VfB Stuttgart vs Bayern Munich - Heynckes warns against complacency

Posted Saturday, December 16, 2017 by PA

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes has warned against complacency as the Bundesliga leaders visit Stuttgart this weekend.

Bayern are nine points clear at the top of the table and are in fine form having won their last three.

But both of their two defeats this season have come away from home and Heynckes is taking nothing for granted ahead of the trip to face 14th-placed Stuttgart at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.

Heynckes said on the club's website, fcbayern.com: "They are a young, ambitious and hard-running team who play very well. They are a very good team with high potential. It surely won't be a walkover."

The match will be Bayern's last in the league before the winter break. Their final match of 2016 will be the cup visit of Borussia Dortmund next week.

Striker Robert Lewandowski goes into the game in high spirits having moved up to joint-10th on the Bundesliga's all-time goalscoring list with a strike against bottom side Cologne in midweek.

The Poland international, who has scored 166 times in 243 appearances for Dortmund and Bayern, has no intention of stopping there.

The 29-year-old said: "I'm very happy, of course, but I know I am capable of more. We'll see how many I have at the end of the season but right now, I'm just happy to help the team."

Sven Ulreich should return in goal for Bayern to face his former club after overcoming a muscle injury. Manuel Neuer, Thiago and Arjen Robben are still absent.

Stuttgart have injury problems with Greek forward Anastasios Donis facing three weeks out with a knock picked up in the midweek loss at Hoffenheim. Fellow striker Chadrac Akolo is also doubtful.

The fixture is a tough one for Hannes Wolf's promoted side as they bid to end their otherwise fine year on a high after three successive defeats.

Wolf told www.vfb.de: "When you play against FC Bayern, it's always a huge challenge, but we go into every game we play with the goal of coming out with a win. We must now continue to defend well and develop some penetrative power from that on the attack."