Dazzling Bayern Munich Highlight Tactical Evolution in Stuttgart Win

Bayern Munich coasted to yet another stunning victory on Saturday, hammering Stuttgart 4-0 in their Bundesliga encounter. The major news on the day was not the fact that the league leaders won, but the manner in which they earned their points. The way the German giants played and won underlined how far they have come in their tactical development.

Pep Guardiola's men took the lead within 11 minutes, catching the visitors with pace on the counterattack. The visitors had won a set piece that had put them deep in the attacking half. It was just enough to give the Bavarians an opportunity to strike.

After winning the ball, Douglas Costa burst forward at full sprint. As they entered the attacking half, four Bayern players were ahead of all but the last Stuttgart defender. When the Brazilian crossed, there was just one VfB man behind the ball with three onside targets. Arjen Robben took the honors in redirecting the ball into the net.

Seven minutes later, Bayern made it 2-0 with another fast-paced move, springing the offside trap at the halfway line. Thomas Muller entered the box with just one defender to take on and two unmarked, onside teammates as targets. The Germany international's cross was actually poor and behind both of the obvious recipients, but Costa's late run brought him, unmarked, into position to smash home on the volley from the edge of the penalty area. From that point on, the match was more of a scrimmage than an actual competitive football game.

Power, pace, direct football: This is what the new Bayern looks like.

Backtracking to Guardiola's first season in Munich, it's incredible to imagine that the trainer admitted, per Goal in April of 2014: "I can't play like I want." For much of the first two years of Guardiola's tenure, the trainer tinkered with and adapted his approach.

Honorary president Franz Beckenbauer bemoaned Guardiola's approach to the game, asserting on Sky Deutschland (via Marca): "We're going to end up being unwatchable like Barcelona. The players will start passing the ball back even on the goal line."

Guardiola long used a possession-first system that was more concerned more with keeping the ball than using the chance to counterattack. Sometimes he played with a striker, sometimes without a natural No. 9. In general, he used a narrow tactical setup. But there never was much pace or urgency in transitioning the ball quickly from defense to attack.

Now there is, at least when the result is still undecided.

Compared to the previous two seasons under Guardiola Bayern in the current campaign have been much more willing and eager to sprint forward and into the attack. Catalyzed by the pace of the mercurial Costa on the wing and aided by the return of Philipp Lahm and David Alaba to wide positions, Bayern now are stretching opponents with both length and width. They're faster, more dynamic, and harder to defend against. And they're playing to their strengths, not ignoring them.

That much was clearly evident as Bayern used the counterattack as their primary method of attacking against Stuttgart early on, using their tremendous combination of skill and athleticism to blitz their opponents into submission. And when the game was decided, they were able to deconstruct their game plan and focus more on possession, containment and slowly working out a couple of chances to tack on extra goals.

It's no wonder why Bayern in their current state are the best they've been under Guardiola. Thanks to their continued tactical evolution and embracing of the full range of attributes they have to offer, they're looking like the side to beat in Europe this season.

@Mr_Bundesliga