Stuttgart 0-2 Bayern Munich: Robben and Alaba secure first win of 2015

Pep Guardiola’s side failed to win their previous two Bundesliga games but returned to winning ways on Saturday


Arjen Robben and David Alba both found the back of the net as Bayern Munich picked up their first win of 2015 with a 2-0 victory at Stuttgart.

Bayern coach Pep Guardiola dismissed talk of a crisis after the champions drew 1-1 against Schalke on Tuesday following a 4-1 hammering at Wolfsburg, and normal service was resumed by the Bavarian giants at the Mercedes Benz Arena.

The leaders were not at their best against Huub Stevens’ strugglers, but Robben took his goal tally to eight in his last nine games and 14 for the season with a fine strike to open the scoring late in the first half.

Defender David Alaba then opened his Bundesliga account for the season with a sublime free-kick, six minutes after the break, to ensure Bayern remain eight points clear of second-placed Wolfsburg, who beat Hoffenheim 3-0.

While Bayern remain on course for yet another title, Stuttgart are now bottom of the table and have secured only five points at home this season.

The hosts have now lost their last 13 games against Bayern and have failed to score in their last four matches against any opponent, as they brace themselves for a battle to avoid the drop.

There were two changes to the Stuttgart side that held Cologne to a goalless draw in midweek, with Gotoku Sakai and Vedad Ibisevic coming in for Sercan Sararer and Martin Harnik.

Dante replaced the suspended Jerome Boateng at the heart of the Bayern defence, while Robert Lewandowski returned to the starting line-up as Thomas Muller dropped to the bench.

Bayern enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening stages, but Stuttgart pressed the champions and would not allow them to settle.

Stevens’ men did not initially resemble a team facing a relegation battle and they went close to an opening goal when Sakai’s measured strike clipped the outside of the far post following a swift counter-attack 27 minutes in.

It was Bayern who were in front four minutes before the break, though, courtesy of a stunning strike from the in-form Robben.

Stuttgart had done a good job of keeping the Netherlands winger quiet until he burst ahead of Sakai to get on the end of Mitchell Weiser’s pass before unleashing an unstoppable left-footed first-time strike that flashed past Sven Ulreich and found the far corner.

Muller replaced Weiser at half-time, while Stuttgart coach Stevens introduced Harnik and brought off Daniel Schwaab.

Stuttgart were unfortunate to be behind but things soon went from bad to worse for the home side when Alaba produced a moment of magic to double Bayern’s lead six minutes into the second half.

The Austria left-back opened his Bundesliga account for the season in style, letting fly with a free-kick from 25 yards that gave Ulreich no chance.

Lewandowski almost added a fourth goal eight minutes from time, but Ulreich spread himself to deny the Poland striker as Bayern finished with a flourish in a comfortable victory.

Dortmund get annoyed when Bayern talk about them – Rummenigge

The Bavarians’ chairman has cautiously refrained from giving his opinion on their rivals’ struggles in the Bundesliga this season for fear of reproach

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has refused to discuss Borussia Dortmund’s dire Bundesliga situation as he claims they get annoyed when anyone at Bayern Munich talks about them.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are languishing at the bottom of the Bundesliga, having endured a torrid first half of the season.

The winter break does not seem to have helped revive their fortunes either, as they drew at Bayer Leverkusen last week before then losing at home to Augsburg on Wednesday night, leaving BVB two points adrift of safety.

Dortmund’s relationship with Bayern has been fractured off the pitch in recent years due to the Bavarians signing their best players in successive summers – Mario Gotze in 2013 and Robert Lewandowski last year.

Consequently, Rummenigge has refrained from airing his views on BVB’s current predicament.

“I do not want to talk about the situation of Borussia Dortmund,” the Bayern chairman is quoted as saying by TZ. “Borussia Dortmund have problems that only Borussia Dortmund can tackle; they need to solve it themselves.

“I think when Bayern talk about them it annoys them. And I do not want any comments of mine to fray the nerves of those at Dortmund.”

Dortmund travel to Freiburg on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 15:30CET – the same time as Bayern host Bundesliga strugglers Stuttgart.

Robben: Wolfsburg ravaging a wake-up call for Bayern

The Dutch winger believes that last week’s 4-1 hammering at the Volkswagen Arena was a blessing in disguise for the Bundesliga leaders

Arjen Robben has stressed that Bayern Munich’s ravaging at the hands of Wolfsburg was the wake-up call that the German champions needed.

