Bayern Munich vs Stuttgart preview: Visitors aiming for surprise result
After losing to Mainz, Bayern Munich will be looking for a response when they face relegation-threatened Stuttgart on Sunday.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich will be looking for a response after suffering their fifth league defeat of the season last weekend. The Bavarians sealed their tenth consecutive Bundesliga title with a 3-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund, but they were brought down to earth by Mainz, who managed to end Bayern's nine-game unbeaten league run.
After losing 3-1 to Mainz, Julian Nagelsmann will be urging his side to return to winning ways this weekend despite the title already wrapped up.
The Bavarians will be keen to extend their current unbeaten home run, which currently stretches across eight games in all competitions. Bayern have also won 13 of their 16 home league games this season, while they will be aiming for a fourth consecutive home league victory on Sunday.
If the champions want to break the 100 goal mark then they must showcase all their firepower in the final two matches of the season, with Bayern still requiring seven goals to bring up the century.
Team News
Bouna Sarr is expected to miss out due to a knee issue, while Benjamin Pavard is a doubt for the hosts. After missing the defeat to Mainz, Thomas Müller will return to the squad for Sunday's contest.
Stuttgart
Stuttgart need to pick up at least a point if they are to avoid a bottom-three finish. Die Schwaben currently sit in the relegation playoff spot, and they enter Sunday's encounter four points adrift of safety. Automatic relegation also remains a risk, with Stuttgart just two points better off than Arminia Bielefeld.
A Stuttgart victory would relegate Bielefeld, while a defeat for Die Schwaben would mean that Pellegrino Matarazzo's side could finish no higher than the relegation playoff place.
Sunday's visitors are currently winless in their last five matches, although they did manage to snatch a point from their most recent outing. John Brooks gave Wolfsburg the lead over Die Schwaben, but an 89th-minute equaliser from Chris Führich ensured the spoils were shared.
Stuttgart's recent head-to-head record against Bayern suggests that achieving a positive result on Sunday may be a tough ask. The Bavarians have won the last five meetings by an aggregate 19-2 scoreline.
Team News
The visitors have a number of injury absentees to contend with. Pascal Stenzel, Silas, Nikolas Nartey and Mohamed Sankoh will all miss out for Stuttgart.