Bayern Munich begin the defence of their Bundesliga title against VfB Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena on Friday, August 28, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 20:30 CEST.
The fixture brings together two Champions League teams from last season's top four. Bayern finished first with 89 points after losing only once, while Stuttgart secured fourth place with 62 points.
Vincent Kompany's side have already lifted one trophy this season after beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup. Stuttgart also arrive with competitive momentum following a comfortable 4-0 DFB-Pokal victory over Hansa Rostock.
Recent history, however, heavily favors Bayern. Stuttgart have lost their last six meetings with the champions, including both league games and the DFB-Pokal final last season.
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Head-to-Head Summary
Bayern have dominated the recent competitive record.
Across the last 10 meetings in all competitions:
Bayern Munich wins: 8
VfB Stuttgart wins: 1
Draws: 1
Bayern Munich goals: 29
VfB Stuttgart goals: 10
Stuttgart's only victory in that sequence came in May 2024, when they beat Bayern 3-1 at home. Since then, Bayern have won six consecutive meetings, scoring 21 goals and conceding only five. The most recent encounter came in the 2026 DFB-Pokal final, where Harry Kane scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 Bayern victory.
Last 10 Meetings
The most recent competitive meetings are:
May 23, 2026 – DFB-Pokal Final: Bayern Munich 3-0 VfB Stuttgart
April 19, 2026 – Bundesliga: Bayern Munich 4-2 VfB Stuttgart
December 6, 2025 – Bundesliga: VfB Stuttgart 0-5 Bayern Munich
August 16, 2025 – Franz Beckenbauer Supercup: VfB Stuttgart 1-2 Bayern Munich
February 28, 2025 – Bundesliga: VfB Stuttgart 1-3 Bayern Munich
October 19, 2024 – Bundesliga: Bayern Munich 4-0 VfB Stuttgart
May 4, 2024 – Bundesliga: VfB Stuttgart 3-1 Bayern Munich
December 17, 2023 – Bundesliga: Bayern Munich 3-0 VfB Stuttgart
March 4, 2023 – Bundesliga: VfB Stuttgart 1-2 Bayern Munich
September 10, 2022 – Bundesliga: Bayern Munich 2-2 VfB Stuttgart
The recent pattern is difficult for Stuttgart to ignore. Bayern have not merely won the last six meetings; several have been convincing. Last season alone, Bayern scored 12 goals against Stuttgart across three competitive games, including five away from home and three in the cup final.
Stuttgart have created chances in some of these contests, but preventing Bayern from turning periods of pressure into multiple goals has been the bigger problem.
Bayern Munich Current Form
Bayern have played one competitive match this season and won it. They defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, with Nathaniel Brown and Michael Olise scoring.
Including their final four competitive matches of last season, Bayern's last five results are:
Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich 3-0 VfB Stuttgart
Bayern Munich 5-1 Cologne
Wolfsburg 0-1 Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich 1-1 PSG
That gives Bayern four wins and one draw, with 12 goals scored and three conceded. Their league numbers from last season were even more impressive. Bayern scored 122 Bundesliga goals, conceded 36 and finished 16 points clear of second-placed Dortmund.
The Supercup victory suggests that the team has carried some of that momentum into the new campaign.
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VfB Stuttgart Current Form
Stuttgart began their competitive season with a 4-0 DFB-Pokal victory at Hansa Rostock. Summer signing Dženan Pejčinović scored a hat-trick, while Tiago Tomás added the other goal. Their last five competitive results are:
Hansa Rostock 0-4 VfB Stuttgart
Bayern Munich 3-0 VfB Stuttgart
Eintracht Frankfurt 2-2 VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart 3-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Hoffenheim 3-3 VfB Stuttgart
That gives Stuttgart two wins, two draws and one defeat. The 4-0 cup victory was encouraging, but Bayern represent a completely different level of opposition. Stuttgart's biggest challenge will be improving on a defensive record that conceded nine goals across their three meetings with Bayern in the Bundesliga and cup final last season.
Bayern Munich Team News and Injuries
Bayern have several confirmed availability issues. Serge Gnabry is out with a groin injury, while Jamal Musiala is not expected to feature as Bayern continue to manage his fitness. Young attacker Lennart Karl is doubtful with a hamstring problem.
Those absences reduce Kompany's attacking options, but Bayern still have considerable depth through Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Díaz. Kane remains the central threat after scoring 36 Bundesliga goals last season and a hat-trick against Stuttgart in the DFB-Pokal final.