The Bundesliga table-toppers were smashed 4-1 by their closest challengers in their first game back after the winter break.

Pep Guardiola’s men were then surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw at home to Schalke, although they played with 10 men for much of the match due to Jerome Boateng being sent off early on.

However, Robben insists that there is no cause for concern at the Allianz Arena, claiming their capitulation at Wolfsburg was a blessing in disguise.

“There’s no reason for Bayern to panic at all,” the 31-year-old told the Bundesliga’s official website. “Yes, we received a savage beating at Wolfsburg, where we were punished for our mistakes and admittedly to blame.

“But we analysed the details of this defeat. It was a good wake up call. After matchday 19, our lead is still eight points on Wolfsburg.

“I’m staying calm and I’m optimistic about the coming weeks, although we must be critical of ourselves and be careful of complacency.”

Robben also discussed Saturday’s clash with strugglers Stuttgart, who are just two points above rock-bottom Borussia Dortmund, and the Netherlands forward stressed that the opposition will not be pushovers.

“We are aware that again a difficult task awaits us against Stuttgart,” the Netherlands international added. “Although they are near the bottom of the table, they’re potentially even more dangerous because they urgently need points.

“Even if we had won our first two games back, we would not travel with a broad chest to Stuttgart, then it would be just as difficult.

“From the first minute, we’ll be wide awake and have to go full throttle to get our first competitive win of the calendar year. We have struggled in the past at the Mercedes Benz Arena. We have been warned.”

Bayern’s visit to Stuttgart kicks off at 15:30CET on Saturday.

Guardiola: Bayern not in crisis

The former Barcelona coach has laughed off concerns over the Bundesliga leaders’ form, while apologising for his behaviour against Schalke

Pep Guardiola has insisted that Bayern Munich are not in crisis following their difficult Bundesliga restart.

The Bavarians dominated the German top flight in the first half of the season, winning 14 out of 17 games and drawing the other three.

They were beaten 4-1 by Wolfsburg in their first game after the winter break, though, before they were held to a 1-1 draw by Schalke on Tuesday.

Nevertheless, Guardiola sees no reason for panic and says it should not come as a shock to see Bayern drop points during the campaign.

“Crisis? There’s no crisis. Things like this happen,” Guardiola said at a press conference.

“You can lose one or two games every now and then. We could even lose three or four games. It’s impossible to always win the title with a 25-point lead over our rivals.”

Guardiola went on to explain Bayern’s decision to appeal Jerome Boateng’s three-game ban following his red card in the 1-1 draw with Schalke.

“There is no discussion about it, that it was a red card and a penalty,” he said.

“However, a three-game ban for a foul like that is too much.”

Guardiola also had his say on criticism of his outburst against the linesman versus Schalke and was quick to apologise for his actions.

“I apologise for what I did, to the Bundesliga and to all other teams. I am really sorry about what happened,” he added.

“I am a Catalan and I am often very emotional. I am still a relatively young coach, so maybe that explains a bit what happened.”

Lewandowski frustrated with substitute role at Bayern

The Poland international wants to start every game and thinks he could struggle to score 20 league goals this term due to squad rotation

Bayern Munich attacker Robert Lewandowski has voiced his frustration with his substitute role against Schalke on Tuesday, although he understands Pep Guardiola’s decision to rotate due to the Bavarians’ busy schedule.

The 26-year-old has made 15 starts so far this Bundesliga campaign, starting just three times from the bench, but admits he finds it tough when he is forced to watch from the sidelines.

“Generally speaking, I always want to play 90 minutes,” Lewandowski told Bild.

“But rotation is part of the game when there’s two matches per week and I will have to accept that. But it’s not easy for me to warm the bench.

“You want to help the team, but you cannot do that from the bench.”

The Poland international has netted seven goals in the Bundesliga this term and he thinks he could struggle to reach his objective of 20 goals due to his changed role.

“Seven goals is not great and I know I can do better,” said the former Borussia Dortmund man.

“It will be hard for me to score 20 goals in the league this season, but it’s possible once I explode…

“You cannot compare my situation at Bayern to that at Dortmund, though. Pep Guardiola does not expect me to score each game, but also wants me to create space for others.”

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