Match Events
| Min | Team | Card | Event | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39' | VfB Stuttgart | Goal — Bilal El Khannouss (assist: Josha Vagnoman) | 1-0 | |
| 41' | Köln | Jahmai Simpson-Pusey | 1-0 | |
| 45' | Köln | Substitution — Paul Okon-Engstler on, Ellyes Skhiri off | 1-0 | |
| 45' | Köln | Substitution — Jan Thielmann on, Mikey Moore off | 1-0 | |
| 51' | VfB Stuttgart | Maximilian Mittelstädt | 1-0 | |
| 60' | VfB Stuttgart | Goal — Grischa Prömel (assist: Maximilian Mittelstädt) | 2-0 | |
| 70' | VfB Stuttgart | Substitution — Chris Führich on, Jamie Leweling off | 2-0 | |
| 70' | VfB Stuttgart | Substitution — Deniz Undav on, Ermedin Demirović off | 2-0 | |
| 75' | Köln | Substitution — Ragnar Ache on, Marius Bülter off | 2-0 | |
| 75' | Köln | Substitution — Linton Maina on, Reigan Heskey off | 2-0 | |
| 75' | VfB Stuttgart | Goal — Ermedin Demirović (assist: Finn Jeltsch) | 3-0 | |
| 78' | VfB Stuttgart | Substitution — Bilal El Khannouss on, Leo Sauer off | 3-0 | |
| 78' | VfB Stuttgart | Substitution — Maximilian Mittelstädt on, Ramon Hendriks off | 3-0 | |
| 81' | Köln | Goal — Marius Bülter | 3-1 | |
| 85' | Köln | Tom Krauß | 3-1 | |
| 86' | Köln | Alessio Castro-Montes | 3-1 | |
| 90' | Köln | Substitution — Tom Krauß on, Imad Rondić off | 3-1 | |
| 90' | VfB Stuttgart | Goal — Josha Vagnoman | 4-1 | |
| 90+2' | VfB Stuttgart | Substitution — Angelo Stiller on, Yanik Spalt off | 4-1 |
Stuttgart made home advantage count at the MHPArena on 4 September 2026, easing past Köln 4-1 in front of their own fans. The hosts led just 1-0 at the break, and for a while it looked like Köln might dig in and cause problems. But Stuttgart kept the pressure on and pulled away after half-time, finishing with 22 shots to Köln's 18 and controlling the game with 58% of the ball. Eight of those attempts were on target, enough to make the difference. J. Vagnoman was the standout performer, picking up the Man of the Match award with a rating of 8.35 for a display that had a hand in Stuttgart's control throughout. The win keeps them ticking along nicely, while Köln will have to look at how they let a tight first half slip away so quickly. Ten corners to eight also tells the story of a side that pushed harder for the extra goals once the game opened up.
The Matchup
VfB Stuttgart 4-1 Köln was the final score at MHPArena, in a game where VfB Stuttgart did enough across the ninety minutes to deserve the three points. VfB Stuttgart also had the better share of the ball, holding 58% possession, which usually goes hand in hand with the extra control a winning side tends to show. The shot count told a similar story, with 22 attempts from VfB Stuttgart against 18 from Köln over the course of the game. It was not always comfortable for VfB Stuttgart, and Köln pushed for a way back into the game, but the result stood. Games like this can carry real weight later in the season, so this is a scoreline worth remembering. Below is a closer look at how the match broke down, statistically.
Man of the Match
Match Statistics
VfB Stuttgart vs Köln Lineups
Looking Ahead
VfB Stuttgart will already be turning their attention to what comes next. Their next test comes away at Hamburger SV, and how they respond after this result will be worth watching. You can follow the build-up and everything you need to know when Hamburger SV vs VfB Stuttgart going to play at 17 October 2026 in Bundesliga 2026-27.
Köln, meanwhile, have a quick chance to build on this result. They are next in action at home to Mönchengladbach, a game that will give an early sense of how they carry this result forward. Full details are here: Köln vs Mönchengladbach going to play at 11 October 2026 in Bundesliga 2026-27.