Bayern host Stuttgart in southern top-of-the-table clash

This match promises a lot! FC Bayern host VfB Stuttgart on Sunday evening (live text and free Web Radio commentary from 19:30 CET on fcbayern.com and the FC Bayern app) in a southern battle and top-of-the-table clash on Bundesliga Matchday 15. The Munich men are looking to keep the in-form Swabians at arm's length with a win and stay hot on the heels of leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen in their final home match of the year. Our preview has all the key info:

Here are the photos from Saturday's final training session:

The state of play for Bayern

Bayern bounced back quickly from the crushing 5-1 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend to win 1-0 at Manchester United in their final Champions League group game on Tuesday. Picking up from where they left off there is the name of the game for Thomas Tuchel's men. With 32 points from 13 matches, the Bavarians are second in the table.

Going into Matchday 15, the record champions are four points off leaders Leverkusen, who have however played one game more. "We're aware of the importance," said Tuchel in Friday's press conference. "It's a top-of-the-table game against very tough opponents because they're doing very well. It's therefore a big test."

Read the key statements from Thomas Tuchel's press conference here:

The opponents: Stuttgart

Stuttgart have caused quite a sensation this season. Having only escaped relegation in the play-off in June, the Swabians are now challenging at the top end of the table. VfB have taken 31 points from their 14 games to date and are also in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup. Former Bayern reserves coach Sebastian Hoeneß's side are unbeaten in their last five in all competitions, including two wins over Borussia Dortmund in league and cup and a 1-1 draw at home to Leverkusen last weekend.

"They deserve to be up where they are," said Tuchel on the next opponents. "They play very attractively, they're very compact. It all looks very homogenous. They're tactically flexible and very aggressive."

The facts on the clash with the Swabians:

The team news for Bayern vs. Stuttgart

Bayern are without Kingsley Coman and Noussair Mazraoui, who both sustained calf muscle tears in the match at Manchester United. Bouna Sarr (cruciate ligament tear) and Serge Gnabry (groin strain) are also ruled out. Matthijs de Ligt (partial tear in knee ligament), who returned to full training this week, could make a cameo appearance at most according to Tuchel. There's also a doubt over Harry Kane due to illness.

For the visitors, Hiroki Ito, Nikolas Nartey, Roberto Massimo and Lilian Egloff are all out injured. Defender Waldemar Anton has been nursing an injury recently and is a doubt.

We spoke with the Stuttgart coach ahead of Sunday's meeting:

What the coaches say