Bayern host Stuttgart as Bundesliga kicks off, repeat of last season’s Pokal final | OneFootball

The Bundesliga kicks off on Friday as Bayern Munich host VfB Stuttgart, a repeat of last season’s DFB Pokal final. Harry Kane hit a hat-trick in that showpiece, though three months on the teams feel familiar rather than transformed.

According to Get German Football News, Vincent Kompany has added only Nathaniel Brown and Ismael Saibari, while Sebastian Hoeneß has brought in five first-team options. The opener may arrive too soon for a raft of debuts.

Both sides have fitness concerns. Jamal Musiala continues his recovery after suffering seizures during warm-up games, and Serge Gnabry and Lennart Karl are doubts for Friday night.

For Stuttgart, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Lorenz Assignon and Nicolas Nartey are set to miss out, while Chris Führich is a doubt.

Bayern began competitively by beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at the Westfalenstadion in the 2026 Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, debutant Brown and Michael Olise scoring. New recruit Dženan Pejčinović struck a hat-trick in Stuttgart’s 4-1 Pokal win at Hansa Rostock, putting himself firmly in the frame to start.

Predicted line-ups point to Harry Kane starting for Bayern and Ermedin Demirović leading the line for Stuttgart.

Last season brought clear progress under Kompany and Bayern will again chase an unprecedented treble, having fallen in the Champions League semi-finals. Stuttgart return to the Champions League after a Europa League campaign that ended against Braga, a fourth-placed finish and a second straight Pokal final suggesting they are well equipped despite a daunting opener.

Source: Get German Football News

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