Bayern Munich produced a late second-half comeback to claim all three points in a 2-1 away win against Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Wednesday night.
Stuttgart played a high-pressing game and held a deserved lead into the break, when Vedad Ibisevic turned in a deflected shot.
However, a header from Claudio Pizarro in the 76th minute followed by a last-gasp Thiago Alcantara scissor kick saw Bayern dramatically take the points.
Read how the action unfolded below.
Hello Bundesliga fans! It's time to catch up on Bayern's fixture list following their World Club Cup win, which took place just as the 17th round of fixtures took place. They travel to Stuttgart tonight, which could well be tough for them.
Bayern are well and truly running away with the league this season, and a win here tonight would see them move 13 points ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, who lost at the weekend. It's Stuttgart tasked with the unenviable challenge of stopping the force that is Bayern Munich.
Stuttgart have lost four of their last five in the league, including the very disappointing home defeat to Mainz 05 on Saturday. In fact, they have won only once in their last six home games and they surely cannot be expecting one tonight. Christian Gentner has promised the supporters a better performance - so we'll see.
Let's have a look at the team news, shall we? Yes indeed. We already know that there will be no Franck Ribery or Arjen Robben, of course.
STUTTGART XI: Ulreich; Sakai, Schwaab, Rudiger, Rausch; Harnik, Leitner, Khedira, Werner; Ibisevic, Abdellaoue
BAYERN XI: Neuer; Rafinha, Dante, Boateng, Alaba; Lahm; Muller, Kroos, Thiago, Shaqiri; Gotze
There's one change for the hosts tonight, with Sami Khedira's younger brother, Rani, replacing Christian Gentner in the middle of the park. He should provide a bit more defensive solidity and that's certainly needed. Gentner is more a box-to-box type of player and Stuttgart need a sitter for this one, certainly.
That Bayern team essentially picks itself once you remove Robben and Ribery. Still no start for Javi Martinez, as Philipp Lahm keeps his place in holding midfield. Ahead of him, Toni Kroos and Thiago Alcantara make up the middle, with Xherdan Shaqiri and Thomas Muller on the flanks.
Not too far away from kickoff now, so let's have a quick look at the odds. It's heavily in favour of tonight's visitors, who are at 1/4, while Stuttgart at 9/1 is tempting if you're a gambler. Remember, Bayern haven't lost all season and have won all but two games - both of those away, however.
But what do I think? Well, I can see Stuttgart making it tough but how can you look past Bayern at the moment? I think they'll take it 3-1. We're just about ready to go.
KICKOFF: We're off then. Both teams in their usual colours - Stuttgart white and Bayern red.
Stuttgart have pressed well early on here and Bayern, despite seeing plenty of the ball, have not done a lot with it. If they continue to press you do feel that Bayern will be able to open them up.
Bayern unable to get going as yet. Gotze, who has played well in the last couple of games, is dropping into space early on but hasn't had a touch as yet.
Good tracking back from Martin Harnik there, who slid in on the overlapping Alaba to stop him crossing. The throw comes in but straight to Ulreich. The possession is all Bayern so far, but no chances for now.
MISS! Oh dear Timo Werner! What a chance! Abdellaoue in the box initially goes down a little easily, before it falls to Werner behind him. He takes a touch and lashes it over from no more than eight yards out! Awful.
CHANCE! That chance for Werner was far and away the best of the game so far, and it really should have gone in. Then at the other end Shaqiri has an almost as good one! He's one-on-one, but goes for the chip and puts it on to the roof of the net.
PENALTY APPEAL! Well, well, well. I have seen those given, for sure. Werner hammers a header goalwards and it comes off the arm Rafinha - his arm was probably by his side, but he certainly stopped it going on target.
Slightly risky defending from Rudiger there, but he does well enough to clip the ball over his own bar from a cross with Shaqiri trying to beat him to it. Corner here for Bayern.
Stuttgart are making it very difficult for Bayern at the moment, and they have rarely been able to work the ball outside the hosts' box. Rafinha and now Alaba have resorted to shots from range - both of which have not tested Ulreich.
