Bayern Munich booked a victory in the Bundesliga on Saturday evening. Matthijs de Ligt played a leading role in coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team by first saving on the goal line and then opening the score against VfB Stuttgart with a long shot himself. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting doubled the margin after the break, after which the home team’s connection goal came too late: 1-2. With the victory, Bayern takes over the lead on goal difference from Borussia Dortmund.
De Ligt was the only Dutchman to kick off: Daley Blind and Ryan Gravenberch started on the bench, just like against 1. FC Union Berlin (3-0 win). De Ligt saw Dayot Upamecano, who was suspended against Union, return next to him in the heart of the Bavarian defense. The visitors handed out a first pinprick in the opening phase via Jamal Musiala, who saw his shot blocked up close by Dan-Axel Zagadou after a great solo in the small space. Bayern pressed further halfway through the first half, but Leon Goretzka had to watch how goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow had a strong reflex on his header.
???????????????? ???? ???????? ?? Bayern Munich leads 0-1 against Stuttgart halfway ???? Tune in for second half: https://t.co/iV5xBiXkZJ#ViaplaySportNL #ViaplayFootball pic.twitter.com/HX78zSiTxn
— Viaplay Sport Netherlands (@viaplaysportnl) March 4, 2023
Nagelsmann’s team was released with a fright in the 36th minute, after Yann Sommer missed a corner kick. Konstantinos Mavropanos thought to head in, but De Ligt managed to make a save just before the goal line. The the Dutch international then broke the ban in a brilliant way. The defender was allowed to moor from 25 meters, after which Bredlow was unable to parry: 0-1. Bayern had little to fear from the Swabians. The Record Master seemed to close the game after more than an hour via Choupo-Moting, who was able to slide in on a pass from Thomas Müller: 0-2.
The larger lead gave Nagelsmann the opportunity to make a triple substitution. Leroy Sané, Sadio Mané and Serge Gnabry came in for Kingsley Coman, Choupo-Moting and Musiala. Gravenberch and Benjamin Pavard were also allowed to participate for another ten minutes. Stuttgart brought back the tension in the final phase. Juan José Perea won an air duel against De Ligt to head the 1-2 against the ropes. However, the home team did not get further than the tying goal.
| No. | Team | m | W | G | v | +/- | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayern Munich | 23 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 44 | 49 |
| 2 | Borussia Dortmund | 23 | 16 | 1 | 6 | 19 | 49 |
| 3 | 1. FC Union Berlin | 23 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 44 |
| 4 | RB Leipzig | 23 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 42 |
| 5 | SC Freiburg | 23 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 42 |
| 6 | Eintracht Frankfurt | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 38 |
| 7 | FSV Mainz 05 | 23 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 35 |
| 8 | VfL Wolfsburg | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 33 |
| 9 | Borussia Monchengladbach | 23 | 8 | 6 | 9 | -1 | 30 |
| 10 | Werder Bremen | 23 | 9 | 3 | 11 | -8 | 30 |
| 11 | Bayer Leverkusen | 22 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 28 |
| 12 | 1. FC Cologne | 23 | 6 | 9 | 8 | -4 | 27 |
| 13 | FC Augsburg | 23 | 8 | 3 | 12 | -11 | 27 |
| 14 | Hertha BSC | 22 | 5 | 5 | 12 | -13 | 20 |
| 15 | VfB Stuttgart | 23 | 4 | 7 | 12 | -12 | 19 |
| 16 | TSG Hoffenheim | 23 | 5 | 4 | 14 | -13 | 19 |
| 17 | Schalke 04 | 23 | 4 | 7 | 12 | -24 | 19 |
| 18 | VfL Bochum | 23 | 6 | 1 | 16 | -32 | 19 |