Joshua Kimmich finished Bayern München vs VfB Stuttgart with two assists, an 8.9 rating and 63 completed passes, and that tells the story of Bayern München's 5-1 win better than the score alone. Opening nights can get noisy. This one felt controlled, with Kimmich dictating the game and Michael Olise providing the sharpest attacking response whenever VfB Stuttgart threatened to make it awkward.

A bundesliga.com match report summed it up this way: "Bayern Munich thrashed VfB Stuttgart 5-1 on opening night to start their season in perfect fashion as Dayot Upamecano, Michael Olise, Aleksandar Pavlović and Luis Díaz all got on the scoresheet."

Kimmich set the game in Bayern's favour twice

The key detail was not just that Bayern scored five. It was when Kimmich stepped in to shape the game.

First he delivered the corner that Dayot Upamecano turned in on 21 minutes for the opener. Then, after Josha Vagnoman equalised for Stuttgart, Kimmich supplied the pass for Olise to restore Bayern's lead three minutes later. Bayern had their wobble and answered it immediately.

That sequence is why his two assists carried more weight than a tidy stat line. Both directly shifted the match back toward Bayern control, one from a set piece and one from open play. Add in those 63 completed passes and the sense is clear enough: he was not just collecting contributions, he was running the game.

Olise's finish mattered in that spell because it killed any chance of Stuttgart settling after the equaliser. Bundesliga.com reported: "Michael Olise capped a superb display with a goal and a hand in the game's flow, restoring Bayern's lead within minutes of Stuttgart's equaliser with a composed finish after a Kimmich pass."

Olise and the bench gave Bayern more than one route

Olise's goal was his headline moment, but his night had more to it. He finished with a 7.7 rating, forced the goalkeeper twice, hit the post with a first-half free-kick and also had a goal ruled out for offside. Bayern looked dangerous through him even before the game opened up late on.

That broader threat matters for Bayern because the attack did not depend on one pattern. Kimmich was the main supplier, but Olise kept asking different questions of Stuttgart, whether through direct shooting positions or his movement after the break.

The late stages also brought Aleksandar Pavlović and Luis Díaz onto the scoresheet. Ismael Saibari is not an allowed linked entity here, so omit link?

Saibari's contribution needs a little care. The bundesliga.com match report said he assisted both Pavlović and Díaz, while the verified match events credit him with one assist in the fixture. Either way, his Bundesliga debut gave Bayern another creative option off the bench, and the brief cameo added to the feeling that Stuttgart were being stretched from several angles by then.

Neuer's milestone sat inside a convincing start

Amid the attacking noise, Manuel Neuer reached 600 competitive appearances for Bayern. He also started his 21st consecutive Bundesliga season, which is a remarkable number even if this was not a clean-sheet night.

His 7.5 rating reflects that he still had a job to do. Stuttgart scored once, so this was no ceremonial milestone, but Bayern still finished the evening with authority once the second goal went in and the bench added more damage.

It would be a mistake to turn one opener into a season verdict. What Bayern did show, though, was a familiar hierarchy inside the team: Kimmich controlled the game, Olise gave them incision, and Neuer's milestone came in a match that ended 5-1 at the Allianz Arena.

FAQ

Why was Joshua Kimmich so important in Bayern Munich vs VfB Stuttgart?

Kimmich drove the game with two assists, an 8.9 rating and 63 completed passes. He supplied the corner for Dayot Upamecano's opener, then set up Michael Olise three minutes after Stuttgart had equalised. Bayern had plenty of scorers, but Kimmich was the main organiser and the player who kept the match moving back in Bayern's favour.

How did Michael Olise perform in Bayern Munich's opening-night win?

Olise scored the goal that restored Bayern's lead after Josha Vagnoman made it 1-1 for Stuttgart. He finished with a 7.7 rating, hit the post with a first-half free-kick and also had a goal ruled out for offside. It was a busy attacking display, not just a single key moment.

Did Manuel Neuer keep a clean sheet in his 600th Bayern appearance?

No. Neuer reached 600 competitive appearances for Bayern in the 5-1 win, but it was not a clean sheet because Stuttgart scored through Josha Vagnoman. The milestone still stood out, and his 7.5 rating showed it was an active night rather than a ceremonial one.

How many assists did Ismael Saibari have against VfB Stuttgart?

That point is disputed. The match report said Saibari assisted both Aleksandar Pavlović and Luis Díaz, but the verified match events credit him with one assist in the game. What is clear is that he made his Bundesliga debut for Bayern and made an immediate impact from the bench.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →