Rafinha is booked for dissent after the referee's decision to award a penalty.
SAVE! Akolo with the penalty. He aims for the bottom left and Ulreich dives well to punch it clear. It falls towards the left of the box but it is hammered away by a Bayern defender.
Chadrac Akolo goes for the bottom left for his penalty but Ulreich does well to save it.
90' +3
Late drama here at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. After looking at a video replay the referee has opted to give Stuttgart a very late penalty after a foul on Ascacibar. Can Stuttgart rescue a point?
90' +2
An excellent pass from Vidal plays Rodriguez clear through on goal, one on one with Zieler. He tries to chip the goalkeeper instead, who parries it clear. Lewandowski is onto the rebound who can only make the ball bobble slowly towards goal, where Zieler is there to race back and clear it away from danger.
90' +1
Another Stuttgart corner as Akolo's curling effort is headed clear by Boateng, narrowly wide of the far post.
90'
The fourth official has indicated three minutes of additional time.
88'
The intial corner is cleared, with a follow up shot being deflected over the bar. The second corner finds Badstuber in the box, who's powerful header is straight at Ulreich. The Bayern keep parries the ball over the crossbar. The third corner is cleared by Bayern and they race onto the counter attack, but Muller miscontrols inside the box and sees the ball roll out of play for a goal kick.
87'
Stuttgart are popping the ball around the final third as they try to work their way into the Bayern box. Aogo tries to run his way beyond the Bayern defence and wins his side a corner.
84'
D. Alaba enters the game and replaces K. Coman.
Kingsley Coman is replaced by David Alaba in Bayern's final change of the afternoon.
Bayern are very much in control now. They will be happy to invite Stuttgart onto them and exploit the gaps left in the defence.
81'
J. Brekalo enters the game and replaces A. Beck.
T. Asano enters the game and replaces D. Aogo.
Ozcan and Pavard link up to try and start a counter-attack for Stuttgart but the tiredness is starting to show and Bayern chase back to clear the danger. They will be very disappointed after that goal as they have been excellent all afternoon, just lacking the goal to match their performance.
Dennis Aogo is replaced by Takuma Asano in a Stuttgart double change.
Andreas Beck is the other player to be replaced. Josip Brekalo is on for the final eight minutes or so.
79'
T. Müller has scored a goal for Bayern Munich! Assist by K. Coman.
Kingsley Coman fires a pass into the feet of Muller, who turns brilliantly to fire a powerful effort into the bottom corner.
GOAL! Thomas Muller fires Bayern into the lead, arguably against the run of play. Coman fires a pass into Muller inside the box, who controls it well with his right foot before firing a powerful effort with his left foot underneath Zieler and inside the near post.
Minute
Description
77'
Stuttgart are happy to work the ball around the midfield and not take any risks here. This could be a difficult final 10 minutes or so for the home side.
75'
15 minutes and injury time left to play here and it is hard to see which way this is going to go. Stuttgart with a bit of sustained attacking play and Muller has to get his foot to the ball to clear a cross away from Aogo, who was waiting for a tap in at the back post.
73'
Bayern's attack once again falling apart at the edge of the box and Stuttgart win a throw as they try to break forward.
70'
A. Beck gets yellow.
Andreas Beck is booked for a foul on Lewandowski.
69'
Tiredness looks to be creeping into this Stuttgart side now. Their passes in the final third are going a little wayward and this could be a matter of just holding on for the point in these final 20 minutes or so.
68'
N. Süle enters the game and replaces M. Hummels.
Mats Hummels is off with an injury. Niklas Süle replaces him.
66'
Boateng tries his luck from range, forcing Zieler to palm the ball wide. Good effort from the centre-back as Bayern start to take control of the tie.
65'
T. Müller enters the game and replaces C. Tolisso.
Corentin Tolisso is off in place of Thomas Müller.
64'
The Bayern corner is flicked on at the near post by Boateng but Lewandowski is unable to latch onto the follow up at the back post. Goal kick Stuttgart.
63'
A Stuttgart attack falls apart and Tolisso is suddenly racing forward down the right wing. Timo Baumgartl does well to chase him down and tackle the ball out for a corner.
62'
The Bayern corner has plenty of pace on it but Zieler climbs high to punch it clear. The referee blows for a foul on the Stuttgart keeper as Kimmich is adjudged to have pushed him.
61'
Ozcan's delivery is poor, being cleared at the near post by a Bayern player. The away side are straight onto the front foot. Lewandowski's header is poor and looks to be drifting wide but it is kept in play, and Rodriguez's low effort is well blocked and out for a corner.
