Bundesliga Matchday 24 – February 28, 2025 – MHPArena, Stuttgart
Final Score: Stuttgart 1-3 Bayern Munich
Goalscorers: Stuttgart – Angelo Stiller (34’); Bayern Munich – Michael Olise (45+2’), Leon Goretzka (64’), Kingsley Coman (88’)
Attendance: 60,000 (sold out)
Referee: Benjamin Brand
Introduction
Bayern Munich clinched leadership of the Bundesliga standings by winning 3-1 against Stuttgart while playing at MHPArena on February 28th 2025. Bayern Munich turned the tide in their pursuit of another league title by finishing their delivery with clinical precision while overcoming an early Stuttgart lead to win 3-1 on February 28th 2025.
During the first half Stuttgart encountered stiff opposition from their home fans and recent game strengthening but Vincent Kompany’s team displayed their title-winning experience after halftime to win the match. The three goals scored by Michael Olise and Leon Goretzka and Kingsley Coman allowed Bayern to maintain an eleven-point advantage through the top of the table standings while Bayer Leverkusen trails behind with a single game in hand. Stuttgart occupies seventh position after the loss yet they preserve the chance to achieve European competition yet they deeply regret their chances lost and their significant mistakes during the game.
The article examines the crucial phases of the match through an examination of important events and strategic movements and notable player achievements and post-match sentiments between both teams. Both teams demonstrated valuable characteristics during the match: Bayern Munich proved their outcome-oriented qualities even with limited attacking fluidity yet Stuttgart demonstrated their potential through their offensive approach.
Match Overview
Match initiation occurred through floodlights at MHPArena at 8:30 PM CET (2:30 PM ET) when all stadium seats were filled by the two squads before the match. Before the match Bayern Munich prepared to face Eintracht Frankfurt after annihilating them 4-0 while commemorating their 125th anniversary just two days before. The inconsistent season of Stuttgart ended positively after they split points with Hoffenheim but the team remained confident about securing a home victory vs Bayern Munich in Stuttgart.
The opening period featured intense physical play between the teams and produced consequential highlights in addition to physical contact. The home team earned their lead in the 34th minute after Angelo Stiller produced an incredible strike to quieten the Bayern supporters traveling from Munich. The last minute equalizing goal from Michael Olise gave Stuttgart an important boost before halftime. Goretzka seized an opportunity in the 64th minute to score Bayern’s first goal before Coman finished the scoring with a crucial goalscorer’s touch in the final minutes. Although Stuttgart maintained their determination Stuttgart ultimately lost because of three defensive blunders that Bayern turned into deadly scoring opportunities.
Base statistics demonstrate Bayern Munich’s solid performance rather than absolute control of the game since they possessed the ball 58% of the time while Stuttgart only maintained 42% possession during the match. Each team took 14 shots as Bayern scored six times while Stuttgart scored four goals. Bayern performed 521 passes while Stuttgart completed 389. Composure during important moments provided the definitive difference between Bayern and their rivals because of their established title-winning DNA.
Key Moments
Stuttgart Take the Lead (34’)
Angelo Stiller produced an outstanding individual display during the 34th minute to give Stuttgart the lead against Bayern. Midfielder Atakan Karazor recovered the ball through his aggressive defensive play before Stuttgart secured possession in the midfield. Stiller received the pass on the edge of the penalty area then demonstrated his lethal tendency by striking powerfully with his left foot into the top right corner beyond the reach of Neuer. Stuttgart received a thunderous reception from their stadium after scoring their first goal which put them up 1-0 during their aggressive start.
Olise Equalizes in Stoppage Time (45+2’)
Bayern launched their response shortly before the halftime whistle when they scored in the last minute of stoppage time. The swift combination between Stuttgart defenders and Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané opened up Stuttgart’s defensive line on the right side. Sané sent a precise low cross to Michael Olise on his run to the near post while Nübel remained helpless as Olise finished the chance with ease. The goal was confirmed by VAR which wiped out all momentum from the hometown fans and wiped the score to 1-1.
Goretzka Puts Bayern Ahead (64’)
Bayern Munich suddenly seized the advantage after a Stuttgart defensive mistake occurred during the 64th minute of the match. Opportunistic Leon Goretzka snatched the opportunity when Josha Vagnoman let the ball slide near his defensive area. The midfield player successfully intercepted the pass before advancing towards the area and finished the shot with a cool touch beyond Nübel for a 2-1 score. During this decisive moment Bayern took advantage of a team error in order to establish a clear game-winning advantage.
Coman Seals the Victory (88’)
The team from Bayern scored the decisive goal at the 88th minute when Stuttgart tried to get an equalizer. The defensive mistake occurred when Vagnoman attempted an unstable pass to Nübel which Kingsley Coman successfully intercepted. Stuttgart’s hopes for a comeback died when the replacement Frenchman ran onto the field then fired a low shot into the net from afar that opened the score to 3-1.
Yellow Cards and Late Drama
During the match referee Benjamin Brand gave out five yellow cards distributed evenly between both teams with four going to Stuttgart players Führich Demirović Millot Karazor alongside one Bayern carded to Davies. Five additional seconds of stoppage time saw Stuttgart push into Bayern’s half yet Upamecano led a determined defensive performance that kept Stuttgart at bay.
Tactical Analysis
From kickoff Sebastian Hoeneß led Stuttgart with a daring attacking system that engaged Bayern München at their defensive half while chasing quick opportunities. The team used a 4-2-3-1 formation that featured Deniz Undav up front while Stiller played in central midfield alongside Karazor which disrupted Bayern Munich during the early stages. Stuttgart defenders Chabot and Jeltsch successfully defended their penalty area throughout the first half as Bayern’s goalkeeper Neuer bombed long balls towards Harry Kane but his passes proved inaccurate.