Bayern continue to prod and probe, with flowing movement by runnres from deep, but the passing has not been up to much in the final third. We have seen plenty of goal kicks from Stuttgart's stopper Ulreich, but nothing in terms of saves from him.
BOOKING: Yellow card for Leitner there, as he catches Kroos late from behind after giving the ball away from a free kick. That's a fair booking and he has few complaints.
Thiago meets a corner from Kroos, but his header goes a country mile over the bar. He did well to get in front of Leitner, but there was plenty of pressure to force him to head over.
Leitner has been very wasteful with the ball today. His latest misplaced pass almost sets up a break for Bayern, but Rausch is across well to cover for Stuttgart. It hasn't been great so far - Stuttgart's game plan is working well.
GOAL! Stuttgart 1-0 Bayern (Vedad Ibisevic)
Oh there's possibly an offside there, but that's a brilliant finish from Ibisevic. A shot is drilled in and it hits Abdellaoue - who looked slightly off - before falling to his strike partner, who sidefoots a curler into the bottom corner. Well, well! This could be interesting.
This has been perfect so far from Stuttgart. Their passing in the middle could be better, but they have kept things tight, have closed down well and are looking dangerous on the break with their pace out wide. Schneider will be delighted, but there's a long way to go.
Kroos is a bit guilty at the moment of trying a bit too much each time he has the ball. It has been about three times now that he has clipped the ball over the top, but straight to a white shirt.
Shaqiri has moved across to the right now, but he's getting less joy from Rausch even than he did from Sakai. Rudiger in the middle has been an absolute beast at the moment - Gotze and Muller have been anonymous.
Alaba plays in Muller, who is tackled by Rudiger but still almost gets through. The tackle puts the ball just too far in front of him, though, and Ulreich is quickly off his line to gather.
SAVE! What an effort from Thiago! The ball is pinged across to Muller by Alaba, who heads to the Spaniard and his dipping half-volley is tipped over by Ulreich. Brilliant effort from the Bayern man.
Bayern continuing to be frustated in the middle of the park. Stuttgart are pressing them as soon as they get into their half and are making the pitch tiny at the moment. Shaqiri tries to bend one from the edge of the box, but it goes wide.
What a waste from Abdellaoue! Harnik passes to him and with Werner to his left, the striker leans back and spoons his effort well over the bar.
Excellent defending from Boateng, who stays with Abdellaoue as the striker was played in over the top, before winning it and putting it out for a throw. There will be one extra minute.
HALF-TIME: Stuttgart 1-0 Bayern Munich
Well we have a potential upset on our hands here in the Bundesliga. Stuttgart are a good side, of course, but this is Bayern. They don't do defeats, but if they don't pick up their game they will lose for the first time this season. There's a long way to go, of course.
Stuttgart have played exactly the way teams have to if they are to get anything against this Bayern team. At the back all four defenders have had support from the midfield in closing down, which has left Gotze isolated for long spells. Will the hosts run out of gas?
How can Bayern get back into this one? Well, they need to find a way past the wall of white in front of them. Mario Mandzukic might help - Guardiola should put their differences aside for the sake of the team, because they do not have a focal point up front at the moment. Gotze has done nothing and he's been dealt with all too easily.
To be honest, there aren't all that many options on the Bayern bench. Claudio Pizarro is a striker best used to put games to bed, while the rest of the subs are young talents or defenders.
No changes at the break from either side - has Pep fired up his players for this half? Something certainly needs to change as the hosts get us started for the second half.
CHANCE! A solid chance early in the half for the hosts, as Ibisevic read a defensive mistake from Dante well, but poked his effort wide of the far post.
Leitner's half has started the way he did in the first, with a misplaced pass. Shaqiri gets the ball from him and plays to Muller. The German tries to thread it back, but Rausch is in the way and the hosts escape.
BOOKING: Spot of handbags here after Kroos caught Leitner late - payback for the same sort of thing earlier I feel. Kroos is carded and the game moves on.
BOOKING: Nailed on yellow there for Rudiger. He just didn't have the pace to stay with Shaqiri and brought him down on the right of the box. Dangerous position, this for Bayern.
