From near-perfect at San Siro in the Champions League on Wednesday to out of sorts against Bundesliga relegation battlers, Bayern Munich’s strange start to the season took another odd turn at Allianz Arena.
They put on a fabulous pressing show under Julian Nagelsman in their midweek 2-0 victory over Inter, suggesting they could better execute the coach’s tactics in his second season in charge. But against Stuttgart, the worst qualities of his first term - namely moments of dropped concentration at the back - bit them.
Nagelsmann made significant line-up changes from that victory at San Siro, with Mathys Tel, Dayot Upamecano, Jamal Musiala, Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka and Noussair Mazraoui coming into the line-up. Those players range in experience - Tel became the Bundesliga’s youngest ever starter while Goretzka is a veteran of the division - but the number of alterations at an early stage in the season seemed to affect the Bavarians in their all-round cohesion.
Still, two players who started against Inter who were responsible for Stuttgart’s goals. In the 57th minute, Alphonso Davies gave away a sloppy pass in his own half, then unconvincingly closed down Konstantinos Mavropanos who passed to Chris Fuhrich for an easy finish. In stoppage time, Matthijs De Ligt was adjudged to have fouled Serhou Guirassy in the box and the Stuttgart forward converted the ensuing penalty.
Davies did otherwise deliver a decent performance, assisting Tel for the opener while consistently breaking up attempted play from Stuttgart. De Ligt was less assured.
It takes a lot for Bayern Munich to worry about a domestic campaign. Ten titles in a row create a special kind of confidence, and they will still finish Saturday atop the Bundesliga table.
Nonetheless, for a club expected to achieve perfection not every once in a while, but every time they take the pitch, the past couple of weeks are unacceptable.
Slip-ups might not ultimately matter in their Bundesliga title race. They absolutely will, though, if they carry over to the Champions League.