Bayern Munich vs VfB Stuttgart: Bundesliga Season Opener Preview, Team News & H2H

Bayern Munich vs VfB Stuttgart opens the 2026/27 Bundesliga season at the Allianz Arena on Friday night, with defending champions Bayern beginning their title defence against the side they beat four times across three competitions last season. Kick-off is at 20:30 SAST.

Bayern arrive with competitive momentum after beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, while Stuttgart started their season with a 4-0 DFB Cup win at Hansa Rostock. New striker Dženan Pejčinović scored a hat-trick on his competitive Stuttgart debut, giving Sebastian Hoeneß an immediate attacking storyline before the trip to Munich.

The opener also brings two of last season’s strongest attacks together. Bayern scored a Bundesliga-record 122 goals in 2025/26, while Stuttgart finished fourth after scoring 71, the second-highest total in the division. The tactical question is whether Stuttgart can press and attack with the same aggression without leaving the spaces Bayern repeatedly exploited in last season’s meetings.

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Bayern Munich vs VfB Stuttgart match details

Bayern start their title defence with momentum

Bayern retained the Bundesliga title in 2025/26 and spent the entire campaign at the top of the table. They begin the new league season after a strong summer in which they won five of six friendlies before lifting the Supercup in Dortmund.

The 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund was Bayern’s first competitive match of the new campaign and gave Kompany an early test of his team’s intensity. The coach has stressed that last season’s trophies do not carry into a new campaign and that Bayern must build their level again from Matchday 1.

There is also a significant opening-day record to protect. Bayern have not lost their first Bundesliga match since August 2011, while defending champions as a whole are unbeaten in the official Friday-night season opener.

Stuttgart arrive after a four-goal DFB Cup win

Stuttgart’s first competitive match produced an emphatic result. Hoeneß’s side beat Hansa Rostock 4-0 in the first round of the DFB Cup, controlling the game with more than 75 percent possession and 21 attempts.

Dženan Pejčinović was the headline performer. The 21-year-old summer signing scored in the 18th and 37th minutes before completing his hat-trick in the 82nd. Tiago Tomás added Stuttgart’s third goal.

Stuttgart’s challenge is very different at the Allianz Arena. They will have less control of possession and more defending to do, but their attacking quality, pressing intensity and ability to regain the ball high up the pitch give them ways to make Bayern work.

Bayern Munich team news

Jamal Musiala will not be available for the season opener, although he returned to team training on Thursday. Lennart Karl has returned to the Bayern squad after recovering from a muscle injury.

Bayern otherwise have major attacking options available, including Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Díaz. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović remain central to how Kompany builds through midfield, while Manuel Neuer is set to begin his 21st Bundesliga season.

VfB Stuttgart team news

Jamie Leweling has returned to team training and will travel to Munich. Chris Führich is a late fitness decision, while Ramon Hendriks has also returned to training.

The Bayern match comes too early for Luca Jaquez, Lorenz Assignon and Leo Sauer. Stuttgart are also without Dennis Seimen, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Nikolas Nartey, Justin Diehl and Jeremy Arévalo.

Deniz Undav has been named Stuttgart captain for the new season, succeeding Atakan Karazor. His role around Pejčinović gives Hoeneß flexibility between a second-striker role and a deeper attacking position.

What Vincent Kompany and Sebastian Hoeneß have said

Kompany expects an intense opening match. He has highlighted Stuttgart’s aggressive pressing, their willingness to play forward and their ability to find creative solutions with the ball. That assessment matches last season’s numbers: Stuttgart finished with the second-best attack in the Bundesliga.

Hoeneß has described Bayern away as the most difficult possible opening fixture and said Stuttgart will need complete concentration and conviction. The message from the Stuttgart coach is clear: the visitors cannot spend the night reacting to Bayern; they need enough courage with and without the ball to disrupt the champions.

Bayern Munich vs Stuttgart H2H: Bayern dominated 2025/26

Bayern won all four competitive meetings with Stuttgart last season, including both Bundesliga fixtures, the Supercup and the DFB Cup final.

The wider Bundesliga-era record also strongly favours Bayern. Since the competition was founded, the clubs have met 132 times in competitive football, with Bayern winning 88, Stuttgart 22 and 22 ending in draws.

Harry Kane’s Stuttgart record

Harry Kane enters the opener with an exceptional record against Stuttgart. The Bayern striker has scored 14 goals in eight competitive matches against VfB, more than he has managed against any other German opponent.

That includes a hat-trick from the bench in the 5-0 league win at Stuttgart last December and another hat-trick in the DFB Cup final in May. Kane also begins the new Bundesliga season on 98 goals from 94 league appearances, leaving him two short of 100.

