Bundesliga: Eight Points and Counting for Super Bayern

VfB Stuttgart vs Bayern Munich

Look at the top five leagues in Europe, and there is no team dominating right now, except the Bundesliga.

The warning signs were there in August when the curtain raiser to the campaign, the German Super Cup Final, showed just why it is Bayern Munich who remain the team to beat.

The league winners’ 2-1 success over German Cup holders VfB Stuttgart clearly emphasised that, so this SBOTOP scribe was not being particularly wise when he outlined that the Bavarians were overwhelming favourites to retain the title.

That Super Cup showpiece was actually a close encounter, but even then, it was still hard to see any side toppling the big-spending champs over a nine-month marathon, and that has proved to be the case.

For Bayern, travel to sixth-placed Stuttgart, runners-up in 2023-24, on Saturday afternoon with an eight-point advantage at the summit.

 

Talking Points

They may be among those battling it out for best of the rest, but Stuttgart deserve enormous credit for their progress.

Yes, they went down to a late defeat at Hamburg at the weekend, but they are juggling their league and Europa League commitments fairly well and sit just one point off the top eight, a position which secures automatic qualification to the last 16 next spring.

I do expect VfB head coach Sebastian Hoeneß to rotate his squad for their midweek German Cup with Bochum, given the Bayern match comes less than 72 hours later.

Watch out in the home ranks for Bilal El Khannouss, a deadline day signing from Leicester City in September who, so far, is proving a fan favourite. The young Moroccan international can put up Bundesliga 2025 highlights, has five goals and four assists in his first 16 competitive outings for Stuttgart so far and could be one of their main threats.

High-flying Bayern are also expected to rest players in their midweek cup tie against fellow top-flight side Union Berlin, who remain the only side to have taken points off the Bavarians in the league to date.

They also have an impressive youngster in their ranks in the shape of 17-year-old Lennart Karl, who last week became the second youngest player to score in consecutive Champions League appearances (17 years and 277 days), behind Lamine Yamal (17 years and 270 days).

 

History

Last season, in the league, a second-half hat-trick from Harry Kane ensured a close first hour counted for nothing with Kingsley Coman adding the extras in a 4-0 win.

Bayern then won 3-1 on Stuttgart turf, Angelo Stiller’s opener was cancelled out and then overturned by Michael Olise, Leon Goretzka, and Coman.

Two seasons ago, both sides won well on home soil. Bayern won 3-0, courtesy of a double from Kane and one from defender Kim Min-jae.

It was a different story in the return, though, as Stuttgart ran out 3-1 winners thanks to late goals from Wooyeong Jeong and Silas Katompa Mvumpa. It had been level with seven minutes remaining after Kane had cancelled out Leonidas Stergiou’s opener.

That allowed them to close the gap on Bayern to two points, a result which would prove crucial as Stuttgart overhauled them on the final day of the season. It was at the turn of the millennium, the 1999/2000 campaign, when Stuttgart last enjoyed a league double over Germany’s dominant force.

The clubs also contested the 2013 German Cup Final, an occasion Bayern edged by the odd goal in five, thanks to a Thomas Müller penalty and a Mario Gomez double before Martin Harnik netted a brace of his own to give Stuttgart a glimmer.

Bayern have won 31 of their last 41 head-to-head clashes with five Stuttgart successes and a further five draws.

 

Betting Tip

The Bundesliga 2025 betting odds don’t even expect Stuttgart to lay much of a glove on Bayern.

So much so that even a draw will pay out @ 4.64, let alone a home victory, on offer either 1X2 @ 5.20 or Asian Handicap +1.25 @ 1.91.

For Bayern, the odds differ quite dramatically, including 1X2 @ 1.44 and Asian Handicap -1.25 @ 1.99.

A re-run of the league meeting at the MHP Arena last term is on offer @ 10.00 with Correct Score 1-3, or a closer away win – with the same scoreline as the Super Cup – paying out @ 8.00 with Correct Score 1-2.

Three-goal bets all catch my eye, and I’ve been tempted on all counts by Total Goals 0-1 @ 6.20, 2-3 @ 2.43, and 4-6 @ 2.17.

In the end, though, I’ve plumped for Half Time Full Time Away @ 2.08 as a ** prediction.

   

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