Bayern Munich's Konrad Laimer has expressed respect for VfB Stuttgart ahead of the Bundesliga season opener. The right-back appeared optimistic about the upcoming match, while also praising Stuttgart's recent work.
Laimer highlighted the quality of the Stuttgart side. "VfB is a good team. You can see they've done a very good job in the past few years," said the Austrian international. This statement comes at a time when VfB sits bottom of the table after the first matchday of the 2026/27 season. With 0 points, 0 wins, 0 draws, and one loss from one game, and a goal record of 1 scored and 5 conceded (-4 goal difference), the start is far from ideal. The gap to the league leaders, who happen to be Bayern Munich, is already three points.
The record from last season offers little cause for over-optimism. In four direct meetings in the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal in 2025/26, VfB Stuttgart lost to the record champions by an aggregate score of 3:14. The cup final also went to Munich. However, Stuttgart had a strong league campaign, finishing in fourth place. For Bayern, the match against Stuttgart is their second outing of the season after the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup against Borussia Dortmund. Laimer and his teammates, however, rate the Bundesliga fixture as the more significant one.
The 29-year-old defender left no doubt about his own team's objectives. "We're looking forward to the game, we want to play our football and show how good we are," Laimer stated. His confidence is fueled by the dominance in past encounters and their current top position in the standings. For VfB, the match represents a huge challenge to get back on track after the poor start. Their recent form, marked by an 'L' for loss, needs to be reversed immediately.
Regardless of the outcome against the giants, VfB Stuttgart faces another important duel shortly after. On September 4, 2026, the team hosts 1. FC Köln, who are currently fourth in the table, at the MHPArena. This home game will be key to secure the first points of the season and stop the negative trend. Preparations for this encounter are already running in parallel. Fans can follow the rest of the season on our fixtures page and check current squad data in the squad section.
The task for the coach and team is clear. After the heavy opening defeat and the upcoming Bayern hurdle, the team must find stability. The defense, which conceded five goals, urgently needs improvement. A look at the standings shows the urgency. The positive words from Konrad Laimer are an acknowledgment of the Stuttgart project but offer little solace in the current sporting situation. Now, a response on the pitch is required.
