Pre-match facts: VfB vs. Bayern Munich

Record against Bayern

Overall: 135 games, 27 wins, 24 draws, 84 defeats, 163:291 goal difference.

In the Bundesliga: 107 games, 18 wins, 22 draws, 67 defeats, 120:225 goal difference.

Looking back

The last two meetings between the teams have ended 2-2. Serhou Guirassy scored his first Stuttgart goal from the penalty spot to salvage a late point for VfB earlier this season, with Chris Führich also on target. VfB also picked up a point in Munich last term, Tiago Tomas and Sasa Kalajdzic netting in a 2-2 draw.

Reunited

Several current Bayern players have spent time at VfB. Joshua Kimmich was in Stuttgart for six years before moving to RB Leipzig, while Serge Gnabry left VfB’s U17s to join Arsenal. Sven Ulreich departed for Munich in 2015, returning to the Bavarian capital in 2021 after a one-year stint at Hamburger SV. Benjamin Pavard, meanwhile, signed from Lille in 2016 before joining Bayern in 2019 – one year after helping France to World Cup glory.

Milestone

Hiroki Ito could make his 50^th Bundesliga appearance against Bayern this weekend. The 23-year-old joined VfB from Japanese club Jubilo Iwata in 2021.

Personnel

Borna Sosa is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card last time out, while Guirassy (ruptured adductor tendon) remains sidelined.