Bayern Munich v Stuttgart preview as Bundesliga returns with heavyweight opener | OneFootball

The Bundesliga returns on Friday as Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich host Sebastian Hoeneß’s Stuttgart in a standout season opener.

According to BuLi News, Bayern start as favourites, having won 13 of the past 14 titles. They lost only one league match last season, collected 89 points, and won the DFB Pokal by beating Stuttgart 3-0 in the final.

Bayern have already lifted silverware, beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. Nathaniel Brown struck first and Michael Olise made it two before they saw it out.

Bayern have won their last six against Stuttgart, scoring twelve in the past three meetings. Their last defeat to Die Schwaben was in May 2024, 3-1 under Thomas Tuchel.

Lennart Karl returns and Ismael Saibari could be ready to start. Jamal Musiala is not in the squad after two pre-season collapses, though he has resumed team training, and Serge Gnabry remains out with a thigh tendon tear.

Stuttgart balanced league and Europa League last season, finishing fourth to reach the Champions League. Hoeneß has turned them from relegation candidates into European regulars.

They opened this campaign with a 4-0 DFB Pokal win at Hansa Rostock. Dženan Pejčinović hit a hat-trick and Tiago Tomás scored the other.

Stuttgart hope to spring an upset despite injuries. Jamie Leweling is available, a late call is due on Chris Führich, and Ramon Hendriks is back in training. Sidelined are Luca Jaquez, Lorenz Assignon, Leo Sauer, Dennis Seimen, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Nikolas Nartey, Justin Diehl and Jeremy Arévalo.

Source: BuLi News

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