Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry secure autumn championship for Bayern Munich in Stuttgart.
Back in the starting line-up and on his former stomping ground, Gnabry was a thorn in the side of his boyhood club from the get-go.
The Bayern winger had already fired off a couple of warning shots when he curled in a spectacular opening goal late in the first half. Stuttgart had threatened only sporadically prior to the that, with Omar Marmoush screwing wide when through on Manuel Neuer's goal and Tanguy Coulibaly faring no better from close range. Philipp Förster also blew a presentable opening in added time, delaying his shot from inside the box and allowing Niklas Süle to block.
Stuttgart wouldn't get so close again. Bayern doubled their lead when Jamal Musiala won back possession in midfield and found Thomas Müller. He slipped in Gnabry, who cut inside his marker and fired beyond Florian Müller. Leroy Sane pounced on another error to tee up Lewandowski for a clipped finish - the first of three Bayern goals in the space of five second-half minutes. Gnabry selflessly provided Lewandowski with his second, before completing in his hat-trick after Müller spilled a cross. Lewandowski hit the woodwork in the closing stages, leaving him needing one goal in Bayern's final game of 2021 to break Gerd Müller's calendar year scoring record.
Match stats
- Bayern are autumn champions for the 24th time. They have gone on to win the title on 21 occasions, when they have topped the table at the halfway stage.
- The record champions have scored at least once in their last 63 Bundesliga matches, dating back to 9 February 2020. The league record stands at 65.
- Gnabry is the current Bundesliga season's top-scoring midfielder (nine goals).
- Lewandowski has scored in all but one of Bayern's eight away games in this season's Bundesliga, and in each of his last five meetings with Stuttgart. He's the current campaign's 18-goal leading marksman, and has a record-equalling 41 in 2021.
- Bayern's Malik Tillman made his Bundesliga debut.
- Stuttgart haven't won at home to Bayern since 10 November 2007 (D2, L10).
Line-ups
Stuttgart: Müller – Mavropanos, Ito, Kempf – Anton, Karazor – Förster (Führich 63'), Endo (c), Mangala (Fagir 75'), Coulibaly (Silas 63') – Marmoush (Tibidi 84')
Unused subs: Schock, Didavi, Stenzel, Klimowicz, Ahamada
Out: Bredlow (thigh), Führich (not included), Kalajdzic (shoulder), Klement (not included), Massimo (knock), Millot (knee), Nartey (knee), Sankoh (knee), Sosa (back), Thommy (pelvis)
Coach: Pellegrino MatarazzoBayern: Neuer (c) – Pavard, Hernandez, Süle, Davies (Richards 78') – Musiala, Roca (Nianzou 75') – Gnabry (Tillman 75'), Müller (Cuisance 78'), Coman (Sane 27') – Lewandowski
Unused subs: Ulreich, Früchtl, Upamecano, Sarr
Out: Choupo-Moting (match fitness), Goretzka (foot), Kimmich (lungs), Sabitzer (calf), Sarr (groin), Stanisic (thigh), Tolisso (muscular)
Coach: Julian NagelsmannWatch: Nagelsmann: "The players are still hungry"
