FC Bayern meet VfB Stuttgart in a Bundesliga match for the first time in nearly two years this Saturday. Hansi Flick's team want to maintain their lead in the table, but they also have the chance to set a new record. fcbayern.com summarises the relevant facts, figures and statistics ahead of the duel with the newcomers.
1. FC Bayern aim for Bundesliga win record
Stuttgart are one of six teams to have more than 100 Bundesliga games under their belt against Bayern. The Reds have faced VfB 102 times in the 55-year history of the top division. FCB have won 64 of these duels, drawn 20 and lost 18. In the event of a further victory, they could equal their own record (65 wins against Hamburg) - no Bundesliga club has managed more wins against one opponent.
2. VfB meet bogey opponents
Bayern have won 18 of their last 19 games against Stuttgart. The most recent defeat was on Matchday 34 of the 2017/18 season (4-1). At this point, the Munich team had already been crowned German champions. The last away defeat was back in 2007, when VfB - as reigning champions - prevailed 3-1 against Ottmar Hitzfeld's team in front of their own fans.
The last duel with the Swabians was a 4-1 win for FCB in January 2019 with goals from Thiago, Leon Goretzka, Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry.
3. League newcomers have a hard time against Bayern
In the past ten years, Munich have only lost one of their 44 Bundesliga games against a promoted team (41 wins, two draws): The defeat was the aforementioned 4-1 loss against VfB on Matchday 34 of the 2017/18 season .
4. Gnabry, Stuttgart and the number 7
The successor and his predecessor: Serge Gnabry comes on for Franck Ribéry.
Serge Gnabry made his debut for FC Bayern on 1 September 2018 in a 3-0 win in Stuttgart, the club where he played in the youth for six years and learned the trade. On that day, he came on for Franck Ribéry in the 77th minute - whose number 7 he now wears on his back.
5. A game that guarantees goals
Both teams have managed to score at least one goal in each of their first eight games in the current Bundesliga season. Only Werder Bremen and Union Berlin have matched this. This run goes back to February for FCB and now spans 36 straight games. Stuttgart are the strongest newly-promoted side in eight years with 16 goals after eight games.
Bayern demonstrated their hunger for goals once again in the 3-1 win against Salzburg in the Champions League during the week.
6. Stuttgart struggling at home
The newcomers are still waiting for their first victory at home this season. So far, they have only managed three draws, and a loss to SC Freiburg on Matchday 1. If the Swabians fail to get the three points again against FC Bayern, this would be a club record.
7. Against the woodwork
The Stuttgart side have already hit the post or crossbar seven times this season – the most in the league! The men from Munich have hit the woodwork three fewer times, equal second lowest in the league with Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Hansi Flick revealed his expectations of the upcoming opponents in the press conference on Friday:
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