Bayern are beginning to control the possession, but are still not creating anything. Gotze does well on the left to win a corner, which Shaqiri goes over to take.
OFF THE LINE! So, so close to 2-0 here! Stuttgart break from the corner, with Harnik pinging left to Werner. It's slightly in front of the youngster but the cross comes in and it's eventually headed off the line by Boateng from Harnik's header.
BOOKING: Dante goes into the book next and that was quite a nasty foul on Abdellaoue. Bayern are frustrated here.
BOOKING: Sakai now booked and that's as clear a yellow as you will see. Alaba had got the edge on him and he dragged the Austrian to the floor. Another dangerous free kick, but it's headed behind by Ibisevic.
BAYERN SUBS: Shaqiri and Kroos come off for Pizarro and Mandzukic. This is attacking intent now!
There's every chance that Stuttgart might hang on to this lead. Bayern are still seeing all the ball, but the pressing is still really hampering them. Can the hosts keep it up?
Half-chance for Alaba there, following a fine bit of passing football. In the end Alaba's shot goes wide after it was nodded down by Pizarro. Change for the hosts, with Arthur Boka on for Sakai. Left-back for a right-back there - interesting move.
Muller slips at the crucial moment there, as Gotze threads him through with the outside of his boot. It was a really good pass, but Muller's footing gave way before he could latch on to it.
This is not a situation that Bayern have found themselves in a lot over the last few years. In fact, you can tell as they're struggling to really up their tempo and get chances.
MISS! Oh my word what a miss! That is Bayern's best chance of the game after Thiago plays a one-two on the edge of the box, but a slight deflection takes his shot wide. He had to score there!
CHANCES! How is it still level! Several shots come in from Thiago then Gotze then Mandzukic but last ditch defending and Ulreich keep them out. Surely a goal is coming here?
BOOKING! Boka goes up with Mandzukic and leads with his elbow somewhat. Bayern have a free kick and the sub has a yellow card.
GOAL! Stuttgart 1-1 Bayern (Claudio Pizarro)
There it is! And it was coming. It's harsh on Stuttgart who have done so, so well, but you felt there was danger after that Boka foul. From it, Pizarro rose high to head low and despite Ulreich getting a hand he could not keep it out. Heartbreak for the hosts, who could lose this yet.
What have Stuttgart got left in the tank? They were visibly tiring before the goal, but have just had something of a chance as Abdellaoue crosses but Dante put it behind.
BOOKINGS: The referee slips! He gets stuck in the middle of another bout of handbags. Harnik is booked for his foul on Dante, before Boateng sees yellow for his part in the fracas. The referee did his best Bambi impression there - and his legs are long, so that made it very funny indeed.
Stuttgart have done well since the goal, with the game becoming quite a bit more even. Leitner has had a game to forget, though, with another cross that goes into the arms of Neuer. I still fancy a final goal in this one.
STUTTGART SUB: Some late pace on the pitch here for the hosts, as Traore comes on for the future star Werner. He could threaten the tired legs of Rafinha now.
Rausch sees his name in the headlines - maybe his photo as well with his new beard. Instead, he slashes an effort way wide of goal as Gotze comes off for Contento. Is Pep happy with the draw?
Stuttgart are probably finishing the better side, just about. Three minutes of time have been added on at the end of what could be a very well-earned draw for the hosts.
STUTTGART SUB: Late change for Schneider, wholooks happy to run the clock down with a sub. Sercan Serarer is on for Abdellaoue.
GOAL! Stuttgart 1-2 Bayern (Thiago)
What. A. Goal! That is unbelievable from Thiago and what a way to win a game! He meets a cross from Rafinha with an overhead scissors volley for a late goal! Oh my word!
FULL-TIME: Stuttgart 1-2 Bayern Munich
What a cruel blow that is for Stuttgart late on, but you will not see a better last-minute winner than that! Bayern take yet another win, but they will not work harder for it all season I wouldn't think.
Thanks for joining me for what was a quite brilliant game of Bundesliga football. Stuttgart gave as good as they got but ended up empty-handed. Until next time, it's goodbye from me!
Written by
Matt Domm
Matt Domm
