- Hosts claim first home league win over Bayern in 17 years
- Kane misses two big chances as Tuchel's side collapse
- Dier & Guerreiro suffer injuries ahead of Madrid clash
Getty ImagesBloodied Eric Dier puts his body on the line for nothing as beleaguered Bayern given another Bundesliga battering - and wasteful Harry Kane can't save them this time
Getty ImagesTELL ME MORE
Battered and bruised, this was anything but ideal preparation for their biggest game of the season against Madrid on Wednesday night. Stuttgart dominated from the first whistle, managing a total of 24 shots over the course of 90 minutes as they dished out a lesson to Thomas Tuchel's side.
With Harry Kane chasing Robert Lewandowski's goal record, there was no chance the England striker was going to entertain a rest. Indeed, he moved onto 36 goals for the season with his penalty in what was an eventful first half - one that saw Eric Dier left with blood all over his face after a clash with Serhou Guirassy - to level proceedings after Leonidas Stergiou's opener.
That was as good as it got for Kane, though, with the prolific forward missing two big chances - including one headed effort that he wastefully steered wide when well placed - before Stuttgart took the lead courtesy of a Jeong Woo-yeong header, and against his former club no less. There was still time for the hosts to add a third as well, with Silas Katompa Mvumpa slotting home past Manuel Neuer to make it 3-1 in stoppage time.
DID YOU KNOW?
The win for Stuttgart is their first over Bayern at home in the league in 17 years. That was a 2-0 victory way back in April 2007, with Cacau scoring both goals against a Munich side that contained the likes of Oliver Kahn, Lukas Podolski and Owen Hargreaves.
Getty ImagesTHE MVP
Stuttgart head coach Sebastian Hoeness deserves all the credit here. Not only has he masterminded an historic win over Bayern - their first in absolutely ages - but both of his substitutes scored in the second half to get the job done. Talk about a manager making a difference.
Getty ImagesTHE BIG LOSER
With the Bundesliga title already gone, the one thing Thomas Tuchel would've been desperate to avoid at MHPArena was injuries. He ended up with two of them. Fortunately for the former Chelsea coach the nasty head wound suffered by Dier shouldn't keep him out of the Real Madrid game but the nature of Raphael Guerreiro's departure from the match, after just 17 minutes, really doesn't look good for the trip to the Bernabeu.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
Bayern's focus will now turn to Madrid. Tuchel's side head to Spain with a fantastic chance of reaching their first Champions League final since 2020, with the Bavarians having played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the first leg in Munich. The fact Carlo Ancelotti was able to rest many of his starting XI for the league clash with Cadiz will work in Madrid's favour, but with Bayern's threat on the counter, anything could happen. They will, though, have to be a whole lot better than they were at the MHPArena today.
As for Stuttgart, their dreams of playing in the Champions League once again after a 14-year wait have become a reality, with their qualification for next season's competition having already been secured. The achievement comes just a year after they were in a relegation play-off as well - incredible.
Getty ImagesMATCH RATING (OUT OF FIVE): ⭐⭐⭐⭐



