Impressive Bayern down Stuttgart

FC Bayern beat VfB Stuttgart 3-0 in the Bundesliga on Sunday, taking three crucial points in the final home game of the year. Munich had the better chances and took an early lead through Harry Kane, who rounded off his brace after the restart. Minjae Kim sealed the final scoreline midway through the second half.

Bayern lined up with Manuel Neuer in goal and Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Kim and Alphonso Davies in defence. Aleksandar Pavlović and Raphaël Guerreiro anchored a midfield featuring Jamal Musiala, Thomas Müller and Leroy Sané, with Kane up front. Mathys Tel, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Frans Krätzig came on for Musiala, Müller and Davies in the closing stages.

Wealth of chances

Bayern hit the ground running and got off to a perfect start when they won the ball in midfield and Sané's square invited Kane to tap in. Munich were looking to strike on the break and let Stuttgart have the ball at first, with keeper and FCB loanee Alexander Nübel denying Laimer. Maximilian Mittelstädt warmed Neuer's gloves before Guerreiro saw a shot blocked at the other end.

Bayern had the ball in the net for a second time when Kim headed in, but the goal was chalked off for offside after VAR intervention. Nübel made a fine save against Sané before the latter hit the side-netting against the reeling visitors. Kane saw an effort saved and a Müller shot was parried, with Musiala only just miscuing the rebound. Munich netted with the half-time whistle imminent, Müller beating Nübel from a tight angle, but again the goal was ruled out for a marginally offside position after VAR intervention, and Bayern were only one up at half-time.

Brace for Harry

Bayern dominated play in the second half and finally doubled the lead when Pavlović's free-kick found Kim, who nodded back for Kane to convert. Munich soon closed out the meeting, Kim finding the net with the help of a deflection from another Pavlović corner to score his first goal in Bayern colours.

There was plenty of space for Bayern, but Sané saw a shot deflected behind and Laimer's cross evaded friend and foe alike. The game petered out now and Bayern sealed a very much deserved victory.

The result takes Bayern onto 35 points from 14 matches, four short of Leverkusen, with Munich having a game in hand. The Bavarians will be back in action on Wednesday, when they travel to face Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga for the final game of this year.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen