'We're called upon' - Bayern host Stuttgart

The games are coming thick and fast for FC Bayern. In between the two Champions League crackers again Inter Milan and Barcelona, Julian Nagelsmann’s side host VfB Stuttgart on Saturday (live text and free Web Radio from 15:30 CEST on fcbayern.com and in the FC Bayern app) on Bundesliga Matchday 6. The Munich men are aiming to claim all three points at the Allianz Arena and possibly reclaim top spot in the table - our preview has all the info on the game.

Here are the images from the final training session on Friday:

The situation for FC Bayern

For Bayern, it’s a case of carrying on the momentum from their winning start in the Champions League. FCB celebrated a 2-0 victory at Inter Milan on Wednesday, but in the league they’ve slipped behind Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund following back-to-back 1-1 draws against Borussia Mönchengladbach and at Union Berlin. The record champions are one point behind leaders Freiburg going into the weekend. If SCF (at home to Mönchengladbach on Sunday) and BVB (away to RB Leipzig on Saturday) fail to win their matches, Bayern can return to the summit with victory at home to Stuttgart.

Watch Julian Nagelsmann’s pre-match press conference in full:

The opponents: VfB Stuttgart

Stuttgart sit in 12th place in the table with four points from the first five matches. VfB are yet to win in the league, drawing four times and losing 1-0 to Freiburg. That said, coach Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side have picked up points in their last two outings against Köln and Schalke 04 despite being reduced to 10 men. “They’re not playing pretty football and losing anymore, which perhaps they did at times last year, but also sometimes overturning the opposition pressing and going for the second balls. They’re trying to pull the opponents away from the middle and switch the play,” described Nagelsmann.

All the stats on the meeting with the Swabians:

The team news for FC Bayern vs. Stuttgart

Bayern must do without Kingsley Coman for the time being. The attacker tore a muscle in his right hamstring in training on Friday. Joshua Kimmich, who was left with a black eye after a collision with teammate Marcel Sabitzer in the Inter match, is fit. When asked about possible rotation during this busy period, Nagelsmann answered: “We will rotate, also to keep everyone on their toes. There’ll be some changes.” Leon Goretzka is one player who will definitely start, revealed Nagelsmann.

VfB are without Nikolas Nartey, Tanguy Coulibaly and Laurin Ulrich due to injury, while Josha Vagnoman and Luca Pfeiffer are both suspended.

What the coaches say

Julian Nagelsmann: “It’s not difficult to get back into Bundesliga mode because we’re called upon. We’ve drawn twice and aren’t in the position we want to be. Stuttgart play with a lot of variety and have a lot of different systems. There are always clear patterns on the counter from the different formations, which we need to be prepared for.”

Pellegrino Matarazzo (VfB Stuttgart): “We’ve got the opportunity in Munich to show what we’re capable of - particularly with the focus, unity and heart we show on the pitch. If we play as a team and stand our ground, we’re also capable of getting a result in Munich. We’re going there to get something.”