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The headlines may be on Bayern but there are plenty of positives to talk about for their opponents tonight.

Stuttgart's impressive run last season saw them qualify for the Champions League for the second time in three seasons.

They also won the DFB-Pokal two seasons ago, their first major silverware since their Bundesliga-winning season in 2007.

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Angelo Stiller will be looking to orchestrate the Stuttgart midfield after boasting one of the best passing rates in the league last season and landing himself in the Bundesliga Team of the Season for 2025/26.

They couldn't have a tougher test on the opening night but it's one they will relish.

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport Football Journalist

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Bayern Munich start their latest title defence as overwhelming odds-on favourites to win the Bundesliga again - so what would constitute success this season?

The German side are as short as 1-7 odds with bookmakers after winning 13 of the past 14 titles - and are chasing a hat-trick of successes.

Vincent Kompany's side already have a win against rivals Borussia Dortmund under their belt after winning the German Super Cup 2-1 last weekend.

England captain Harry Kane will be looking to win his fourth Bundesliga Golden Boot in four seasons... and perhaps even more.

Read more here.

All eyes will be on Harry Kane tonight as the England forward looks to kick off another special season in Munich.

Kane has been speaking to BBC Sport about his Ballon d'Or hopes and being compared to some of football's greats as he prepares to receive the German Footballer of the Year award before kick-off at the Allianz Arena tonight.

Kane scored 61 goals for his club in all competitions last season as they completed a league and cup double and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Since signing the England captain has secured the Golden Boot in each of his three Bundesliga seasons.

He also likes to score against Stuttgart, netting seven in his three meetings with them last season, which included two hat-tricks. Ominous stats for the away team!

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This is only the third time these two sides have met on the opening day of the season and the first time Bayern will be hosts.

Both previous opening day meetings ended in a draw and Bayern also failed to go on to win the league during those campaigns.

But they do have plenty of reason to be confident that history won't repeat itself having won all their last six encounters with Stuttgart, while the Swabians have not recorded a win in Munich since the 2017/18 season.

The teams have met 166 times across all competitions, with Bayern coming out on top 99 times while Stuttgart have only walked away as victors on 38 occasions.

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Good evening. It's time for the opening fixture of the Bundesliga season - and what an opening night it is!

Coming up we have live coverage as Bayern Munich kick off their title defence against last year's fourth-place finishers Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena.

The last time the sides met was in the DFB Pokal final in May with Bayern running out 3-0 winners to secure a domestic treble.

Bayern go into the season as favourites to retain their Bundesliga title but this is almost as tough a start as they could have against a team getting set for Champions League football this season.

All set then for fireworks on the opening night of the Bundesliga.