VfB Stuttgart have signed German striker Dženan Pejčinović from VfL Wolfsburg as they gear up for their Bundesliga fixture against Bayern Munich. The 21-year-old forward will challenge Deniz Undav for a starting spot in manager Sebastian Hoeness's side. The match against the record champions is scheduled for 28 August 2026 at 19:30 GMT. Stuttgart enter the contest as last season's fourth-placed team, having finished with 62 points from 34 games and a goal difference of +22.
Alongside Pejčinović, VfB Stuttgart have bolstered their attack with other signings in this transfer window. Slovakian winger Leo Sauer has joined the club, and attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss has been signed permanently following a loan from Leicester City. These additions are intended to provide more depth and variety in the final third. Pejčinović, a young German striker, will be integrated directly into the squad and has the potential to ignite internal competition. The exact lineup for the Bayern game is not confirmed, but a probable starting XI in a 4-2-3-1 formation features Bredlow in goal; a back four of Stergiou, Jeltsch, Chabot, and Mittelstadt; with Promel and Stiller as the holding midfielders. Tomas, Undav, and Führich could operate in advanced roles behind Pejčinović as the central striker.
Preparations for the top fixture are hampered by an extensive injury list. Manager Sebastian Hoeness will be without Lorenz Assignon, Nikolas Nartey, Dennis Seimen, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Leo Sauer, Luca Jaquez, Justin Diehl, and Jeremy Arevalo. Nartey picked up a hamstring injury in the opening minutes of the DFB-Pokal win at Hansa Rostock. Goalkeeper Dennis Seimen is not expected back until late September at the earliest. These absences force the coach to make adjustments and offer opportunities for other players to prove themselves. The current injury list can be viewed on our injuries page.
Stuttgart head into the new season with a solid pre-season behind them. Their most recent competitive match was a 4-0 DFB-Pokal victory at Hansa Rostock on 21 August. Across their last five friendly and competitive matches, the team recorded three wins, one draw, and one loss. They scored 16 goals and conceded eight in that period. A friendly against Fulham ended in a 1-0 defeat, while another against Paris FC in July finished 2-2. This record demonstrates attacking potency but also some defensive vulnerabilities that will be severely tested against Bayern.
Recent history in clashes with Bayern Munich tells a clear story. In the last five head-to-head meetings, Bayern Munich have won all five, scoring 15 goals and conceding four. The most recent encounter was the DFB-Pokal final on 23 May 2026, which Munich won 3-0. In April 2026, Stuttgart lost 4-2 at the Allianz Arena in a Bundesliga fixture. It is also notable that Bayern's scoring run of 56 consecutive competitive matches started against Stuttgart in August 2025. The full table and the 27-point gap to Bayern can be found in the standings.
The task for Stuttgart is enormous, but the new signings bring fresh impetus. After the Bayern game, VfB face another Bundesliga home fixture. On 4 September 2026, Sebastian Hoeness's side host 1. FC Köln, who finished 14th last season. All upcoming fixtures are listed in our fixtures calendar.