At the start of the match Bayern adopted their standard 4-2-3-1 system primarily under Vincent Kompany yet the team performed poorly in group organization. The footballing situation became complicated for Bayern Munich when Joshua Kimmich got injured since it forced Aleksandar Pavlović to join Goretzka in midfield instead of their typical combination. Pavlović demonstrated potential as a substitute yet Bayern’s typical midfield attacking power was missing. The halftime changes by Kompany sent Olise and Sané into higher positions as his strategy stretched out Stuttgart’s central defense effectively. The second half dominance of Bayern involved their successful conversion of turnovers when Goretzka and Musiala positioned themselves lower to collect second balls and initiate quick counterattacks.
Stuttgart lost the match because they failed to focuses appropriately throughout the game. Three defensive mistakes by Vagnoman followed by a wrong pressure system then a belated backpass provided Bayern Munich with each of their three goals. The inexperienced approach of Hoeneß’s team exposed their faults to Bayern’s professional level through a brutal lesson of the match.
Player Performances
Bayern Munich:
- Michael Olise put up an impressive showing during his first appearance for the season by scoring the equalizing goal and creating numerous attacking opportunities. His ability to move away from the ball position drove Bayern Munich forward toward their attacking offensive.
- Goretzka received my Man of the Match award for his vibrant forward advances alongside his seizing of opportunities throughout the contest. The endless movement and running performance from Goretzka in midfield perfectly captured the determination which Bayern showed throughout their second half.
- Coming off the bench Kingsley Coman scored the match-sealing goal with his speed because he demonstrates why substitute positions are crucial to the team.
- Harry Kane received a 6.5 while playing for England since he failed to successfully receive Bayern’s aerial passes yet actively maintained his position that drew defender attention.
- Manuel Neuer (7/10): Beaten by Stiller’s wonder strike but otherwise solid, making a crucial save from Undav in the second half.
Stuttgart:
- Stuttgart’s standout performer Angelo Stiller earned a 7.5 score due to his brilliant goal alongside his superior play in the first half against Bayern’s midfield base.
- Through poise and control Julian Jeltsch secured a score of 7 out of 10 points among center-back performances yet he failed to block Bayern Munich’s offensive surge in the latter half.
- After the break Deniz Undav (6.5/10) dedicated himself to work without receiving enough service and missed a last-minute opportunity to score.
- Vagnoman received a score of 5/10 after his two mistakes allowed Bayern Munich to score their goals. His sense of speed served as an escape valve during the game although his judgment created multiple critical mistakes.
- Alexander Nübel received a 6/10 rating despite playing on loan from Bayern because he could not stop the goals but managed to make a crucial stoppage of Kane during the first half.
Post-Match Reactions
Vincent Kompany ( Bayern Munich Manager):
After their victory Bayern Munich manager Kompany declared “These points come from unattractive matches” to the media. Stuttgart built significant resistance until the team displayed their fighting spirit to gain dominance of the match. Leon [Goretzka] delivered an impressive performance while the substitutions brought valuable contributions to the match. The team ends this match satisfied with three valuable points while already focused on the future games. The manager stated during his post-match interview that he would evaluate Joshua Kimmich and additional players but tonight was about the team showing better performances.
Sebastian Hoeneß (Stuttgart Manager):
As manager of Stuttgart Sebastian Hoeneß reacted with deep frustration while praising his team’s courageous play although he noted his opponents received three easy goals from his team. Bayern Munich does not forgive such inadvertent mistakes because they possess the strength to exploit these situations against opponents. The performance of Stiller and Jeltsch was solid but to face opponents at Bayern Munich’s level we must learn lesson from our mistakes.
Leon Goretzka ( Bayern Munich Midfielder):
X produced the man-of-the-match winner who acknowledged that his team executed average football but secured a major victory. The Stubtaligators forced Bayern to work yet we managed to pull out a victory. On to the next one! #MiaSanMia”
Fan Sentiment (via X):
Users on X shared similar opinions with the managers after the 3-1 victory versus Stuttgart despite several unorthodox plays in the match. The team members from Bayern understood what awaited them and brought forth their performance. According to the X user @Basti1_basti1 Stuttgart demonstrated how playing with boldness against Bayern Munich creates instability but three errors resulted in their downfall.
Conclusion
During critical moments Bayern Munich proved their excellence by winning in an unpretty manner as they defeated Stuttgart 3-1. The initial segment revealed weakness points mainly because Kimmich’s steady play was absent yet the concluding part displayed Bayern’s aggressive nature and multiple options in the lineup. The three substitute performers Olise Goretzka and Coman managed to bring home an essential victory which maintains Bayern’s position as potential Bundesliga champions.
The loss highlights how thin the gap is between successful performance and failure at the top level of competition for Stuttgart. The match showcased equal levels of intensity and creativity between Stuttgart and Bayern as Stiller struck an outstanding goal but the defending errors lead to their downfall. Despite maintaining their seventh place with 35 points Bayern Munich continues their push towards Europe but requires sustained performing results to secure the final spot.
Bayern München demonstrated their ability to secure important outcomes which will guide their Champions League campaign following their victory against Stuttgart. The Stuttgart team will resassemble for their next match because they recognize their abilities to match top-tier competition when they find their form. The MHPArena hosted a Bayern Munich victory yet the Swabians displayed enough ability to indicate their 2018-2019 story remains active.