60'
Gentner hammers a cross into the back of Martinez and Stuttgart have another corner.
59'
Bayern finally come forward with a bit of pace. The ball is played to Coman inside the left of the box, whose curling effort towards the far corner is matched with a good save from Zieler.
57'
Bayern are struggling to find their way through this Stuttgart defence still. Rodriguez is forced to dribble his way back towards the Bayern half before being brought down on the halfway line. Stuttgart on top at the moment.
54'
Rodriguez curls the free-kick over the wall but it just doesn't come down quick enough, dropping over the crossbar.
53'
D. Aogo gets yellow.
Dennis Aogo is booked for a foul on Lewandowski on the edge of the box.
52'
Stuttgart are continuing with this high energy pressing game and are seeing more of the ball for their efforts. Good start to the half from the home side.
49'
An interesting move from the Stuttgart manager as Kaminski, who is usually a centre-back, has taken his place as striker. Certainly a bold decision from Wolf.
47'
M. Kamiński enters the game and replaces S. Terodde.
Simon Terodde is off after only two minutes of the second half with a suspected injury problem. Marcin Kamiński is on to replace him.
46'
The second half is underway here at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
45' +1
The corner finds Pavard in the centre of the box, but he doesn't make clean contact and it is an easy save for Ulreich. There will be one minute of additional time at the end of this first-half.
45'
Terodde, who has been impressive this afternoon, holds the ball up well inside the centre of the box but his shot on the turn is well blocked by Boateng. He wins his side a corner though.
44'
Excellent pressing once again from Stuttgart. Santiago Ascacibar chases Martinez right into the Bayern box and slides in to try and hook the ball away from the goalkeeper. He gets his foot to it but Ulreich is on hand to claim it.
43'
The cross only finds Akolo at the back post, who is unable to rise high enough to cause any real threat. Poor corner in truth from the home side.
42'
Stuttgart with a corner now as Vidal blocks Beck's cross on the right wing. Can they make something of this?
40'
Absolute chaos inside the Stuttgart box as they fail to get the corner clear. Boateng's near-post header from the corner looks to be heading wide but Vidal keeps it in play. Then there is blocked shot after blocked shot as Bayern try desperately to find the back of the net. Stuttgart will have been relieved when the referee to blew for a free-kick in their favour.
39'
Bayern get the first corner of the game. Holger Badstuber miscues a clearance straight over the crossbar.
38'
Stuttgart have worked so, so hard this afternoon. They have chased and hounded Bayern all the way towards their box but it will be difficult to see them keeping up this pressure throughout the second half.
36'
Great save! Tolisso finds space on the edge of the box, but his low effort towards the bottom-left is saved by the outstretched foot of Zieler.
35'
A cross from the right wing finds Lewandowski at the back post, but he doesn't quite get his header right and can only loop it into the reaching hands of Zieler. Corentin Tolisso is then judged to have fouled the goalkeeper as he challenged for the ball.
33'
Great footwork from Berkay Ozcan as Bayern are once again robbed of possession in their own half. The winger wriggles his way beyond two defenders but just slightly overruns the ball as he finds his way into the box, allowing Rafinha to deal with the danger.
31'
J. Boateng gets yellow.
Jérôme Boateng is booked after bringing down Terodde on the right wing.
30'
Stuttgart come forward with pace, but Christian Gentner's cross from the left wing can only find a Bayern defender. Bayern are looking a bit stretched at the back when Stuttgart come forward.
28'
Hannes Wolf will certainly be the happier of the two managers so far. Stuttgart have arguably been the better side in the first-half so far and they haven't allowed Bayern any space in the final third.
26'
Bayern with the set-piece after Benjamin Pavard had fouled Coman. The cross finds Hummels at the back post, but the centre-back can only head over the crossbar.
23'
Kimmich tries to charge his way through the Stuttgart defence, just overrunning the ball at the final hurdle, allowing Zieler to collect it.
21'
Bayern fashion only their second chance of the game and it is Lewandowski once again. He turns onto his right foot inside the left of the box, but his side-footed effort is too close to Zieler.
19'
Bayern nearly play themselves into a mess, as Hummels' pass towards Ulreich is weak. The Bayern keeper has to rush his clearance as Alolo slid in to try and prevent it. Stuttgart are looking dangerous when they come forward.
17'
Bayern are turning up the pressure a little as Arturo Vidal tries to inject a little more energy into their attack. Stuttgart are defending well though and Rafinha's cross is comfortably caught be Zieler.
14'
Stuttgart are making a good account of themselves in these opening stages. They are pressing Bayern all the way back to the goalkeeper and rushing Ulreich into hammering the ball clear.
