Stuttgart – Bayern Munich: Kompany Lifts First Silverware Whilst Stuttgart Left in Despair

A commanding start to the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup final provided the Bundesliga champions with an early lead. Although Stuttgart quickly got back into the game and created a few chances, they could not capitalize. Momentum shifted between the two competitors for the remainder of the tie. However, it was Bayern Munich that came out on top in the end.

Tactical analysis and match report by Fahd Ahmed.

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A week before the inaugural Bundesliga match, German football fans were treated to an intriguing encounter between the DFB-Pokal winners and domestic league champions.
Although the season targets vary for both sides, there is no better way to start a season than by securing a trophy in the very first match. Thus, both managers were well-prepared and fielded their strongest available lineup. Meanwhile, the players, as demonstrated by their intensity, were more than ready for the final.

From a tactical perspective, Vincent Kompany and Sebastian Hoeneß have not varied much from last season. Instead, the aim continues to be to build on improving the existing tactical
foundations whilst adding more layers of dynamism and nuance.

The match represented the caliber of the teams in their close battle. However, it was the Bavarians that found the early advantage.

Exploiting Stuttgart’s high press through verticality and intelligent movement

The intensity level brought by both teams at the start of the match was very impressive. The eagerness to get on the driving set and be the side to control the game was evident. Stuttgart and Bayern pressed high and attacked vertically. However, it was the Bundesliga champions that created more chances in the opening period.

As we have seen throughout the 2024-25 campaign, Kompany has established a 2-4-4 in-possession structure where both fullbacks initially hold minimum width in the half-space and
constantly offer support to the wingers. On Saturday night, it was no different, but with the slight change in their intent. They were more aggressive in pushing up and did so early on when Stuttgart would press high and almost go man-for-man. By having advanced fullbacks, it allowed Bayern to have three advantages.

Firstly, it would pin an opposition midfielder back – allowing the Bayern deeper midfielders and defenders to have more time on the ball in deeper phases. Secondly, by pushing up, they would open a simple passing lane to the wide player, who would be isolated against the opposition fullback. Lastly, their late forward run would provide Bayern players with an option to play behind Stuttgart’s high defensive line.

The first such move came in the 4th minute after a long kick from Fabian Bredlow was won back by Jonathan Tah. A few passes later, and with Stuttgart pressing man-to-man, Joshua
Kimmich played a switch to Serge Gnabry whilst Konrad Laimer initiated a forward run. Gnabry found Laimer with a first-time pass. The advanced Austrian right-back delivered a cross to the far post that was intercepted and knocked away by Josha Vagnoman. However, the loose ball was pounced upon by Leon Goretzka, whose volley got Bredlow worried for a second.

4th minute: Stuttgart’s high defensive line is capitalized on by Bayern through a quick and vertical attack.

Less than five minutes later, there was another play where Bayern initiated more movements to cause Stuttgart’s high defensive block problems. This time, it was Josip Stanišić who
advanced in the left half-space which allowed Harry Kane to drop into and utilize his long passing range. Meanwhile, on the right flank, Michael Olise and Gnabry switched positions, with the former closer to the touchline. He received Kane’s pass before driving with the ball and executing his signature cut-in and left-footed shot move.

9th minute: Bayern’s counter-movements and switch of positions (indicated by the black arrows) manipulated the Stuttgart defensive structure to produce yet another chance from a direct play.

The crucial turnover leading to Bayern’s opener

Under Hoeneß, Stuttgart has developed a unique way of building out from goal kicks. They form a narrow structure that can be described as a 2-2-2-4 share where the first three lines stay within the central and half-space zones. It is worth noting that the forward line spreads across the pitch with two players holding maximum width whilst the other two are more
central.

This structure enables Stuttgart to build through with short and long passes – depending on what they are trying to achieve, which is also dependent on the opposition’s strengths and
weaknesses. If Hoeneß wants to gradually build up, the aim is usually to move the ball through short passes into the vacated space. The receivers can collect it as they arrive at this zone. Further, since they are not static and hold a certain position from the outset, it makes the move more dynamic.

On other occasions, as they constantly did in the first half of the final, Stuttgart played it long to the tall striker, Nick Woltemade, to win possession by getting contact or pouncing on the loose ball.

Stuttgart’s 2-2-2-4 build-up shape in action against Bayern.

It was a little surprising how Stuttgart did not engage in many short build-ups. It might be due to Bayern’s high man-oriented press. However, when they faced them later last season at the MHP Arena, Hoeneß’s side was braver in this phase and was able to cut through Bayern’s press with intricate passes and sharp sequences. But that intent was completely missing in the final.

