Bayern gain confidence for Leverkusen showdown

As soon as the final whistle blew in Stuttgart, the overjoyed Bayern fans were already getting ready for the next crunch clash. Before kick-off, the visitors' block had put on an impressive tifo to mark the club's 125th anniversary with glitter paper and the historic logo. The hard-fought 3-1 win in an intense, at times heated and thrilling contest with VfB Stuttgart meant relief for all Munich fans – and at the same time the perfect way to warm up for the eagerly awaited round of 16 in the Champions League against Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Wednesday evening. FC Bayern can go into this match with huge confidence: the important win on the Neckar extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to nine games. The lead in the Bundesliga over second-placed Leverkusen is now in double figures at 11 points, at least until tomorrow.

"It was hard work tonight," said a delighted Leon Goretzka, scorer of Bayern's second goal. "I enjoyed this win," stated head coach Vincent Kompany. "I saw how the coach celebrated with us. It was very important for us," commented Kingsley Coman, who made it 3-1. Kompany, who never managed to win in Stuttgart as a player, continued: "We grew into the game."

That growth was necessary after Bayern made a slow start to the game in front of 60,000 excited fans. And even more so after the bold hosts took the lead through Munich native and former youth player Angelo Stiller, who fired them in front with a superb strike in the 34th minute. Stuttgart were more alert in the first half and clearly had the desire, with their vocal home support behind them, to outfight Bayern despite two successive home defeats. With quick transitional play and some eye-catching combinations, VfB were causing the Bayern defence problems. 

Energy and character

"Stuttart were clearly better in the first half an hour," admitted Kompany. "But in terms of the energy and the character, we did everything to make sure they didn't create many big chances against us." Stuttgart players also repeatedly went to ground in the many duels, using the resulting indignation to add fuel to the fire of the crackling atmosphere of this Friday evening game. The southern battle was bubbling and boiling - and if anyone had held a thermometer in the Neckar river flowing behind the stadium, a rise in temperature would probably have been recorded.

Providing the heat on the pitch were two attack-minded teams, who frequently combined to dangerous effect in front of the goals. "We wanted to play with courage and intensity, put Bayern under pressure, play through their press and lure them out – that worked and succeeded," said VfB head coach Sebastian Hoeneß, another with experience at the Campus. "But they also had two big chances. And we had plenty of opportunities ourselves."

However, Josha Vagnoman failed with a gentle chip one-v-one against the onrushing Manuel Neuer in just the sixth minute, as did Jamal Musiala, who fired well wide with the goal gaping. Bayern were also lucky that Deniz Undav only struck the outside of the post.

"Then we scored the goal at the right time," analysed Kompany. His opposite number was annoyed: "That was a blow. Being 1-0 up at half-time would've been important to regroup with a good feeling, go out and keep fighting." However, the impressive Michael Olise scored a deserved equaliser from Leroy Sané's pass for Bayern, who showed mentality after going behind. "We believed we could turn the game around," said captain Manuel Neuer. "We worked for that as a team." And also because they had a crafty fox on their side.

Crafty Goretzka predicts goal

"Funnily enough, I said to the coach at half-time that I was going to score a goal like that," revealed Goretzka at full time. Bayern pressed deep in Stuttgart's half, goalkeeper Nübel put his playmaker Stiller in a difficult spot with a low pass and Stiller, who stood out in the first half with a 100 percent pass completion rate to go with his goal, lost the ball – and Kompany's men led 2-1. "I know that Angelo often wants to play the ball across his left foot, that's what I was gambling on," explained the goalscorer. "I'd already been thinking about that in preparation. It's all the better when something like that is rewarded."

The momentum was now increasingly swinging towards the visitors as Bayern developed the aggression and passion in defending to literally force the away win. "We were hungry until the end and were determined to win the game," said substitute Josip Stanišić. Even though Stuttgart responded aggressively to fight off a home defeat, it was the Bavarians who were constantly one step quicker to the ball. "It was impressive to see how they resisted as a team," praised Hoeneß. "Therefore our defeat was deserved in the end."

Important takeaways before Levekrusen

Going forward, too, Bayern remained full of running and concentrated. The committed pressing and closing down again forced mistakes in the Stuttgart rearguard. This time substitute Kingsley Coman won the ball, was quicker than the outrushing Nübel and slotted it into the empty net to seal the deal in the last minute.

"We go into the match against Leverkusen positively, we've now beaten Frankfurt 4-0 and won 3-1 in Stuttgart," added Neuer. "You can't ask for better. What awaits us in the Champions League is a different calibre, but we're looking forward to the games and will approach them positively." It's also an important realisation, commented Stanišić, "to know that even when we're behind against a good team, we can go up a gear and come back".

Before the first chants aimed at the Champions League were sung by the away fans, there was a different, well-known serenade full of relief and pride about the 3-1 success: "Only FCB will be German champions!"

The post-match reaction: