1 victory over 1.. FC Köln at home on the 22nd Bundesliga matchday. The hosts dominated the opening moments, creating a promising chance that, after a VAR review, the referee, Robert Hartmann, chose to decline-a free‑kick for Stuttgart and a penalty for Köln would have been defensible options. In the 15th minute, a cross from Chris Führich found Jamie Leweling, who headed the ball over the line, allowing Ermedin Demirovic to slot the loose cross‑kicker and give Stuttgart a 1‑0 advantage.
Stuttgart continued to dictate play, controlling possession and keeping pressure, although the game remained tight. Köln struggled in the final third but gradually regained momentum as the match progressed. After the break the teams clashed in many duels; clear chances were few, prompting several tactical changes from both managers.
The match’s drama peaked in the closing minutes. In the 79th minute, Ragnar Ache of Köln capitalized on a turnover after a Stuttgart kickoff, sprinting towards Alexander Nübel before unleashing a quick shot that levelled the score at 1‑1. The visitors celebrated briefly, but Köln responded immediately. A sharp cross from Ramon Hendriks found Demirovic, who finished from close range in the 84th minute to restore a 2‑1 lead for Stuttgart. The game still felt undecided, and in the second minute of injury time, Deniz Undav put away Stuttgart’s final strike, sealing the 3‑1 win.
Overall, Köln delivered a respectable away performance and deserved their equaliser, yet lacked the sustained intensity to secure the win. Stuttgart displayed greater efficiency and control across more of the game, ultimately turning the tense late‑stage exchange into a decisive advantage.
