VfB Stuttgart won at home against FC Bayern for the first time in more than 16 years and spoiled the Munich team’s dress rehearsal for the semi-final showdown in the Champions League with Real Madrid in the Bundesliga. Stuttgart won 3-1 on Saturday (May 4th, 2024) and reduced the gap to second-placed Munich to two points.
After the win against the record champions, Stuttgart have 67 points in their account after 32 match days and can safely plan for the Champions League. The Munich team, where Thomas Tuchel rested six regular players compared to the semi-final first leg at Real Madrid last Tuesday, suffered a setback before the second leg against Real next Wednesday.
VfB’s last home win against FC Bayern, also 3-1, was on November 10, 2007. In the previous 23 games, the Munich team had won 20 times.
Late winning goals for Stuttgart
Leonidas Stergiou gave VfB the lead in a balanced first half after 29 minutes with a deliberate lob over national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Harry Kane quickly equalized with a penalty kick (35th).
When it looked like a comfortable draw in the second half after a lot of summer football, Woo-Yeong Jeong (83′) headed VfB into the lead again. Silas Katompa Mvumpa made the final decision in stoppage time (90+3).
VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß celebrated the victory after the final whistle on the fence in front of the Cannstatter Kurve. “Incredible pictures, I won’t forget them,” said Hoeneß at the ARD microphone. “We wanted to prove that we are rightly in the top four, that was important to us today.”
“It was the famous sandwich game between two semi-finals,” said Bayern coach Tuchel, who was still annoyed by the defeat. The team certainly gave 100 percent on the pitch, said Tuchel. “Nobody thinks about Real. But of course the situation is there, it’s a different formation and a completely different focus.”
Andreas Köstler, sports show, 04.05.2024 18:19
Bayern without Musiala, Goretzka and Sané in the starting eleven
Bayern coach Tuchel left Leon Goretzka, Thomas Müller and Leroy Sané, among others, Jamal Musiala on the bench during the dress rehearsal for the Champions League second leg wasn’t even in the squad. “The 70, 80 percent focus that we perhaps have has to be enough. And 100 percent effort anyway,” said Tuchel.
The more offensive team was initially VfB: Chris Führich (10th) had the first big chance, but was denied by Manuel Neuer. Shortly afterwards there was the next shocking moment for Bayern when Eric Dier injured his head after a collision with Serhou Guirassy. However, the Englishman continued to play after several minutes of treatment, but Raphael Guerreiro increased the personnel concerns: He had to go out early with ankle problems (17th).
Controversial penalty decision after Anton’s use against Gnabry
Stuttgart stayed on the trigger. In the 27th minute, Dier saved with a header on the line against Guirassy – his laceration reopened and he played with a “turban” until he was substituted at half-time. Bayern seemed disorganized and Stergiou scored his league debut after an assist from Deniz Undav.
The joy only lasted for a short time, however, because referee Tobias Welz awarded a penalty after Waldemar Anton used against Serge Gnabry. Stuttgart’s defender hit his national team colleague in the face during a duel. Gnabry went down suspiciously quickly – Kane stayed ice cold from the point.
Bayern defense inattentive in the final phase
Shortly after the substitution, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting missed a huge opportunity to give Munich the lead. The Munich team then switched to administration mode and VfB took over: Neuer saved twice against Führich and against Undav.
Michael Bollenbacher, Sportschau, May 4th, 2024 5:44 p.m
In the final phase, inattentive Munich defense helped the Stuttgart team achieve the victory they had no longer hoped for: Silas was allowed to cross unhindered from the corner of the penalty area, and Neuer cut a somewhat unfortunate figure at the near post when Jeong headed the ball. Silas then ice-coldly scored the third goal on a counterattack in stoppage time. Bayern have to get their extra motivation for the showdown with Real for a place in the Champions League final from somewhere else.
Tuchel did not want to comment on the still unresolved coaching question for the coming season, and sports director Max Eberl was also unable to report any new status in the ARD interview.
Stuttgart in Augsburg, Bavaria against Wolfsburg
Stuttgart has to play away to Augsburg on the penultimate matchday on Friday evening (8:30 p.m.). FC Bayern welcomes VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday (5:30 p.m.).