A Bundesliga Question: Can Stuttgart Stop Bayern At All?

VfB Stuttgart vs Bayern Munich

There’s something unique about facing a strong squad in any team sport. You know that you will be smarting all over after the game is done, and it would be understandable if you would be afraid of facing them.

However, the allure of beating a favourite and being a part of a giant-killing would make you the toast of the town and the stars for the week. The prospect of beating down a giant easily makes the gargantuan effort for the feat worth it.

That’s how Stuttgart might look at their coming Bundesliga battle against Bayern Munich. Sure, Bayern are the defending champions of the league for six straight years while they spent a gap year at Bundesliga II in 2016/17. The odds all point to the Bavarians taking this thing by the horns and easily winning over them.

It’s the prospect of beating these talented players that should motivate Tayfun Korkut’s men to chase the win in their stomping grounds at the Mercedes-Benz-Arena. Whether they manage to actually beat their visitors, however, is another matter that needs to be addressed altogether.

Talking Points

If there were any concerns about how Bayern Munich will perform under Niko Kovac, their strong league opener against Hoffenheim silenced those murmurs and showed the entire world that nothing has changed: they are still the team to beat in Germany, and all of the Bundesliga 2018 highlights coming out now and in the futures will definitely have a Bundesliga shirt at the forefront.

That game showcased the overall squad strength the Bavarians have. Thomas Muller is still as effective as ever as the innovator of the raumdeuter role. Arjen Robben is still a threat to score despite his age, and the fact that he snagged a goal after coming in as a sub is a testament to his skill. Talented players in James Rodriguez, David Alaba, and Joshua Kimmich make up for a tough Bayern squad that can take on the best the world has to offer.

Robert Lewandowski, once thought to be leaving the club in the summer, has decided to stay and refocus on capturing the title. Whatever issues he had with the club are now gone, and he is ready to grab some goals for the Bayern crest.

The Bavarians have just found out who their opponents in the Champions League will be, and it will definitely have an effect on their match preparations for this match, no matter how little that impact may have on the defending champions. And while them being distracted against Stuttgart is something that isn’t likely to happen, they should take whatever advantage they can find.

While they aren’t the toughest side one can see in the Bundesliga, they have turned the Mercedes-Benz-Arena into a fortress. Out of the 17 home games they played at home last season, the only ones to take more than one point from them at home were Bayer Leverkusen, Schalke, and Bayern. Even Bayern’s victory was hard-earned, with Thomas Muller finally breaking the 0-0 deadlock in the 79th minute.

Moreover, they have an exciting squad of players to root for. While many of the casual fans may not recognise many of the names in the roster, they have been productive and managed to sneak in wins that helped them finish just outside the Europa League.

Benjamin Pavard is expected to carry on his impressive World Cup stint to Stuttgart's Bundesliga campaign this season — Benjamin Pavard celebrates his goal for France during Les Bleus’ World Cup match against Argentina

Moreover, they have the exciting Benjamin Pavard lining up in the defence. No one can forget that beautiful belter of a shot against Argentina that won him the best goal honours at the recently concluded World Cup. The 22-year-old is so talented that even premier striker Edinson Cavani foresaw what he would become when he was still a Lile player.

With these storylines to go upon, how can you not get excited about this clash?

History

SBOBET predictions heavily favour the Bavarians, but a quick history lesson tells you to beware the threat that is Stuttgart.

Their last six matches were overwhelmingly in favour of Bayern Munich, the highlight of which was the 4-0 thrashing they gave Die Schwaben in the year they got relegated. If we just look at those, it would seem that the Bavarians are heavy favourites to win this one again.

However, their last two matches were indicative of how strong Stuttgart have become. Their 1-0 win in December 2016 showed how strong Stuttgart were at the back. Moreover, the return fixture saw Stuttgart smack Bayern to the tune of 1-4 and walk away from the Allianz Area with all of the three points.

That loss was one of the four Bayern suffered this season, and that is a fact none of us should forget.

Betting Tips

	VfB Stuttgart vs Bayern Munich	VfB Stuttgart +1.25 @ 2.38
	September 2, 00:30 (GMT+8)

We all know that Stuttgart vs Bayern Munich betting tips are tilted towards the Bavarians, and that comes with good reason. After all, they cruised past Hoffenheim while Stuttgart stumbled out of the gates. The losses of key players like Daniel Ginczek could have also added to the stinging diagnosis of betting experts.

However, I don’t think their defence has changed much from last year, and I’m pretty confident that they can hold Bayern to a 1-0 loss like last time. As long as they manage to keep their defences up, a draw is not far from their sights.

If you do trust Bayern to do the job well and finish with a two-goal lead, a -1.75 handicap is available at 2.06. The 1X2 market has a tasty offer for a draw: a split at SBOBET is at 4.80.