Bayern Munich re-established its dominance, leaving the Südderby with five goals and a clean sheet. The first half saw Bayern go ahead thanks to a beautiful backheel from Konrad Laimer, followed by second-half goals from substitutes Josip Stanišić and a hat-trick from none other than Harry Kane.
Urbig is the future
Manuel Neuer’s uncharacteristic performances over the last few games delivered a stark reminder about his declining ability and increasing age, forcing fans to reckon with the inevitable future beyond him.
This game featured Bayern’s two best bets on either end of the pitch, and Jonas Urbig’s performance made a clear statement in his favour. Urbig’s distribution was nothing short of extraordinary tonight: his long balls demonstrated pinpoint accuracy and power, exuding confidence that only a Neuer successor could possess. Stuttgart rarely tested his shot-stopping ability, yet he still rose to the task and maintained Bayern’s defensive composure.
On the other hand, Bayern loanee Alexander Nübel had a game to forget. Laimer’s backheel nutmegged him to give Bayern the lead, following which multiple shots seemed to slip through his arms. Kane’s penalty flew past him, too, and fans can’t help but wonder what Bayern plan to do with him. One thing’s for sure, Urbig is the future, and no one would mind seeing him between the sticks more often — given Neuer’s recent shenanigans.
Tired, yet resilient
The first half saw many chances fall to Stuttgart, and it was clear that the team was getting tired. Having just come off four games in two weeks, the rotation Vincent Kompany opted for was unsurprising but also carried the expectation of a tired, sloppy Bayern. This, however, was rarely the case tonight. Aside from a couple of misplaced passes in the first half, Bayern maintained a clear intensity and desire to win. The football remained direct, driven, and resilient despite the fatigue and occasional complacency. This game highlighted the mentality and culture that Kompany has built at the club: one that pushes through and fights for each ball with a direct aim at the goal. No fluff, no excuses.
Bayern played some fantastic football despite heavy rotation. Michael Olise once again thrived on the right flank and was unlucky not to get his name on the score sheet despite his conducive performance, evidenced by the two assists to his name. Díaz, for the most part, did extremely well, too. Laimer was great and worked all over the pitch while the defense constantly made solid recoveries and kept their calm despite Stuttgart’s constant pressure and opportunities at goal.
The little critique: Bayern missed some simple sitters, and it is worth remembering that not every game will be as forgiving as this was. Everyone needs to take their chances better regardless of their place in the pecking order (cough, cough, Nicholas Jackson).
Kompany’s set-up and substitutions were (mostly) bang on
This was a solid game to rotate in. The heavy rotation clearly paid off and now places Bayern in a fantastic position for the midweek clash against Sporting in the Champions League. Bayern essentially fielded a B-team tonight, and the difference in playstyle and attitude was almost indistinguishable, which is a great sign for Kompany. The substitutions and their timing were almost perfect.
Bringing on Stanišić at half-time was a great move. The Croatian fullback got right into the game, made a great recovery, and scored a goal. It gave the team the boost with desperately needed fresh legs. Kane, Lennart Karl, and Aleksandar Pavlović were brought on at the right time, and all of them had a positive impact on the game.
The only critique is that Kompany took far too long to take Leon Goretzka off the pitch after an abysmal performance. Goretzka failed to make his mark on the game and left the midfield clueless, which allowed Stuttgart to capitalize far too often off his errors. His performance pulled Joshua Kimmich down, who made defensive errors in the first half. The choice to play Goretzka has failed to yield benefits far too often. As soon as he was taken off the pitch, Stuttgart were almost shut down offensively and conceded four more goals. His impact on Bayern’s midfield is stark and often not very comforting.
Forty minutes, three goals — Harry Kane is the best player in the world
What more is there to say? Aside from the unrivalled goalscoring prowess clearly evidenced by the game, Kane came on and instantly changed the game. His incredible passes from all over the pitch created countless opportunities for Bayern. He brought with him a changed spirit and charged confidence into the team. There has been talk surrounding his performances following the past few games, but a little bit of rest has recharged Bayern’s English goal-machine. The hat-trick puts Kane back on track as he eyes Lewandowski’s 41-goal Bundesliga record, putting his current tally at 17 goals in just 13 games.
You cannot help but keep smiling. Things continue to be good at Säbener Straße as the winter break approaches. What did you think of the game? Do you agree with the observations? Tell us everything in the comments below!
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
