Reds storm to victory over Stuttgart

FC Bayern beat VfB Stuttgart 3-0 on Saturday evening. The disciplined Swabians held up the German record champions for 36 minutes, but Leon Goretzka broke the deadlock before the interval. Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller closed out the meeting midway through the second half.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Joshua Kimmich, Jérôme Boateng, Mats Hummels and David Alaba in a back four. Thiago anchored a midfield featuring Arjen Robben, Goretzka, Müller and Franck Ribéry, with Lewandowski as lone striker. Serge Gnabry, James and Corentin Tolisso took over from Ribéry, Robben and Müller with ten minutes to go.

Leon breaks the deadlock

The 58,680 capacity crowd at the Mercedes Benz Arena saw Bayern signal their intent from the off. The visitors dominated proceedings but struggled to find a way through Stuttgart's solid rearguard at first. A perceptive Kimmich throughball found Lewandowski, but the Poland captain's first touch let him down. Kimmich, who turned in an impressive display, saw a powerful shot blocked by Benjamin Pavard before he curled a cross into the box, Goretzka glancing his header just wide.

Stuttgart went on the front foot now, former FCB man Mario Gomez finding himself crowded out in the box before Anastasios Donis miscued from 25 yards. The home side's battling was undone when their rearguard focused on Müller and Lewandowski, Goretzka finding himself confronted by space and curling the ball past Ron-Robert Zieler from 20 yards. The goal could have opened the floodgates, Bayern creating a number of presentable chances before half-time, but Goretzka fired wide from the edge of the box, Zieler saving a Hummels effort and Müller firing over the bar.

Strolling to victory

Bayern camped out in their opponents' half after the restart. Alaba directed a sumptuous free-kick to the post before Goretzka headed wide, Zieler saving from Hummels. Lewandowski doubled Bayern's lead when he blasted past Zieler from the edge of the box on the hour. Alaba saw an effort blocked before Müller put the game to bed, slotting past Zieler following a cunning Lewandowski back-heel. Sub James fired over the bar before Zieler proved equal to a Kimmich effort, and match official Harm Osmers put the hosts out of their misery.

It means little at this stage, but the victory puts Bayern top of the embryonic league table on goal difference. More importantly, Bayern will be buoyed by their strong start to the season when they are back in action against Leverkusen on 15 September, after the international break.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen