1899 Hoffenheim vs VfB Stuttgart

1899 Hoffenheim will face VfB Stuttgart on September 12 in the third round of the 2026-27 Bundesliga season. The hosts are looking to bounce back from a frustrating late collapse in their previous outing, while the visitors arrive eager to build on a convincing win before their European campaign begins.

1899 Hoffenheim Form and Asllani Update

Hoffenheim head into Matchday 3 looking to recover from a bitter defeat against Borussia Dortmund. Despite an impressive initial display, the team succumbed to a remarkable second-half comeback from their opponents. Opposing manager Niko Kovač later admitted his side had escaped with a "lucky win," highlighting the positive elements of Hoffenheim's performance that they will want to carry forward.

On the personnel front, there is optimism surrounding the potential returns of Alexander Prass and Kristjan Asllani. Both players were forced to wait out the Dortmund fixture but were earmarked for a possible return against Stuttgart. Asllani's successful integration is clearly a priority, as the midfielder has just been included in TSG Hoffenheim's squad for the upcoming Europa League league phase.

VfB Stuttgart Form Guide and El Khannouss Impact

VfB Stuttgart arrive with renewed confidence after seeing off 1. FC Köln 3-1 in their last domestic outing. Having started their Bundesliga campaign with a heavy defeat to Bayern Munich, Stuttgart showed resilience to get off the mark in the league, backing up a 4-0 cup victory over Hansa Rostock.

Substitute Bilal El Khannouss had a highly promising 19-year-old debut against Köln, nearly turning provider before scoring with a brilliant solo finish from a difficult angle. Defender Josha Vagnoman capped off the performance with a volleyed strike in the 90th minute. Midfielder Grischa Prömel also featured prominently, and the squad is determined to establish a steady rhythm in domestic action before their focus shifts to a midweek Champions League fixture against tournament debutants Viking.

Stuttgart Team News and Injury Latest

Despite their recent success, Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeneß—who publicly praised his team's performance against Köln—must navigate a congested treatment room. The visitors travel with a significant laundry list of injuries that will test their squad depth early in the campaign.

Attacker Tiago Tomás remains sidelined with a muscle injury and is not expected back until after the upcoming international break. The extensive absentee list for Stuttgart also includes defensive and midfield options such as Dan-Axel Zagadou, Lorenz Assignon, Nikolas Nartey, Jeremy Arévalo, Luca Jaquez, Justin Diehl, and Dennis Seimen. Finding solutions to cover these missing pieces will be crucial if they are to secure a positive away result.

Securing three points in this fixture would provide essential momentum for both clubs as their respective European campaigns loom. Hoffenheim will be desperate to convert promising performances into tangible points, while Stuttgart aim to string together consecutive league victories to solidify their domestic footing before embarking on their Champions League journey.