Bayern Munich goalkeeper Alexander Nübel endured a nightmare performance during his latest opportunity to impress the club that still owns his contract.
Last Thursday, Bayern celebrated their 125th anniversary. The next evening, the team faced Stuttgart in a Bundesliga match, with their travelling supporters unveiling a tifo honoring the club’s founding date and original badge. Despite the celebratory mood, Bayern could hardly have expected the generous “gifts” they would receive from their opponents during the game.
Stuttgart actually started the match as the stronger side, dominating the first half-hour, according to Bayern coach Vincent Kompany. It was their best showing in weeks, but it ultimately amounted to nothing due to a series of costly errors after halftime. Less than a month earlier, Stuttgart were close to fourth place and held a six-point lead over Borussia Dortmund. Now, they sit five points outside the Champions League spots and just one point ahead of Dortmund, a club constantly in crisis mode.
Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeness, nephew of Bayern icon Uli Hoeness and son of Dieter Hoeness, must be incredibly frustrated. His team played with their usual aggressive, controlling style and took a deserved lead thanks to Angelo Stiller, a former Bayern player who was recently linked with a return to the club as a potential replacement for Joshua Kimmich. Despite Bayern equalizing just before halftime through Michael Olise, who capitalized on a defensive lapse after a pass from Leroy Sané, Stuttgart were still very much in the game.
That changed midway through the second half. Nübel, on loan from Bayern, passed the ball to Stiller on the edge of Stuttgart’s box, even though he could see Leon Goretzka pressing. Goretzka easily dispossessed Stiller and scored, putting Bayern ahead. Another defensive blunder sealed the result when Josha Vagnoman lost control of the ball near midfield. Kingsley Coman pounced, rounded Nübel, and slotted home to finish the match.
Nübel found himself in a particularly awkward spot, playing against the club that still owns his rights. It’s been almost five years since Bayern signed him from Schalke with the intention of grooming him as Manuel Neuer’s successor. However, Nübel has only made one Bundesliga appearance for Bayern and has spent much of his time on loan, including two seasons at Monaco and now two at Stuttgart. His current loan runs until 2026, after which he’s still under contract with Bayern until 2029.
Nübel’s career so far has been a textbook case of delay and uncertainty. Bayern signed him thinking he could eventually replace Neuer, but Neuer’s continued presence — despite injuries and fluctuating form — has left Nübel stuck in limbo. Even when Neuer suffered a serious skiing injury after the 2022 World Cup, Bayern never fully committed to Nübel. His 2024 contract extension seemed more about protecting his transfer value than genuinely preparing him for the No. 1 role.
Friday’s match showed why Bayern still has doubts. Nübel admitted after the game that instead of passing to Stiller, he should have simply cleared the ball long. His misjudgment directly led to Goretzka’s goal. Later, his unnecessary charge off his line against Coman gave the Bayern winger an easy decision to round him and score. While those mistakes hurt Stuttgart, they would have been treated as full-blown disasters had Nübel been wearing a Bayern shirt.
Even German tennis legend Boris Becker commented on social media, calling Nübel “unsecure.” Nübel took the remark in good humor, saying he still hoped to get a photo with Becker someday.
Despite these setbacks, Stuttgart still has a decent chance of qualifying for the Champions League, even after coping with key player departures and a heavy schedule. However, mistakes like Nübel’s, while frustrating in Stuttgart, would be utterly unacceptable at Bayern, where standards are far higher.