Contrasting performances from goalkeepers
With Manuel Neuer being one of the rested players, Jonas Urbig got the start in goal for Die Roten. Although the 22-year-old goalkeeper was only forced to make one save, he contributed immensely to his team’s success with some excellent ball distribution, which was necessary to withstand the pressing tactics that Stuttgart deployed during the opening 45-minute period.
For large portions of the first half, Bayern were forced to go long instead of playing out from the back. Urbig made Stuttgart pay for those tactics when he picked out the forward run of Konrad Laimer, who combined with Michael Olise for the opening goal.
Whilst Urbig was shining, the same can’t be said of his counterpart Alexander Nubel, currently on loan to Stuttgart from Bayern, who had two spills in the match; the second of which resulted in Bayern’s third goal which was scored by Stanisic. The likelihood of Nubel returning to Bayern faded even further after Saturday’s performance.