Stuttgart will host Cologne in the opening match of the second round of the German Bundesliga on 4 September 2026, with the home side seeking an immediate response after a heavy defeat by Bayern Munich.
The Swabians were beaten 5-1 by Bayern Munich in the opening round, leaving them at the bottom of the Bundesliga table after one game. Josha Vagnoman scored Stuttgart’s only goal shortly after half-time, but the visitors were unable to prevent a convincing defeat.
Stuttgart managed 11 shots during the match, with four efforts on target, and had 41% possession. Their league campaign therefore began in difficult fashion, although they had already recorded a comfortable 4-0 victory over Hansa in the cup before the Bundesliga season started.
The club secured Champions League football as a result of their performances in the previous campaign, but they will now be looking to produce a more positive domestic standings position when they face Cologne.
Cologne make winning start
Cologne began the Bundesliga season with three points after beating Hoffenheim 3-2 at home on 29 August. The hosts had to recover after conceding the opening goal, but responded strongly after the interval.
Thijs Dallinga scored twice in the second half, while Said El Mala also found the net to complete Cologne’s comeback. The side registered an expected-goals figure of 1.95, won six corners and did not receive a single yellow card.
That result left Cologne sixth in the Bundesliga table. Their competitive campaign had begun with another victory, as they beat Wurzburger Kickers 2-1 away from home in the DFB-Pokal.
The contrast between the two teams’ opening league results gives Cologne confidence ahead of the meeting, while Stuttgart will rely on home advantage and their stronger recent record in this fixture.
Recent meetings favour Stuttgart
Stuttgart are regarded as the favourites by bookmakers for the upcoming match.
The Swabians have lost twice in their previous three matches, while Cologne have won four of their past five games. However, the head-to-head record is in Stuttgart’s favour: they have beaten Cologne four times in the teams’ last five meetings and have not lost any of those encounters.
The most recent meeting between the clubs ended in a 3-1 victory for Stuttgart.
The prediction in the source article is that Stuttgart will be particularly effective in attack. With the match taking place at home, the expectation is that the hosts could score more than two goals.