Bayern comfortably power past Stuttgart in Südderby

Stuttgart entered the afternoon with a perfect home record in all competitions, having won all seven of their matches at the MHPArena across the Bundesliga and Europa League.

But their first scare arrived inside four minutes. Ameen Al Dakhil gifted possession to Nicolas Jackson, who burst into the box and fired into the side-netting from a tight angle.

Bayern punished the hosts soon after. In the 12th minute, Konrad Laimer opened the scoring with a moment of real craft. A long ball from Urbig found the advanced right-back, who combined sharply with Michael Olise. A slick one-two sent Laimer in behind before he rolled the ball beneath Nübel with a deft back-heel to make it 1-0.

Bayern nearly doubled their lead in the 34th minute when Olise drifted inside and struck from the edge of the area. Bayern loanee Nübel completely misjudged the effort, letting it slip through his hands before it trickled just wide.

Stuttgart gradually grew into the contest, with Angelo Stiller and Chema taking control in midfield. They thought they had levelled shortly before the break when Nikolas Nartey powered an excellent header past Urbig from El Khannouss’ pinpoint delivery - sparking celebrations in front of the Untertürkheimer Kurve.

But after a lengthy multi-minute VAR check, the midfielder was ruled narrowly offside. Chema then came close in first-half stoppage time, driving a fierce strike inches past the post.

Vincent Kompany introduced Josip Stanisic at the break, with the Croat slotting in at left-back. Olise threatened again just two minutes into the half, twisting away from his marker before sending a powerful left-footed strike just over.

Deniz Undav forced Urbig’s first major save in the 59th minute with a deflected effort from the edge of the box. Seconds later, Bayern made a triple change - Harry Kane, Lennart Karl and Aleksandar Pavlovic entering as Kompany sought control - while Chris Führich replaced Nartey for the hosts.

Luis Díaz should have doubled Bayern’s lead in the 64th minute after a lightning counter led by Kane. Olise picked him out in the area, but the Colombian scuffed wide with the goal begging.

Two minutes later, Kane took matters into his own hands. Picking up possession inside the centre circle, he drove forward unchallenged before unleashing a thunderous strike from distance to double Bayern’s lead - a sensational solo goal.

The England captain continued to dominate. In the 75th minute, he forced Nübel into another strong save from a tight angle. Moments later, the goalkeeper faltered again: Stanisic’s long-range effort slipped through his hands, giving the defender his first Bayern goal in three years.

Bayern pressed on, and the situation worsened for Stuttgart. Lorenz Assignon blocked an Olise shot on the line with his arm, earning a red card and conceding a penalty that Kane dispatched with ease.

In the space of fifteen second-half minutes, Stuttgart had been blown away. The only question left was how much worse it might get - and Kane supplied the answer in the 88th minute, completing his 10th Bundesliga hat-trick by meeting an Olise cross at the far post.

Bayern comfortably saw out a dominant 5-0 win over their southern rivals.

Stuttgart will wonder how different the match might have looked had Nartey’s equaliser stood before half-time. But the second half belonged entirely to Harry Kane, who turned a tight contest into a rout almost single-handedly.