Bundesliga MD 1: Bayern Munich start title defense against VfB Stuttgart
After lifting their first trophy of the season last weekend, Bayern Munich begin their Bundesliga title defense on Friday against VfB Stuttgart at Allianz Arena. Bayern come into this game on the back of a 2-1 win against Borussia Dortmund in the Franz Beckenbauer Cup.
Stuttgart and Bayern ended the domestic campaign together by meeting in the final of the DFB Pokal. The Bavarian club came on top in that game to lift the domestic cup and make it a successful season in Germany by winning the domestic double.
With the expanded version of the World Cup taking place in the summer, players are not yet completely ready for the new season at several clubs. Stuttgart certainly have the quality to capitalise on any rustiness Bayern show on Friday. Since both teams play an entertaining style of football, the Bavarian faithful at Allianz Arena should get a nice viewing in the first matchday of the Bundesliga.
Team News
Bayern Munich have given Jamal Musiala more rest after two incidents at the end of the pre-season in which he fainted on the pitch. The 23-year-old has been training with the team, but Die Roten want to rest him this weekend so that he is completely fit for matchday two.
Lennart Karl has recovered from an injury that kept him on the sidelines for the entire summer. He is expected to be part of the matchday squad against Stuttgart. Serge Gnabry is still a few weeks away from regaining complete fitness, so he is set to miss Saturday’s Bundesliga opener.
Predicted Starting XI
Manuel Neuer had a decent outing against Borussia Dortmund in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup last weekend. He will keep his place in the starting XI against Stuttgart. Jonas Urbig will have to wait a bit for his first start of the season.
Kim Min-jae looked solid beside Jonathan Tah in the heart of defense against Borussia Dortmund. The South Korean defender will keep his place in the starting XI and play alongside Tah, allowing Dayot Upamecano to build fitness after missing a big chunk of the pre-season due to World Cup participation with France. Josip Stanisic and Konrad Laimer will slot in at left-back and right-back, respectively.
Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic are expected to start in the center of the park against Stuttgart. The German duo was excellent against Dortmund in the Supercup.
Kompany will be tempted to stick with the front four that did a good job against Dortmund. Michael Olise will play on the right flank, while Luis Diaz is expected to start on the left side of the attack. Harry Kane will lead the attack with Nathaniel Brown playing behind him in the number 10 position.
Predicted Starting XI: Neuer; Stanisic, Tah, Kim Min-jae, Laimer; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Diaz, Brown, Olise; Kane
Score Prediction
Bayern Munich 3-0 VfB Stuttgart
Bayern were not at their best against Dortmund, but they managed to hold on to a win. The attack looked good, but there were some question marks over the drop in intensity during the second half. With another week of training under their belt, Bayern are expected to be better against Stuttgart and clinch a comfortable win against Stuttgart at Allianz Arena.
