Resolute Reds come from behind to beat Stuttgart

FC Bayern beat VfB Stuttgart 3-1 on Saturday, retaining their lead in the table. Tanguy Coulibaly put the Swabians ahead after 20 minutes, but Kingsley Coman and Robert Lewandowski turned the tide before half-time. The sides cancelled each other out for long spells in the second half, but Douglas Costa put the game to bed shortly before the final whistle.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Jérôme Boateng, David Alaba and Lucas Hernández in a back four. Corentin Toilsso and Leon Goretzka featured in a twin holding role behind Serge Gnabry, Thomas Müller and Coman, with target man Lewandowski up front.

Reds bounce back

After a minute's silence for Diego Maradona, Bayern hit the ground running. A Coman cross found Lewandowski, whose header crashed off the post. Goretzka miscued a header, Gonzalo Castro putting a free-kick wide at the other end. Stuttgart took the lead against the run of play, Coulibaly beating Neuer to Silas Wamangituka's centre and slotting home.

Stuttgart keeper Gregor Kobel denied Pavard before Philipp Förster fired just wide and drew a fine save from Neuer one minute later. Coman levelled the scores when Müller won the ball in his own half and teed up the Frenchman, who cut inside and curled inside the near post. The home side soon had the ball in the back of the net, but Förster's goal was ruled out for a challenge on Neuer. Lewandowski put Bayern ahead shortly before half-time, unleashing a belter from 25 yards.

Douglas seals it

Clear-cut chances proved few and far between in the second half, Coman firing wide from distance. Niklas Süle took over from Hernández before Tanguy Nianzou made his debut for Bayern, coming on for Boateng, with Douglas Costa and Leroy Sané replacing Coman and Gnabry. Sané fired wide before Süle made a crucial block against Orel Mangala, Javi Martínez taking over from Tolisso.

The match sprang to life in the closing stages, Waldemar Anton dragging an effort wide of the far post and Sasa Kalajdzic forcing Neuer into action, but Costa closed out the meeting on the break when he fired inside the near post.

The result takes Bayern onto 22 points from nine matches, two clear of Leipzig. The German record champions will be back in action on Tuesday, when they travel to face Atlético Madrid in the Champions League.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen