Maximilian Mittelstädt is now heading into his fourth season at VfB Stuttgart, having joined the club in summer 2023. The 2026/27 campaign nevertheless represents a milestone for the 29-year-old and his colleagues, as they will participate in the official Bundesliga opening game for the first time.
As such, there is a growing sense of anticipation ahead of the trip to face reigning German champions Bayern München on Friday 28 August 2026 (kick-off 20:30 CEST).
Hello Maxi, you enjoyed a successful start to the season last Friday with a 4-0 victory in Rostock in the first round of the DFB Cup. What’s your assessment of the game?
Maxi Mittelstädt: “It was a good, dominant performance from us. Playing away in the first round of the cup is never straightforward, particularly with the energy and emotion that can be generated at Hansa Rostock’s stadium. That made it all the more important to stamp our authority on the game from the outset.”
Summer signing Dzenan Pejcinovic made his VfB debut in Rostock. What was your impression of him?
Mittelstädt: “Dzenan played well and scored important goals right away. We’re delighted to have him with us. He’s a striker who gets involved in the build-up and also has a real eye for goal. Now it’s about helping him continue to settle in well with us.”
The focus in training this week is the opening Bundesliga game at Bayern München. What sort of match are you expecting?
Mittelstädt: “It’s always special to play against Bayern, and to do so in the opening game makes it that bit more appealing. Everyone knows about Bayern’s quality, so it’ll be a tough challenge. We’re heading to Munich determined to give everything we’ve got and get our Bundesliga campaign off to a successful start.”
The draw for the league phase of the UEFA Champions League takes place the evening before that game. Will you follow it?
Mittelstädt: “Obviously we’re focusing on the match in Munich, but I’ll certainly watch the draw. It’s exciting to see which opponents we’ll face in the Champions League. We’re looking forward to the competition and the games.”
