VfB Stuttgart 4-1 FC Cologne

The Bundesliga clash took place on 4 September 2026 at the MHPArena in Stuttgart, with the home side hosting FC Cologne in front of a lively crowd.

How it unfolded

Stuttgart opened the scoring in the 39th minute when Bilal El Khannouss received a pass from Josha Vagnoman and fired a right-footed shot from the centre of the box into the bottom left corner. Two minutes later, FC Cologne’s Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was shown a yellow card for a bad foul, giving the visitors an early disciplinary warning.

The first half ended with Stuttgart leading 1-0. Early in the second half, Maximilian Mittelstädt received a yellow card for a bad foul in the 51st minute, reducing his side’s disciplinary margin. Six minutes after the booking, Grischa Prömel doubled Stuttgart’s advantage. He struck a left-footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal, assisted by Mittelstädt.

Stuttgart continued to dominate and, in the 75th minute, Ermedin Demirovic added a third. He turned a difficult right-footed effort from a tight angle into the bottom right corner, with Finn Jeltsch providing the assist.

FC Cologne responded in the 81st minute when Marius Bulter capitalised on a fast break, slotting a left-footed shot from very close range into the centre of the goal, reducing the deficit to 3-1.

The home side’s discipline remained an issue as Tom Krauss was booked for a bad foul in the 85th minute, followed by another yellow for Alessio Castro-Montes in the 86th minute, both for bad fouls.

Stuttgart sealed the victory in stoppage time when Josha Vagnoman, who had earlier assisted the opening goal, scored his own goal in the 90th minute. He unleashed a right-footed strike from outside the box that found the bottom right corner, finalising a 4-1 win.

Standout performers

  • Bilal El Khannouss – opened the scoring with a well-timed finish in the 39th minute.
  • Josha Vagnoman – provided the assist for the first goal and added the fourth with a long-range effort in the 90th minute.
  • Grischa Prömel – scored the second goal, demonstrating composure from distance in the 60th minute.
  • Maximilian Mittelstädt – supplied the assist for Prömel’s strike and was involved throughout the attacking play.
  • Ermedin Demirovic – netted the third goal with a difficult angled shot in the 75th minute.
  • Finn Jeltsch – created the chance that led to Demirovic’s goal with a precise assist.
  • Marius Bulter – gave FC Cologne a consolation goal after a swift counter-attack in the 81st minute.

Match facts

  • Final score: VfB Stuttgart 4-1 FC Cologne
  • Scorers:
    • Bilal El Khannouss (39')
    • Grischa Prömel (60')
    • Ermedin Demirovic (75')
    • Josha Vagnoman (90')
    • Marius Bulter (81') – FC Cologne
  • Bookings:
    • Jahmai Simpson-Pusey (FC Cologne) – 41' (yellow)
    • Maximilian Mittelstädt (Stuttgart) – 51' (yellow)
    • Tom Krauss (FC Cologne) – 85' (yellow)
    • Alessio Castro-Montes (FC Cologne) – 86' (yellow)
  • Venue: MHPArena, Stuttgart

What it means

The result gives VfB Stuttgart a commanding three-goal margin over FC Cologne, highlighting Stuttgart’s attacking efficiency and depth, while Cologne will look to address the defensive lapses that led to the four-goal concession.