Three days after the 2-0 win in the Champions League opener at Inter Milan, FC Bayern welcome VfB Stuttgart to the Allianz Arena on Saturday at 15:30 CEST for their next Bundesliga home match. We've put together the key facts and figures for you ahead of the southern clash, where two former Stuttgart players in particular will be hotly anticipating the encounter with their boyhood club.
1. Onwards to number 81
FC Bayern drew 1-1 with Union Berlin in the matchday's standout fixture last weekend.
Julian Nagelsmann's team will be aiming to demonstrate once again on Saturday why VfB are among Bayern's favourite opponents. The men from Munich have won 67 of the 106 Bundesliga matches between the two clubs so far - no other team in BL history has celebrated as many wins against their rivals. In addition, FCB's 80 competitive wins against Stuttgart since the foundation of the Bundesliga are also a record. The Reds intend to bag number 81 on Saturday.
2. Return to the top of the table?
For the first time in a year, and after the two 1-1 draws against Borussia Mönchengladbach and Union Berlin, FCB are no longer in first place following a BL matchday. SC Freiburg, in action against Gladbach on Sunday, and Borussia Dortmund, who travel to RB Leipzig on Saturday, are currently a point ahead of the German record champions.
3. Kimmich the provider
Joshua Kimmich not only orchestrates Bayern's game in midfield; his assists mean he's also dangerous in attack.
Leader Joshua Kimmich has made a terrific start to the season. The midfielder has already notched up two goals and two assists in the Bundesliga and has been directly involved in a total of 13 goals in 2022 (two goals and 11 assists). Bayern's number six is constantly setting new records: no-one else has provided as many assists as Kimmich this season (18) and his 68 passes and crosses into the penalty area are the best of any player in the league. Things are also going well in the Champions League: in the 2-0 opening win at Inter Milan on Wednesday evening, Kimmich set up Leroy Sané's first goal with a stunning pass.
4. Gnabry's favourite opponents
Serge Gnabry scored a hat-trick in the 5-0 away win at Stuttgart last season..
Just like Kimmich, Serge Gnabry will also come up against his boyhood club this weekend. The 27-year-old forward particularly enjoys playing against Stuttgart in the Bayern jersey; he boasts more goal involvements against them than against any other team in the Bundesliga (five goals, three assists). Last season, the striker was directly involved in six of FCB's seven goals against VfB.
5. Hope for struggling VfB
Stuttgart's 1-1 draw against Schalke 04 last week means they're still without a win in five league matches this season. No other team in the German top flight has been waiting as long for an away league win as the Swabians currently have (12 games).
Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo's side should be able to draw hope from their recent record against the Reds: VfB drew 2-2 at the Allianz Arena last time out, meaning they've picked up four points from their last four trips there. That's more than any other Bundesliga team can look back on in recent games in Munich. So the German record champions will be on their guard against the 12th-placed team in the Bundesliga!
Leroy Sané put on a dazzling display at the San Siro:
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