Bayern see off Stuttgart to reclaim top spot

FC Bayern beat VfB Stuttgart 2-1 on Saturday to move back ahead of Borussia Dortmund on goal difference at the top of the Bundesliga table after 23 games. Matthijs de Ligt put Bayern ahead before half-time and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting doubled the lead after the hour mark. Juan Perea pulled one back in the closing stages but Bayern wrapped up a deserved win to reclaim the lead in the Bundesliga four days before the Champions League second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.

The Bavarians lined up with Yann Sommer in goal and Josip Stanišić, Dayot Upamecano and de Ligt in defence. Joshua Kimmich anchored a midfield featuring Kingsley Coman, Leon Goretzka, Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies, with Thomas Müller and Choupo-Moting up front. Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sané, Sadio Mané, Ryan Gravenberch and Benjamin Pavard took over from Coman, Musiala, Choupo-Moting, Goretzka and Müller in the second half.

De Ligt breaks the deadlock

The 47,800 full house in Stuttgart saw the hosts press aggressively and get off to a good start in a high-octane encounter, but Bayern soon asserted their authority. VfB keeper Fabian Bredlow denied Choupo-Moting and Kimmich before Musiala sidestepped a number of opponents only to see his shot blocked. Hiroki Ito fired wide at the other end, with Goretzka seeing a shot saved and a header tipped over the bar.

De Ligt cleared a Konstantinos Mavropanos header off the line and soon shone at the other end, unleashing a belter from over 20 yards to beat Bredlow. Silas had an effort deflected behind, and Bayern headed into the changing room a goal to the good.

Choupo on target

Bredlow denied Coman before Waldemar Anton saw an effort deflected behind. Bayern countered, the charging Musiala seeing his square for Goretzka intercepted. Musiala soon played in Müller in the box, who invited Choupo-Moting to double the lead.

Bayern engaged cruise control now, with chances at a premium. The game sprang back into life when Stuttgart pulled one back out of the blue in the closing stages, Perea heading in from a cross. The contest was frantic now, Tanguy Coulibaly heading just wide before Stanišić's cross was a shade too high for Mané on the beak as it remained 2-1 for a deserved Bayern victory.

The result means Bayern have 49 points from 23 matches, level on points with Dortmund. They will be back in action on Wednesday when they entertain PSG in the Champions League round of 16 second leg.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen