Read our full VfB Stuttgart vs Cologne prediction, preview, team news, predicted lineups, bet builder tips and odds for Friday's German Bundesliga match.
Vfb Stuttgart vs Cologne Match Summary
Competition | Bundesliga |
|---|---|
Match Date | Friday 4 September 2026 |
Match Time | 19:30 UK time |
Venue (City, Stadium) | Stuttgart, MHPArena |
Broadcast (TV / Streaming / Radio / Bookmaker Streaming) | BBCi |
The Vfb Stuttgart vs Cologne fixture kicks off at the MHPArena on Friday, and it pits a wounded home side against a Cologne team riding some early-season momentum.
Stuttgart, fourth last term with Champions League qualification secured, were battered 5-1 at Bayern Munich to open the season. Sebastian Hoeneß wants a first league win of the campaign.
Cologne got off to a flyer, coming from behind to beat Hoffenheim 3-2 on 24 August thanks to a Thijs Dallinga brace. Die Geißböcke arrive with confidence and a point to prove.
Stuttgart completed a league double over Cologne last season, winning 2-1 away on 28 September 2025 and 3-1 at home on 14 February 2026, so recent history sits firmly with the hosts.
Vfb Stuttgart vs Cologne Form
Stuttgart's 5-1 hammering at the Allianz Arena was a rude awakening, but this is a side that scored 71 Bundesliga goals last season, second-most in the division, and set a club record with 41 away goals. Deniz Undav, their 19-goal top scorer last term, remains the man to watch. There have been over 2.5 goals in six of Stuttgart's last seven league games.
Cologne, by contrast, opened up with a spirited 3-2 comeback win over Hoffenheim, Thijs Dallinga bagging a second-half double on his club debut. They are a goal-hungry, defensively leaky outfit though, having conceded at least two goals in 12 of their last 15 Bundesliga matches, with over 2.5 goals landing in eight of their last nine league outings.
Vfb Stuttgart vs Cologne Lineups & Team News
Injuries & Suspensions
Vfb Stuttgart: D. Zagadou (Injured/out), D. Seimen (Injured/out), L. Jaquez (Injured/out), L. Assignon (Injured/out), L. Sauer (Injured/out), N. Nartey (Injured/out), J. Arévalo (Unfit/out), C. Führich (Injured/doubtful)
Cologne: L. Waldschmidt (Injured/out), T. Hübers (Injured/out), S. Sebulonsen (Injured/out), L. Maina (Injured/doubtful)
Vfb Stuttgart
Chris Führich missed out against Bayern Munich but could make Friday's squad, though he remains doubtful. Jamie Leweling has rejected a move away and will start. Hoeneß is expected to switch to a 4-2-3-1 after that heavy defeat, with a lengthy injury list including Zagadou, Seimen and Assignon.
Cologne
Sebastian Sebulonsen won't feature until after the September international break. Said El Mala came off with cramp in gameweek one but should be cleared to start. Mikey Moore is in line to appear in the squad for the first time following his loan move from Spurs.
Vfb Stuttgart vs Cologne Predicted Lineup
Vfb Stuttgart
Formation: 4-3-3
Predicted Starting Lineup: Bredlow; Vagnoman, Jeltsch, Chabot, Mittelstädt; Stiller, Prömel, Undav; Leweling, Pejcinovic, Führich
Cologne
Formation: 4-3-3
Predicted Starting Lineup: Schwäbe; Castro-Montes, Lochoshvili, Simpson-Pusey, Mensah; Jóhannesson, Krauß, Okon-Engstler; Moore, Dallinga, Mala
Vfb Stuttgart vs Cologne Key Stats & Match Facts
Stuttgart have won five of their last six matches against Cologne in all competitions.
Stuttgart have scored at least two goals in five of their last six matches against Cologne in all competitions.
Cologne have conceded at least two goals in 12 of their last 15 Bundesliga matches.
