Bayern Munich solidified their position at the top of the Bundesliga on February 28, 2025, with a 3-1 comeback victory over VfB Stuttgart at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. The match showcased Bayern's resilience as they overturned an early deficit against a determined Stuttgart side.
The home crowd erupted early when Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller opened the scoring at the 34th minute with a powerful left-footed strike from outside the box. Assisted by Josha Vagnoman, Stiller's goal was particularly special, as he is a former Bayern youth player. The young midfielder’s spectacular goal left Bayern's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, often regarded as one of the best, helpless, giving Stuttgart the lead and causing excitement among their supporters.
Just as it seemed Stuttgart would take their lead to halftime, Bayern struck back. Michael Olise managed to equalize just before the break, netting his goal after receiving assistance from Leroy Sané. The equalizer came off the back of some pressure applied by Bayern, and Olise's well-placed left-footed shot ensured the teams were level at 1-1 going onto the second half.
The second half brought renewed energy from Bayern Munich, who stepped up their game and began exerting more control over the match. Leon Goretzka took advantage of a mistake from Stuttgart’s defense to score the go-ahead goal at the 64th minute, showcasing quick thinking and opportunistic finishing. Goretzka's insightful positional awareness was key as he seized upon the error from Stuttgart's Alexander Nübel, who struggled with his distribution throughout the contest.
Despite Stuttgart's efforts to regain momentum, the visitors capitalized on yet another defensive error as Kingsley Coman capped the scoring in the 90th minute. Following yet another blunder from Stuttgart’s backline, Coman rounded the goalkeeper and slotted the ball home, emphasizing Bayern's clinical nature when presented with scoring opportunities.
With this victory, Bayern Munich extended their lead atop the Bundesliga table to 11 points. They now sit comfortably with 61 points, leaving Stuttgart to languish at seventh place with 36 points. The win sets Bayern on course for their next challenges, including the upcoming match against Bayer Leverkusen for the Champions League knockouts next week.
The victory means Bayern remains dominant this season, holding onto the top position thanks to their impressive attacking prowess, scoring exactly three goals per game on average. The contrasting forms of both teams were evident, as Stuttgart, who had struggled recently, failed to capitalize on their moments to extend their lead.
Stuttgart, under the guidance of coach Sebastian Hoeneß, had hoped to use the home advantage to bring them closer to European qualification spots, but the loss underlined their struggles as they failed to win four out of the last five matches.
After the match, Bayern's coach Vincent Kompany praised his team's ability to come back from adversity: "We showed great character today. The team didn’t lose confidence after conceding and came back strong. Winning away against Stuttgart is no easy feat, especially considering their quality. This will be pivotal as we head toward the business end of the season.”
Stuttgart's disappointing result left them with much to ponder, particularly their defensive organization. Hoeneß noted, "We started well, but we lacked the finishing moments and made mistakes at the back which cost us. Against quality teams like Bayern, you need to be clinical and defensively solid. It’s back to the drawing board for us."
Both teams face significant upcoming matches; Stuttgart will aim to bounce back as they plan for their semifinal clash in the DFB-Pokal and continue their pursuit of European football next season. Bayern Munich, on the other hand, looks to maintain their momentum as they prepare for the Champions League where they face Bayer Leverkusen. With the title race heating up, Bayern must navigate their fixtures carefully to maintain their lead.