Bayern Munich open new Bundesliga season with commanding win over Stuttgart
Bayern Munich defeated Stuttgart 5:1 in their Bundesliga season opener, pulling away in the second half. The champions next face a DFB Pokal tie and a trip to face newly promoted Schalke.
German champions Bayern Munich began their new Bundesliga campaign with a convincing 5:1 home win over Stuttgart.
The visitors created the game's first real chance, with a Stuttgart forward heading a cross over the bar from a promising position. Bayern soon took control, hitting the woodwork five times in the first half but converting only once. Defender Dayot Upamecano opened the scoring in the 21st minute, finding the far corner from a corner-kick routine.
Second half brings more goals
After the break, Bayern's grip on the game briefly loosened, and Stuttgart capitalized with a swift counterattack, equalizing through Josha Vagnoman, who turned in a rebound under the crossbar.
Bayern responded quickly. In the 55th minute, Michael Olise scored after being set up by Joshua Kimmich. Shortly after, Bayern doubled their lead when Stuttgart defender Vagnoman, attempting to block a pass, slipped and inadvertently put the ball into his own net.
The visitors pushed for a way back into the match, but their hopes faded in the 82nd minute. Olise set up Moroccan midfielder Ismael Saibari, who, seeing defenders converge on him, squared the ball to an unmarked Aleksandar Pavlović. The German midfielder netted his first goal of the season to complete the scoring.
Bayern's next fixture comes on Wednesday in the first round of the DFB Pokal against second-division side Osnabrück, followed by an away match the following Saturday against Schalke, who have just returned to the second Bundesliga after a three-season absence.