In theory, there are still benefits to playing it long and although the risk of losing the ball through short build-up is mitigated, there is another risk that lies with going long. If Stuttgart does not manage to win the first or loose ball, they could potentially face an immediate counter from Bayern. With the fullbacks high, there could even be a situation, if countered fast enough, where the center-back duo is isolated with plenty of space to attack.

This is what happened in the 18th minute leading to Kane’s opener.

Bredlow received the ball from Julian Chabot before going long towards Woltemade, who received the ball and tried to bring it under control. However, due to the structure where his teammates and correspondingly the opponents were narrow, Olise managed to immediately turn possession over.

18th minute: Kane’s goal originates from a midfield turnover followed by a quick Bayern passing sequence.

That turnover was followed by a swift passing move that ended with Goretzka setting up Olise to thread a through pass for Kane. Although that pass was intercepted, the Englishman pounced on the rebound to score from a slightly scrappy but impressive finish.

Stuttgart’s ability to build through short passes improved after trailing. There was especially a play in the 22nd minute when they moved the ball from back to front beautifully after
dragging Bayern higher up the field.

Furthermore, they began to gain a foothold and were more threatening. Even from long goal kicks, Stuttgart started to find their coordination. A minute after the above passing sequence,
Bredlow managed to find Jamie Leweling behind Bayern’s defensive line, leading to a shot, albeit a tame effort, that was saved by Manuel Neuer. Shortly after, Woltemade had a
chance from point-blank range that was again prevented by Neuer.

The long pass from Bredlow leading to Leweling’s shot, which was shortly followed by Woltemade’s golden opportunity.

In the remaining portion of the first half, momentum swung both ways. Stuttgart and Bayern continued to attack vertically and press man-to-man with no early tactical alterations from
either manager, with the tie being so competitive.

Hoeneß adjusts the Stuttgart build-up shape

The initial fifteen minutes of the second half did not deliver any clear-cut chances for both teams. It took until the 62nd minute of the match for another big chance to arrive, with Bayern forcing a high turnover when Stuttgart tried to build with short passes, which led to a shot on target for Kane.

However, there was an interesting detail – Hoeneß switched Stuttgart’s build-up shape to a more standard 4-2-4 structure. The fullbacks did not position high up and narrow, but rather
a little deeper and very close to the touchline. The alteration might have been a reaction to the goal they conceded, where congesting central spaces whilst going long meant that it was
easier for Bayern to launch dangerous counters.

Hoeneß altered the build-up shape from the 2-2-2-4 to a standard 4-2-4 in the second half.

The devastating blow

Despite going toe-to-toe with Bayern after trailing, Stuttgart could not find the equalizer. Although a few players came close, Neuer consistently denied them. To make matters worse, in the 76th minute when Leweling went down with an injury and was getting treatment on the sidelines, Bayern went on to score against a ten-man Stuttgart.

The move clearly showcased Bayern fairly taking advantage of the situation as they consistently tried to play the free man when progressing up the pitch. With Stuttgart executing a man-oriented high press in that match, for that brief period when they were a man down, the players could not adjust accordingly.

77 th minute: Bayern played through the Stuttgart press as Leweling received treatment on the sideline – leading to a goal.

After Stanišić received the ball from Olise, he drove up the field before finding Kane, who dropped between the lines to collect the ball and switch it diagonally to Gnabry. With substitute Boey providing the supporting run, Maximilian Mittelstädt had to hold his position and stay deep – allowing Gnabry the time and space to pick his cross. The ball was perfectly aimed and weighted for summer signing Luis Díaz to head it in.

By the end of it, the Stuttgart players looked more fatigued and so were also put on the back foot at times. Bayern tried to seal the final with a third, but Stuttgart did not slip any further with a few minutes remaining.

Hoeneß’s men did get one back in the final minute after a long throw that was flicked towards the back post by Chema Andrés and was converted by Leweling. However, there was not enough time to conjure up an equalizer.

Takeaways

The entertaining Supercup final ended with the favorites lifting the trophy. With more ambitious targets to achieve this season, Kompany would welcome an early morale boost for his team as they lifted their first, and hopefully for the supporters, of many titles yet to come.

Although Hoeneß might be frustrated when reflecting on the early parts of the match where Stuttgart let slip, when reviewing the entire game, he will be proud of the performance. They showcased courage to come back in the tie and go stride-for-stride against one of the best teams in Europe. If it was not for Leweling being temporarily sidelined, there could have been a reality where Stuttgart held onto the 1-0 scoreline before equalizing. But that is the reality of football, as fortune does not always favor.

Nevertheless, for the fans, the competitive cup final proved to be a delicious taster ahead of yet another flavorful season of German football.

Match plots will be added as soon as possible.