12'
Bayern prod and probe the Stuttgart defence without finding any way through. Coman tries to take on Andreas Beck on the left wing and loses the ball. The counter attack was on for Stuttgart but Terodde had ran offside.
10'
Boateng is back out on the pitch. Bayern have yet to fashion another opportunity since that Lewandowski shot in the opening minunte.
8'
A slight delay in play here as Jerome Boateng goes down with a head injury. Looks like he should be ok though.
6'
Brilliant from Stuttgart as Terodde and Akolo link up again, with the striker backheeling the ball to Akolo inside the box, whose low effort towards the right post is well saved by Ulreich.
4'
Stuttgart take a route one approach with goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler firing the ball long towards Terodde. His flick-on finds Chadrac Akolo on the edge of the box, who can only fire over the crossbar with the Bayern defence bearing down on him.
3'
Stuttgart get a bit of possession but Bayern are defending and pressing well. They have yet to find any real route forward.
1'
Bayern Munich get us underway, kicking right to left.
Close! Bayern with an early chance as Robert Lewandowski turns inside the box and drives a powerful low effort narrowly wide of the near post. The away side on the front foot in these opening stages.
Good afternoon and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s Bundesliga game between VfB Stuttgart and Bayern Munich at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Stuttgart’s 2-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen two weeks ago was their first home defeat of the 2017 calendar year, and part of a poor run of form that has seen them win only one of their last six games, losing four of those. Their poor form sees them sitting only two points above Hamburger SV in the relegation play off place and with Bayern Munich to face this afternoon, things may only get worse before they can get any better.
Hannes Wolf’s side lost forward Anastasios Donis to injury in their midweek loss to Hoffenheim, paving the way for fellow striker Simon Terodde to star as a lone striker this afternoon. Winger Chadrac Akolo also went off injured in that game, but is expected to be fit for the visit of Bayern. Goalkeeper Alexander Meyer, midfielder Matthias Zimmermann and winger Carlos Mane will also miss this tie through injury.
Robert Lewandowski’s second-half goal against bottom club FC Koln in the midweek sent the Poland international into the top 10 of the all-time Bundesliga goalscoring charts, as well as sending The Reds nine points clear of second-placed Schalke. History favours Bayern Munich for this tie, as they have won their last 15 competitive games against Stuttgart, scoring 44 goals. They last tasted defeat to their hosts in March 2010, losing 2-1.
There’s just over 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this afternoon…
There are two changes to the Stuttgart side that lost 1-0 to Hoffenheim during the week, with Donis missing through injury. Simon Terodde will lead the line in his place, while Dennis Aogo replaces Emiliano Insua on the left of midfield.
Bayern meanwhile, make five changes to the side that beat FC Koln during the week. Sven Ulreich replaces Tom Starke in goal, while Mats Hummels and Joshua Kimmich take the place of Niklas Sule and David Alaba in defence. Sebastian Rudy is replaced in midfield by Javi Martinez, while Thomas Muller and Frank Ribery drop to the bench in favour of James Rodriguez and Kingsley Coman, who has overcome a hip problem to make the starting line-up this afternoon.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
Jupp Heynckes' side continue to be without goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, so Sven Ulreich is expected to start in goal. Defenders Mats Hummels and Joshua Kimmich are expected to start in defence after being rested in their midweek win over Koln. Left-back Juan Bernat will be available again, but winger Arjen Robben will likely miss the tie as precautionary measure respectively. Midfielder Thiago Alcantara remains out with a thigh injury.
HALF-TIME: VFB STUTTGART 0-0 BAYERN MUNICH.
Goalless at half-time as the hard-working and tireless Stuttgart have kept Bayern Munich at bay, going toe-to-toe with the Bundesliga champions throughout. They have pressured and hounded Bayern and have done everything but score. The question will be whether they can maintain such an impressive and energetic performance for another 45 minutes.
FULL-TIME: VFB STUTTGART 0-1 BAYERN MUNICH.
Bayern win 1-0 for the third Bundesliga game in a row after Thomas Muller came off the bench to fire a powerful effort in at the near post. Stuttgart were impressive throughout and had the opportunity to rescue a late equaliser when the referee used video assistance to award them a penalty, but Akolo's effort was saved by Ulreich. Stuttgart were the better side for large periods of the game but could not carve out any clear-cut chances, and could have gone two down before their late penalty; but Rodriguez opted to try and chip Zieler when one on one. The win sends Bayern 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga after Schalke's draw with Frankfurt. Stuttgart, meanwhile, remain fourteenth.
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