
The winger also struck the post with a free-kick in the first half, had a smartly taken finish ruled out for offside, and topped Bayern's fantasy manager rankings with 325 points, leading to 65 percent of the Man of the Match vote.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Bayern Munich 4.07 - VfB Stuttgart 1.09
Lowest goal probability: 1-1 by Josha Vagnoman (Stuttgart), 12 percent
Fantasy Heroes: Michael Olise (Bayern, 325 Points), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern, 299 Points), Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern, 284 Points)
