Bayern Munich set to storm Stuttgart in Bundesliga showdown

The Bavarians have been a relentless force this season, and they're showing no signs of slowing down.

Stuttgart, currently perched in seventh place, have had a mixed campaign with 10 wins, six draws, and seven losses from their 23 league outings. Their recent form has been shaky, with just one victory in their last five Bundesliga matches.

After a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund, they stumbled with a 2-1 defeat to Wolfsburg and had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim last weekend. Nick Woltemade's early strike in that game was cancelled out by Gift Orban, leaving Sebastian Hoeness's side two points shy of the top six and three behind fourth-placed Freiburg.

The hosts now face a daunting challenge against the table-topping Bayern Munich. Stuttgart are teetering on the edge of an unwanted record - three straight home league defeats for the first time since the 2021-22 season. Yet, there's a glimmer of hope: they stunned Bayern 3-1 at the MHP Arena in May 2024 and could become the first Stuttgart side in 18 years to notch consecutive home league wins over the giants.

Hoeness has said on X this week, "We know what's at stake. Bayern are the benchmark, but we've shown we can hurt them here."

Bayern Munich, meanwhile, have been a juggernaut, sitting eight points clear at the summit with 18 wins, four draws, and a single loss from their 23 matches.

Vincent Kompany's men saw their seven-game league winning streak halted by a 0-0 draw against Bayer Leverkusen on February 15, but they roared back with a 4-0 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt last Sunday. 

Michael Olise, Hiroki Ito, Jamal Musiala, and Serge Gnabry all struck in that rout, extending Bayern's home league winning run to 10 games and keeping their unbeaten record intact at the Allianz Arena. With 69 goals, they're the division's runaway top scorers.

Their away form has been less invincible, with two wins, two draws, and one loss in their last five road trips. Still, Bayern are brimming with confidence after thrashing Stuttgart 4-0 in the reverse fixture in October. Kompany has said, "We respect Stuttgart's quality, but we're here to impose our game."

Stuttgart are plagued by absences, with Dan-Axel Zagadou, Nikolas Nartey, Leonidas Stergiou, Luca Raimund, El Bilal Toure, and Ameen Al-Dakhil all sidelined. Justin Diehl remains a doubt as he edges closer to a return.

Bayern, meanwhile, expect to be without Joshua Kimmich, who is nursing an injury ahead of facing his old club, while goalkeeper Daniel Peretz is also unavailable.

This clash promises fireworks as Bayern aim to keep their title charge on track, while Stuttgart fight to reignite their season with a scalp that would echo through the Bundesliga.

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