VfB Stuttgart beat 1. FC Köln 4-1 to secure first Bundesliga win of the season

First victory of the Bundesliga campaign

VfB Stuttgart secured their first win of the new Bundesliga season on Friday evening, defeating 1. FC Köln 4-1 at home. The encounter served as the opening fixture of the second round of the German league championship. The result provided an immediate response for manager Sebastian Hoeness and his squad after a heavy defeat on the opening weekend. In matchday 1, Stuttgart had suffered a 5-1 away loss against reigning champions Bayern Munich in Munich. Friday's four-goal showing allowed the home club to rebound in front of their home supporters and collect their first three points. 1. FC Köln entered the fixture aiming to build on their own winning start, having earned three points through a 3-2 victory against Hoffenheim on the first matchday.

El Khannouss, Prömel and Demirović build the lead

The home side broke the deadlock late in the first half following an opening period of shared possession. Moroccan midfielder Bilal El Khannouss opened the scoring for Stuttgart in the 39th minute, giving the hosts a 1-0 advantage at the interval. Stuttgart continued their attacking pressure into the second half, doubling their lead fifteen minutes after the restart. Midfielder Grischa Prömel found the back of the net in the 60th minute to make the score 2-0. Bosnian international forward Ermedin Demirović added a third goal for Stuttgart in the 75th minute. That strike rewarded the home team's sustained offensive pressure and established a 3-0 cushion with fifteen minutes remaining.

Late own goal and Vagnoman's stoppage strike

1. FC Köln reduced the deficit in the 81st minute when Dutch defender Ramon Hendriks inadvertently turned the ball into his own net. The own goal cut Stuttgart's lead to 3-1 and initiated a period of late defensive pressure for the home side. Köln attempted to mount a late comeback during the final nine minutes of regulation play, but Stuttgart maintained their defensive structure. In the 90th minute, Josha Vagnoman scored Stuttgart's fourth goal to put the result beyond doubt. The stoppage-time strike ended any potential threat from the visitors and confirmed the 4-1 victory for the hosts before the final whistle.

Squad adjustments and Bundesliga standings

Stuttgart completed the four-goal victory without Portuguese forward Tiago Tomás, who missed the encounter entirely. Tomás was omitted from the matchday roster after suffering a muscle injury in the lead-up to Friday's contest. Despite the attacker's absence, Stuttgart produced four goals from four separate phases of play. The three points moved Stuttgart provisionally into seventh place in the Bundesliga table after two completed matches. 1. FC Köln sit directly behind them in eighth position, also holding three points from their first two league fixtures. Both sides now carry identical records of one win and one defeat through the opening two rounds of the Bundesliga season.