Bayern Munich: Top three performers in 3-0 win against VfB Stuttgart

Bayern Munich got back to winning ways in the Bundesliga on Sunday with a comfortable 3-0 win against VfB Stuttgart. It was crucial for Bayern to win this game since they could not afford to see Bayer Leverkusen move further away from them in the points table.

It was not a dominating performance from Bayern when it comes to having the majority of possession. Thomas Tuchel made sure that his side was breathtaking on the break and delivered blows at the right time. Let us look at the three players who played a crucial role in Die Roten’s win on Sunday.

Aleksandar Pavlovic

After Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka were ruled out for the game in the 11th hour due to illness, Tuchel decided to deploy Aleksandar Pavlovic in the center of the park alongside Raphael Guerreiro. The youngster grabbed this opportunity with both hands as he has done in the previous games this season.

Pavlovic looked calm and composed with the ball in the deeper role. He kept things ticking in the center of the park, completing 86% of his passes. The youngster was also sound defensively, making six recoveries and winning the majority of duels. The icing on the cake for Pavlovic was his deliveries from set-pieces. He provided the assist for Kim Min-jae’s first goal for Bayern. Thomas Tuchel believes that Pavlovic is delivering performances in a difficult position like a seasoned pro.

Harry Kane

The game against VfB Stuttgart was considered the battle of the best two strikers in the Bundesliga this season- Harry Kane and Serhou Guirassy. The English striker managed to win this battle by a comfortable margin as he scored two goals on the night.

Kane opened the scoring in the second minute after Leroy Sane squared the ball for him in the box. The English forward doubled Die Roten’s lead in the second half by nodding the ball past the keeper after it reached him during a set-piece routine. Kane was also equally good at linking up the play in the final third. He played ten passes in the final third against Stuttgart. It was another great showing from Kane as he reached 20 goals for the season in the Bundesliga.

Thomas Muller

With Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry on the sidelines, Thomas Muller got the opportunity to play from the start. The experienced forward showed his quality and experience against Stuttgart. He was unfortunate to not be on the scoresheet as he had a goal ruled out in the first half for offside.

Muller was a creative outlet for Die Roten on Sunday. He created four chances against Stuttgart, most for a Bayern player in the game. The German forward also worked hard out of possession, winning duels in dangerous areas to initiate counter-attacks. Muller has struggled to start regularly this season, but he still has a lot to contribute on the pitch, as he showed against Stuttgart on Sunday. (All Stats courtesy: Fotmob)