The FC Bayern Munich opened the 2026/27 Bundesliga season with a dominant 5–1 victory against VfB Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena, according to match reports. After a tight first half that ended with a narrow lead, Bayern exploded for four goals after the break to secure all three points.
Before kickoff, the club celebrated a notable individual sweep recognized across German football: Harry Kane was named Player of the Year, Vincent Kompany collected Coach of the Year honors, and Giulia Gwinn took home Women’s Player of the Year, as reported by regional coverage. On the pitch, Kompany lined up his side similarly to their recent Supercup win against Borussia Dortmund, deploying Dayot Upamecano and Alphonso Davies into the starting XI while Jamal Musiala missed out due to fitness concerns.
Stuttgart’s Early Resistance and Upamecano’s Breakthrough
VfB Stuttgart adopted a cautious setup featuring a back three and tight man-marking, with defender Jeff Chabot tracking Kane closely across the pitch. The visitors carved out the game’s first clear opening when a deflected cross from Maximilian Mittelstädt allowed Grischa Prömel to set up Tiago Tomás, whose close-range effort rattled the crossbar in the 12th minute.
Bayern answered when Michael Olise curled a direct free kick off the right post in the 17th minute. Just four minutes later, the deadlock broke from a set piece. Joshua Kimmich whipped an inswinging corner to the near post, where Upamecano glanced a header past VfB goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow to make it 1–0 in the 21st minute.
A Seven-Minute Second-Half Storm Secures the Points
Stuttgart struck back early in the second period. Following a dangerous cross from Mittelstädt, Manuel Neuer produced a sharp reflex save against Chabot, but the ball ricocheted off Aleksandar Pavlović’s back directly into the path of Joshua Vagnoman, who fired home the equalizer in the 52nd minute.
Parity lasted only three minutes. Kimmich unlocked the Stuttgart defense with a sharp through ball, leaving Olise free to finish low past Bredlow for a 2–1 lead in the 55th minute. Disaster struck the visitors moments later when Davies forced a low cross into the box, and Vagnoman inadvertently bundled the ball into his own net under pressure, extending Bayern’s advantage to 3–1.
Bayern continued to press as the match wore on. Substitute Ismael Saibari broke down the flank and squared a pass for Pavlović to tap in the fourth goal in the 82nd minute. Shortly after, Luis Díaz capped the evening by converting another setup from Saibari to seal the final 5–1 scoreline.
What Lies Ahead in the Bundesliga
With the opening fixture successfully navigated, Bayern Munich turns its focus toward the upcoming league schedule, aiming to maintain early momentum at the top of the table. Stuttgart will look to regroup during the week’s training sessions before their next domestic fixture.
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