Bundesliga Player Ratings | Bayern Munich 5-1 Stuttgart – Michael Olise stars as Bayern begin their title defence in style | OneFootball

The 2026/27 Bundesliga season opened with Bayern Munich hosting Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena as they began their defence of the Bundesliga title and win it for the third time in a row.

Obviously, the last time these two teams met was in the final game of the German football season last year when Bayern completed their domestic double with a 3-0 win in the DFB Pokal final.

The first major chance came in the 12th minute when Grischa Prömel headed down a cross that deflected into the path of Tiago Tomas, but despite being in front of goal, the forward fired over the bar.

Bayern then opened the scoring when a Joshua Kimmich corner was flicked on by Dayot Upamecano to make it 1-0. After the first game of the new season, the game opened up a lot more, and Bayern managed to gain more control of it after Stuttgart were the better side early on. Nathaniel Brown and Konrad Laimer both had clear chances to double the Bundesliga champions’ lead before the break.

In the second half, it looked as if Stuttgart were back in it when, in the 52nd minute, Josha Vagnoman’s well-taken finish levelled it for Sebastian Hoeneß’s side. However, this wouldn’t last for long, and when I mean long, I mean three minutes, as Stuttgart left Michael Olise wide open in their box and allow him to slot past Fabian Bredlow to restore their lead.

Two minutes after that, Vagnoman scored again, but this time at the wrong end, when the right-back tried to clear a cutback from Alphonso Davies but slipped while kicking the ball, ultimately kicking it in his own net to make it 3-1.

Bayern then made it 4-1 when substitute and new signing Ismael Saibari was played in and waited for the arrival of Aleksandar Pavlovic, who scored the fifth goal of the game. Vincent Kompany’s side were not done there, when the Moroccan international then registered his second assist of the game when he played in Luis Diaz, who made it 5-1.

After Bayern were run close by Dortmund, mainly due to taking their foot off the gas, last week, Bayern silenced any doubters with a commanding performance against Stuttgart. Apart from the first 15 minutes, they were in control throughout. The additions of both Brown and Saibari are likely the difference-makers Kompany has needed if they are to go the step further they have needed in Europe.

While for Sebastian Hoeneß and his side, it showed the current gulf between them and the Bundesliga champions. Luckily, no one on Mercedestraße thought they were going to be competing with Bayern this season. However, this game followed a similar trend to last season when Stuttgart would have hold of the game, then after going behind, they capitulate.

Bayern Munich Player Ratings

Manuel Neuer (5), Konrad Laimer (6), Dayot Upamecano (6), Kim Min-Jae (6), Alphonso Davies (6), Joshua Kimmich (7), Aleksander Pavlovic (6), Michael Olise (7), Nathanial Brown (6), Luis Diaz (6), Harry Kane (6)

Others: Ismael Saibari (7), Josip Stanisic (5), Jonathan Tah (-), Lennart Karl (-), Tom Bischof (-)

Stuttgart Player Ratings

Fabian Bredlow (4), Finn Jeltsch (5), Jeff Chabot (5), Ramon Hendriks (5), Josha Vagnoman (4), Grischa Prömel (5), Angelo Stiller (5), Maximilian Mittelstädt (5), Tiago Tomas (5), Deniz Undav (5), Dzenan Pejcinovic (5)

Others: Jamie Leweling (5), Ermedin Demirovic (5), Bilal El Khannouss (5), Leonidas Stergiou (5), Chema Andres (-)

GGFN Man of the Match: Ismael Saibari (7)

In his 30-minute cameo, the Moroccan showed that the €50m paid for him, in today’s market, will more than likely be a bargain. Saibari provided two assists and created three chances (second in the whole game, via FotMob). The 25-year-old can play both behind the striker, on the wing, and as a striker too and will help to take the burden off of Harry Kane.

GGFN | Jack Meenan