There have been over 2.5 goals scored in eight of Cologne's last nine Bundesliga games.
Deniz Undav was Stuttgart's top scorer last season with 19 Bundesliga goals.
Vfb Stuttgart vs Cologne Prediction & Best Bets
Our prediction: Stuttgart are clear favourites here at 11/20 with Coral, and the numbers back them up with a 57% win probability and a projected 2-1 scoreline. Expect the hosts to bounce back from their Munich mauling and edge a goal-filled contest against a Cologne side that ships plenty at the back. Our prediction is a 2-1 home win.
Best Bets
Stuttgart to win and over 2.5 total match goals. The hosts are 57.5% favourites with a projected 3.46-goal total, and the goals have been flowing, with over 2.5 landing in six of Stuttgart's last seven games and eight of Cologne's last nine. A home win in an open contest looks the sensible read.
Both teams to score Yes in the match. The engine room points to a 64% probability of both sides netting in a projected 2-1 finish, and Cologne have conceded two or more goals in 12 of their last 15 league matches, so a clean sheet either way feels unlikely.
Vfb Stuttgart vs Cologne Bet Builder
Our Vfb Stuttgart vs Cologne bet builder tips combine a Stuttgart win, Deniz Undav to score anytime and both teams to score, leaning on the hosts' edge and this fixture's goal-heavy recent history.
Stuttgart to win is the anchor. They have won five of their last six against Cologne in all competitions and carry a 57% win probability heading into Friday's fixture.
Deniz Undav to score anytime makes sense too. Stuttgart have scored two or more goals in four of their last five against Cologne, and Undav holds a 56% goalscorer probability.
Both teams to score completes the trio. There have been over 2.5 goals in eight of Cologne's last nine Bundesliga games, and the visitors rarely keep it tight at either end.
The combined package reads as a coherent, goals-friendly bet builder that trusts Stuttgart to prevail without the door being shut on Cologne at the other end.
At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 13/5 and is as short as 2.02/1 elsewhere. That's a difference in potential winnings of £6 from best to worst price.
Make sure to get the best odds on your Bet Builder with Oddschecker's Exclusive Bet Builder Comparison Tool.
Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.
Vfb Stuttgart vs Cologne Talking Points
Sebastian Hoeneß, in charge since April 2023, guided Stuttgart to a fourth-place finish, Champions League qualification and a DFB-Pokal final last season, so a 5-1 opening defeat at Bayern will have stung. A response at home is the story here, and this is a fixture the hosts have dominated, winning five of the last six meetings in all competitions. For Cologne, Thijs Dallinga is the early talking point after becoming the first Cologne player since 2017 to score twice on his Bundesliga debut, but this defence needs tightening against a Stuttgart side that scores for fun.
Vfb Stuttgart vs Cologne Predictions FAQs
What is the prediction for VfB Stuttgart vs Cologne?
Check out our article for detailed match analysis and predictions for VfB Stuttgart vs Cologne, featuring form breakdowns and key insights.
Where is VfB Stuttgart vs Cologne being played?
The match between VfB Stuttgart and Cologne will take place at MHPArena (Stuttgart).
What are the best bets for VfB Stuttgart vs Cologne?
Our match preview covers betting tips, recommended bet builder picks, and key odds for the VfB Stuttgart vs Cologne fixture.
Where can I find VfB Stuttgart vs Cologne lineups and team news?
Expected lineups, confirmed team news, and injury updates for VfB Stuttgart vs Cologne are featured directly in our preview.
Disclaimer
Important information: This article may contain links to betting offers or promotions for Vfb Stuttgart vs Cologne that were available at the time of publication. These offers may have since expired, changed, or no longer be available.
Oddschecker offers are selected from operators that our football experts work with regularly and have first-hand experience of. If you open an account via one of these links, Oddschecker may earn commission. This helps support our coverage and allows us to continue producing expert analysis and football content across German Bundesliga Matches.
Please gamble responsibly. 18+.
