Overview
- Stuttgart overcame last week's 5-1 opening defeat to Bayern by beating 1. FC Cologne 4-1 at the MHPArena on Friday, giving the hosts an immediate on-field response.
- Bilal El Khannouss opened the scoring in the 39th minute with a solo run and nutmeg, Grischa Prömel added a second on the hour, Ermedin Demirovic made it 3-0 in the 75th, and Josha Vagnoman sealed the win with a long-range strike in stoppage time.
- One report described Prömel's 60th-minute goal as his first for the club, a detail noted by local coverage of the matchday debut performances.
- Accounts conflict over Cologne's 81st-minute goal: some match reports credit Marius Bülter with the finish from Mikey Moore's pass while AFP describes it as an own goal by Stuttgart defender Ramon Hendriks.
- The result lifts Stuttgart one place above Cologne in the early table and highlights the Bundesliga's unpredictable start to the season, which has already seen shocks and standout individual displays that could shape selection and momentum.