Bundesliga: Bayern’s work victory for the top of the table

Bayern Munich has worked its way back to the top of the Bundesliga with a narrow win at VfB Stuttgart. The Swabians kept up for a long time, but started their race to catch up too late.

Matthijs de Ligt gave the record champions the lead with a long-range shot deep in the first half (39′) after he had just prevented the hosts from making it 1-0 on the goal line. In the second half of the game, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting increased (62′). Juan José Perea shortened late for the hosts (88th). Bayern took back the lead in the table from Dortmund, who had the same number of points. Stuttgart remains in 15th place in the table.

VfB courageous and self-confident

Stuttgart’s coach Bruno Labbadia allowed his VfB to appear in the same way as other teams have done badly to the favorite reigning champions this season: with self-confidence, enthusiasm and a lot of initiative. Yann Sommer had to intervene in Bayern’s box in the 5th minute when Stuttgart dangerously brought an attack down the right flank into the penalty area.

At the same time, the home side’s defense worked with concentration. Konstantinos Mavropanos cleared against Thomas Müller (10th), shortly afterwards Waldemar Anton in front of Alphonso Davies, after which a shot by Jamal Musiala was blocked.

And yet the Stuttgart team also created opportunities – albeit not as high-profile as Leon Goretzka, who failed twice at Fabian Bredlow (18th, 21st).

Stuttgart with a bit of bad luck, then behind

Shortly before the break, Bayern defense chief Matthijs de Ligt came into focus twice: First, the Dutchman cleared on his own goal line when a ball from the back of his teammate Dayot Upamecano was involuntarily sent in the direction of his own goal. Bad luck for the Swabians. But two minutes later, the blond giant plucked up courage and shot low from about 18 meters at the Stuttgart goal. VfB keeper Bredlow saw the ball extremely late and was unable to prevent the impact.

At the beginning of the second half, the guests gained more and more sovereignty on the field and consequently made it 2-0: Jamal Musiala started cleverly, Thomas Müller passed the ball perfectly into the penalty area with just one touch of the ball to Choupo-Moting, who thought about it and hit an irresistible flat bottom right.

Stuttgart’s “faith” apparently broken

With the second Munich goal, Stuttgart’s belief in a possible surprise against Munich was apparently broken. VfB didn’t give up – but there was almost no pressure on the Bayern goal.

However, shortly before the end of the game, hope germinated again: Tiago Tomás crossed the ball sensitively from the left into the sixteen after a throw-in, where Perea prevailed wonderfully in a header duel and unstoppable headed into the goal on the right. VfB received the third air.

Stuttgart came close to equalizing in added time through Tanguy Coulibaly, but his header went just wide of Bayern’s goal.

Bayern initially challenged in the Champions League

Before returning to everyday league play, FC Bayern will host Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 of the Champions League (Wednesday, March 8th, 2023 at 9:00 p.m.).

In the Bundesliga, the record champions welcome FC Augsburg on Matchday 24 (Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). Stuttgart is challenged in Frankfurt at the same time.

Those: sportschau.de