Bayern München kick off the new Bundesliga campaign with a home fixture against VfB Stuttgart, a side they have dominated in recent meetings, winning eight of the last ten across all competitions. Vincent Kompany's side will be without Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry, but the pres…
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Sign inChampions Bayern Munich begin the defence of their Bundesliga title on Friday 28 August as they host VfB Stuttgart in the 2026/27 season opener. The match at the home of the Rekordmeister kicks off a campaign that will see Vincent Kompany’s side aim to extend their domestic dominance, while Stuttgart arrive with a point to prove after a summer of change.
Bayern’s preparations were overshadowed by a worrying neurological issue for Jamal Musiala. The 23-year-old suffered two health incidents during pre-season but publicly described it as a “temporary and treatable” problem. He completed an individual session on Friday under the supervision of rehab coach Simon Martinello and later joined full team training alongside Ismael Saibari, Serge Gnabry and Alphonso Davies. Joshua Kimmich dedicated the Supercup win over Borussia Dortmund to his teammate, and reports from Tz suggest Musiala could be in the squad for the Stuttgart opener. Kompany’s management of the situation may see the playmaker used from the bench, with Konrad Laimer’s fitness also uncertain after he was forced off inside ten minutes of a friendly against RB Leipzig.
VfB Stuttgart’s plans for the new season were disrupted when Dennis Seimen, the academy graduate earmarked as the new number one after a successful loan at Paderborn, suffered a thigh injury that will keep him out until at least the end of September. Fabian Bredlow has stepped in, and forward Deniz Undav immediately texted him: “We need you. Go for it.” Bredlow impressed during the preparation matches, and with fellow goalkeeper Justin Diehl also out with a thigh problem, the 29-year-old will start between the posts. Defender Dan-Axel Zagadou is another absentee after a hamstring injury in the friendly win over Everton, leaving Sebastian Hoeneß with a reshaped backline.
Bayern’s summer included a 2-1 victory over Dortmund in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup on 22 August, a result that extended their strong head-to-head record in the fixture. They also faced RB Leipzig in the Telekom Cup, with the full squad returning to training ahead of the campaign. Stuttgart, meanwhile, outscored lower-league opposition 20-1 across three friendlies, drew 2-2 with Paris FC, beat Everton 3-1, and lost 1-0 to Fulham in their final test. The mixed results highlighted Stuttgart’s attacking firepower — 27 goals in six outings — but also some defensive fragility against top-flight opposition.
Stuttgart’s ability to play out from the back will hinge on Angelo Stiller. The 24-year-old midfielder is the pivot Hoeneß relies on to break the first line of pressure, and his composure will be tested by Bayern’s aggressive high press, orchestrated by the likes of Kimmich and Laimer (if fit). Stiller’s distribution and decision-making under duress could dictate whether Stuttgart can establish a foothold; if Bayern harry him into mistakes, the home side’s rapid transitions through Gnabry and the returning Saibari could prove decisive. Conversely, Chris Führich’s direct running and the link-up play of Undav and Ermedin Demirovic offer Stuttgart a route to hurt Bayern on the counter.
A Friday night curtain-raiser sets the tone for the Bundesliga season. Bayern, chasing a record-extending title, will expect to impose themselves early, but Stuttgart have a recent history of troubling the champions — they finished above Bayern in 2023/24 and pushed them close in the 2025 Supercup, losing 2-1. With the DFB-Pokal first round looming for both sides in early September, neither coach will want to empty the tank, but a statement win in the opening fixture could build vital momentum.
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