VfB Stuttgart Team News and Injuries
Stuttgart have a longer injury list. Dan-Axel Zagadou and Nikolas Nartey are confirmed absentees with hamstring injuries, while Lorenz Assignon, Justin Diehl, Luca Jaquez, Mateo Arévalo and Dennis Seimen are also unavailable. Chris Führich is doubtful because of a muscular problem.
The defensive absences are particularly important given Bayern's attacking strength. Sebastian Hoeneß can still rely on important players including Deniz Undav, Angelo Stiller, Maximilian Mittelstädt and Bilal El Khannouss, while Pejčinović's cup hat-trick gives Stuttgart another attacking option.
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Tactical Match Analysis
Bayern should control possession and spend long periods in Stuttgart's half. Kompany's team were relentless at home last season, using aggressive positioning and quick circulation to keep opponents under pressure. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović can control central midfield, while Olise and Díaz stretch defensive lines from wider areas.
Stuttgart cannot simply retreat around their penalty area. Hoeneß's side are at their best when they press confidently and move possession forward quickly. Angelo Stiller will be especially important because Stuttgart need a midfielder capable of playing through Bayern's pressure rather than repeatedly clearing the ball.
The biggest concern is what happens when Stuttgart's press is beaten. Bayern have enough technical quality to exploit the spaces left behind, and Kane's movement can drag centre-backs away from their preferred positions.
Stuttgart showed in the DFB-Pokal final that they can create early chances against Bayern, but their finishing must be more efficient. They were competitive for much of the first half before Kane eventually took control of the game.
Key Players to Watch
1. Harry Kane
Kane scored a hat-trick against Stuttgart in May and remains Bayern's most reliable finisher. Stuttgart must prevent him from receiving repeated service inside the penalty area.
2. Michael Olise
Olise scored in the Supercup victory over Dortmund and also created Kane's opening goal in the DFB-Pokal final. His delivery and ability to move inside from the right make him difficult to defend.
3. Angelo Stiller
Stiller's passing will be central to Stuttgart's attempt to escape Bayern's press. If he is constantly forced backwards, the visitors could spend most of the match defending.
4. Dženan Pejčinović
Pejčinović enters the match after a hat-trick on his competitive Stuttgart debut. Bayern represent a much tougher challenge, but his early form gives Hoeneß another attacking threat.
What the Numbers Tell Us
The main statistics clearly favor Bayern:
Bayern have won eight of the last 10 competitive meetings.
Stuttgart have won once, with one draw.
Bayern have outscored Stuttgart 29-10.
Bayern have won the last six meetings.
Bayern beat Stuttgart three times last season, scoring 12 goals.
Bayern finished last season with 89 points and 122 league goals.
Stuttgart finished fourth with 62 points.
Bayern have already won the Supercup this season.
Stuttgart opened their competitive campaign with a 4-0 cup victory.
Stuttgart's opening result is encouraging, but the H2H numbers and Bayern's overall performance level show the scale of the challenge.
Who Has the Advantage?
Bayern Munich have a clear statistical advantage. They are at home, have won six consecutive meetings and defeated Stuttgart three times last season across three different competitions. The difference in attacking output is also significant. Bayern scored 122 league goals last season compared with Stuttgart's 71.
Stuttgart are capable of making the game competitive, particularly if their pressing works and they take advantage of the chances Bayern occasionally allow. Their fourth-place finish last season demonstrates that they are one of Germany's stronger sides.
A draw is possible, especially in an opening league fixture where both teams are still developing match sharpness. However, the recent H2H record, Bayern's home advantage, and their superior attacking numbers give the defending champions the stronger position by a clear margin.
Conclusion
Bayern Munich vs VfB Stuttgart gives the Bundesliga an attractive opening match between last season's champions and a Stuttgart side that qualified for the Champions League. Both teams arrive after winning their first competitive games of the new campaign.
Bayern defeated Dortmund to lift the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, while Stuttgart comfortably eliminated Hansa Rostock from the DFB-Pokal. The head-to-head record creates the biggest separation. Bayern have won the last six meetings and beat Stuttgart three times last season, including a 3-0 victory in the DFB-Pokal final.
Stuttgart possess enough midfield and attacking quality to create problems, but their injury list and recent defensive struggles against Bayern make the task difficult. The available evidence therefore gives Bayern Munich a clear statistical advantage heading into the Bundesliga opener.