VfB Stuttgart began the 2026/27 Bundesliga season with a heavy 5-1 defeat at the hands of record champions Bayern Munich. The match on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the Allianz Arena was broadcast in the United States on USA Network and Fandango.
The Swabians, who finished fourth last season to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, fell behind early and could not recover. Following this opener, VfB currently sits 18th and last in the standings with zero points, one goal scored, and five conceded. This puts the team already three points behind leaders Bayern Munich.
The first game of the new campaign was a major challenge. Opponents Bayern Munich are the defending champions and have won 13 of the last 14 league titles. The Bavarians took control from the start and demonstrated their strength. VfB Stuttgart managed a consolation goal, but the defense struggled significantly on the night. The team must now analyze the mistakes and find their way back to winning form quickly.
The defeat comes during a period with several absences. Currently, six players are injured and unavailable for selection. They are Dan Zagadou, Dennis Seimen, Jeremy Arevalo, Leo Sauer, Lorenz Assignon, and Luca Jaquez. An overview of the current squad status is available on our injuries page. These absences limit the options for the coach and team, especially in a defense that conceded five goals in Munich.
Despite the poor start, the season's objectives remain ambitious. Qualifying for the Champions League from last season is a major success that sets the standard. The loss to Bayern is a setback, but not a verdict on the entire campaign. The team must now prove it can learn from the match. The next opportunity comes on December 5, 2026, with an away fixture against newly promoted SV Elversberg, who currently sit 16th in the table.
Alongside Elversberg, Schalke 04 and SC Paderborn also returned to the Bundesliga. Schalke spent three years in the second division, while Paderborn has not been in the top flight since 2020. For Elversberg, this is their first-ever Bundesliga season, a remarkable rise from the Regionalliga Südwest within four years. These three teams add intrigue to the league and will fight to avoid relegation. For VfB, the next match against one of these direct competitors in the lower part of the table is therefore particularly important. All upcoming fixtures are listed in the fixtures schedule.
