Bayern Munich picked up exactly where they left off. The reigning Bundesliga champions opened their 2026-27 title defense with a statement 5-1 demolition of VfB Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena, five different players getting on the scoresheet as Vincent Kompany’s side served notice that last season’s dominance was no fluke.
Upamecano Breaks the Deadlock From a Corner
The opening exchanges were tight, with Stuttgart holding their own and even seeing Michael Olise rattle the post from a free kick. But Bayern found the breakthrough in the 21st minute when Joshua Kimmich swung in a corner from the left and Dayot Upamecano rose highest to flick it home at the near post. It was the perfect way to open the new campaign, and it set the tone for a night that would only get better for the home fans.
Luis Diaz nearly doubled the lead before halftime when Harry Kane sent him through on goal, but Stuttgart goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow produced a crucial save to keep his side within touching distance heading into the break.
Stuttgart Level, Bayern Respond Instantly
Seven minutes into the second half, Stuttgart shocked the Allianz Arena. Josha Vagnoman fired home after Manuel Neuer initially denied Jeff Chabot’s header, leveling the score at 1-1 and giving the visitors real belief they could leave Munich with something to show for their effort.
That belief evaporated almost instantly. Bayern’s response was ruthless: Kimmich played Olise clean through on goal, and the Frenchman finished with ice-cold composure to restore the lead at 2-1.
Moments later, misfortune compounded Stuttgart’s problems further when Vagnoman turned the ball into his own net, stretching the gap to 3-1 and turning a nervy contest into a rout.
Substitutes Seal a Statement Performance
With the game already drifting away from Stuttgart, Bayern’s bench delivered the finishing touches. Debutant Ismael Saibari, on for Nathaniel Brown, created a simple finish for Aleksandar Pavlovic in the 82nd minute to make it 4-1.
Saibari was not done there, either. In stoppage time, he teed up Luis Diaz for Bayern’s fifth goal of the night, capping off a performance that stretched the champions’ unbeaten run in Bundesliga openers to 15 consecutive seasons.
Interestingly, star striker Harry Kane, who has scored more goals against Stuttgart than any other Bundesliga opponent in his career, had a quieter night by his standards and was withdrawn late in the second half. It barely mattered. Bayern’s attacking depth was on full display, with Olise, Diaz, Pavlovic, Upamecano, and even Vagnoman’s misfortune all contributing to the scoreline.
What This Result Means for Bayern’s Title Defense
This is exactly the kind of statement win Bayern fans wanted to see after clinching last season’s Bundesliga title with room to spare and setting a new single-season scoring record along the way. Five different goal contributors, a bench that changed the game, and a defense that shrugged off an early Stuttgart equalizer all point to a squad that has lost none of its ruthless edge heading into the new season.
For Stuttgart, there were bright spots, particularly in the way they fought back to level the score before Bayern’s class ultimately told. But on this opening night, the gap between the champions and the chasing pack in the Bundesliga looked exactly as wide as it did last May, and Bayern Munich have made their intentions for the new campaign crystal clear.
