Stuttgart 0 Bayern Munich 2: Robben strikes again as champions ease to victory

Bayern Munich claimed their first competitive win of 2015 at Stuttgart, with Arjen Robben and David Alaba on target in a 2-0 victory.

Arjen Robben’s rich vein of form continued as Bayern Munich beat beleaguered Stuttgart 2-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday to secure their first competitive victory of the year.

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 goals 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.

Stuttgart 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.

Stuttgart 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.