VfB Stuttgart vs 1. FC Köln

VfB Stuttgart welcome 1. FC Köln to their home ground for a Bundesliga Matchday 2 clash on Friday, 4 September 2026, desperate to respond to a 5-1 demolition by Bayern Munich on the opening weekend.

Team News and Injury Latest

Stuttgart's treatment room is overcrowded. Jamie Leweling returned to the squad for the Bayern loss and should be available again, but Chris Führich's involvement remains uncertain. Luca Jaquez, Lorenz Assignon, Leo Sauer, Dennis Seimen, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Nikolas Nartey, Justin Diehl and Jeremy Arévalo are all sidelined. Nartey's hamstring injury, suffered just nine minutes into the DFB-Pokal tie at Hansa Rostock, has handed Josha Vagnoman the right‑back spot. Köln, meanwhile, emerged from their cup scare at Würzburger Kickers unscathed. Manager Gerhard Struber is expected to keep faith with the XI that started that comeback win: Schwäbe; Castro‑Montes, Simpson‑Pusey, Lochoshvili, Mensah; Jóhannesson, Krauß, Thielmann, Bülter, S. El Mala; Ache.

Stuttgart's Form and the Need to Bounce Back

A 5‑1 away collapse against the champions was not how Die Schwaben planned to start the campaign. Deniz Undav pulled no punches afterwards: "We could’ve conceded eight or nine." Having secured Champions League qualification with a draw at Eintracht Frankfurt last term, the pressure is on to deliver points at home. Goal.com described this fixture as "one they will need to win to avoid an uncomfortable early‑season position," and a repeat of the disarray seen at the Allianz Arena would turn the mood sour.

Köln’s Pokal Scare and Momentum

1. FC Köln survived a fright in Würzburg, falling behind before Isak Jóhannesson’s winner sealed a 2‑1 DFB‑Pokal victory. The resilience shown in that tie offers a psychological lift after a summer of consolidation. Jóhannesson’s late strike, combined with a solid midfield base of Krauß and Thielmann, gives the visitors a blueprint for frustrating a wounded Stuttgart side.