Dženan Pejčinović gives Stuttgart a new centre-forward option

Pejčinović’s hat-trick at Rostock immediately changes the attacking conversation around Stuttgart. The striker showed movement inside the penalty area, composure in one-on-one situations and the ability to combine in the build-up.

With Undav now captain and able to play around him, Stuttgart can use a more physical central reference without losing the link between midfield and attack. That combination will face a much stronger defensive test against Bayern’s centre-backs.

Michael Olise and Luis Díaz can stretch Stuttgart’s press

Bayern’s wide attackers are central to the matchup. Olise can receive between the lines or isolate a full-back on the right, while Luis Díaz can attack the opposite side directly.

If Stuttgart press high, Bayern will try to play through the first line and release those wide players into space. If Stuttgart sit deeper, Olise’s combination play and Kane’s movement around the penalty area become more important.

Three tactical battles to watch

Stuttgart’s press against Bayern’s build-up

Hoeneß wants an aggressive team without the ball, but the risk against Bayern is the space left behind the first press. Kimmich and Pavlović can play through pressure, and one clean progression can leave Olise, Díaz and Kane attacking a retreating defence.

Angelo Stiller and Grischa Prömel against Bayern’s midfield

Stuttgart need enough control in central midfield to prevent Bayern from sustaining attacks around the box. Stiller’s passing and Prömel’s work without the ball are important both for escaping pressure and protecting the centre.

Kane against Stuttgart’s centre-backs

Kane’s recent record makes this the clearest individual matchup. Stuttgart need to deny him clean touches in the penalty area while also tracking the runs around him. Focusing too narrowly on Kane can create room for Bayern’s attacking midfielders.

Key stats before Bayern Munich vs VfB Stuttgart

Key players to watch

Harry Kane – Starts the season two goals short of 100 in the Bundesliga and has 14 goals in eight games against Stuttgart.

Michael Olise – Provides Bayern’s main right-sided creativity and can attack either outside or between midfield and defence.

Luis Díaz – Gives Bayern direct running from the left and can exploit space when Stuttgart commit numbers to the press.

Joshua Kimmich – Controls Bayern’s first progression and is central to how the champions escape pressure.

Deniz Undav – The new Stuttgart captain links midfield to attack and can work around a more fixed centre-forward.

Dženan Pejčinović – Arrives after a hat-trick on his Stuttgart debut and gives VfB a fresh focal point in the box.

Angelo Stiller – Important to Stuttgart’s ability to retain the ball and play through Bayern’s pressure.

Confirmed lineups and live updates

The starting lineups should only be added once Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart officially release their teams, usually around one hour before kick-off. Until then, the preview should stay with confirmed player availability and current team information rather than projected XIs.

For the latest score, confirmed lineups, goals, cards and match statistics once the game starts, use SP Score.

Bayern and Stuttgart are also both part of the 2026/27 Champions League league phase. See SportPesa South Africa’s Champions League draw guide for the competition format and draw context.

Bayern Munich vs VfB Stuttgart FAQs

When is Bayern Munich vs VfB Stuttgart?

The Bundesliga season opener is on Friday, 28 August 2026.

What time is Bayern Munich vs Stuttgart?

Kick-off is at 20:30 SAST.

Where is Bayern Munich vs VfB Stuttgart being played?

The match is at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

Who won the Bundesliga in 2025/26?

Bayern Munich won the 2025/26 Bundesliga and begin this season as defending champions.

How did Bayern start their competitive season?

Bayern beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup.

How did Stuttgart start their competitive season?

Stuttgart beat Hansa Rostock 4-0 in the DFB Cup, with Dženan Pejčinović scoring a hat-trick.

Is Jamal Musiala available?

No. Musiala has returned to team training but is not available for the Bundesliga opener.

Is Jamie Leweling available?

Leweling has returned to team training and is travelling with Stuttgart to Munich.

How many goals has Harry Kane scored against Stuttgart?

Kane has scored 14 goals in eight competitive appearances against Stuttgart.

Are the starting lineups confirmed?

No. The confirmed XIs should be added only after the clubs officially release them.

Conclusion

Bayern Munich vs VfB Stuttgart gives the Bundesliga an immediate meeting between the defending champions and last season’s fourth-placed side. Bayern arrive after lifting the Supercup, while Stuttgart bring confidence from a 4-0 DFB Cup win and Pejčinović’s debut hat-trick.

The key football questions are whether Stuttgart can sustain their aggressive press without opening space for Olise, Díaz and Kane, how Undav and Pejčinović combine against Bayern’s centre-backs, and whether Bayern can extend a dominant recent record that included four wins over Stuttgart last season. Confirmed lineups will provide the next major update before the 20:30 SAST kick-off.

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