Stuttgart welcome Cologne on 4 September 2026 for the opening fixture of the second round of the Bundesliga, with the home side aiming to recover from a heavy defeat by Bayern Munich and the visitors hoping to build on their winning start.
The Swabians were beaten 5-1 by Bayern Munich in their opening league match last week. Josha Vagnoman scored Stuttgart’s only goal shortly after half-time, but the result left the club bottom of the German top-flight table after the first round.
Stuttgart managed 11 attempts during the match, with four of those efforts on target. They had 41% possession against the reigning champions, but were unable to prevent a one-sided scoreline.
That loss followed a much more convincing result in the DFB-Pokal, where Stuttgart defeated Hansa Rostock 4-0. The club also secured qualification for the Champions League as a result of their performance in the previous Bundesliga season.
Cologne, in contrast, began their league campaign with three points. On 29 August, the Billy Goats beat Hoffenheim 3-2 at home after conceding the opening goal.
Thijs Dallinga scored twice in the second half, while Said El Mala also found the net as Cologne completed their comeback. The hosts produced 1.95 expected goals, won six corners and did not receive a single yellow card.
That victory lifted Cologne to sixth place in the Bundesliga standings. They had already made a successful start in the DFB-Pokal, winning 2-1 away against Wurzburger Kickers.
Stuttgart are regarded as the favourites by bookmakers despite their opening-day defeat. The Swabians have lost twice in their past three matches, while Cologne have won four of their last five games.
Recent head-to-head meetings favour Stuttgart. They have beaten Cologne four times in the clubs’ previous five encounters and have not lost any of those matches. The most recent meeting ended in a 3-1 victory for Stuttgart.
The match therefore presents an opportunity for Stuttgart to produce a more positive attacking display in front of their own supporters. Cologne’s comeback against Hoffenheim demonstrated their ability to respond under pressure, but Stuttgart’s recent record in this fixture and their home advantage make them the stronger side on paper.
The prediction is for Stuttgart to score more than two goals. Their attacking performance is expected to improve from the Bayern Munich match, and playing at home is considered an important factor in that assessment.
