(Football news) Bayern Munich retained top spot after a 2-1 victory against VfB Stuttgart courtesy of a man of the match performance from Matthijs de Ligt that put them back into top spot in the Bundesliga standings but only on goal difference. The Dutch defender scored the opening goal in the 39th minute after he denied Stuttgart the lead two minutes earlier when he cleared the ball off the goal line. Bayern now face PSG in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg on Wednesday following their 1-0 in the first leg. They are on 49 points the same as Dortmund but ahead on goal difference after their 2-1 win over RB Leipzig on Friday.
Union Berlin on the other hand are in third place on 44 following their goalless draw against FC Koln. Stuttgart had a strong start and caused some early panic in the Bayern defence with their high pressing game as they kept Yann Sommer very busy before the visitors gradually pushed back. Despite controlling possession in the first half, Bayern were struggling to break through the Stuttgart backline but it was de Ligt who unleashed a powerful shot through a crowded box with Stuttgart keeper Fabian Bredlow letting the ball slip through his gloves.
Just two minutes earlier, De Ligt had come to the rescue at the other end when he cleared a point-blank Konstantinos Mavropanos effort off the line. Stuttgart were running out of steam as Bayern scored again with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting who is fresh from extending his contract as he finished off a dazzling passing move that left the Stuttgart defence completely frozen in. It was the Cameroon international’s 10th league goal of the season. Stuttgart got a consolation goal with Juan Jose Perea in the 88th minute which injected some late drama in the game but the hosts ran out of time to find an equaliser.
“We did not do it well on several counter attacks when we were 2-0 up,” Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann said. “And then when you concede late then the opponent just throws everything in it. In the end it was a deserved win because we were the better team, but we all still have to finish games more seriously.”
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