Stuttgart strengthened their push for a Champions League place with a dominant 3-1 victory over Cologne at the MHP Arena on Friday evening. Ermedin Demirović proved to be the decisive figure, scoring twice to secure the win for Sebastian Hoeneß’s side.
The victory comes at a crucial time for Stuttgart, who had suffered their first Bundesliga defeat of 2026 last week away at St. Pauli. They responded emphatically, controlling much of the match and demonstrating their ambition on multiple fronts – a DFB-Pokal semi-final appearance, progression in the Europa League, and a top-four finish in the Bundesliga are all within reach.
The hosts nearly opened the scoring within the first two minutes, but Deniz Undav’s attempted chip over Marvin Schwäbe was comfortably saved. Both sides had penalty appeals waved away in a lively opening period, with Jakub Kamiński also going close for Cologne. However, it was Demirović who broke the deadlock in the 15th minute, finishing off a well-worked move. Chris Führich delivered a chipped pass into the box, Jamie Leweling headed it down intelligently, and Demirović swept home from close range.
Stuttgart continued to dictate the tempo, with Demirović almost doubling their advantage shortly after his goal. The Bosnian forward narrowly missed the target after another flowing attack involving Führich and Maximilian Mittelstädt. Cologne, under Lukas Kwasniok, struggled to find a foothold in the game, and their attacking threat was largely contained.
The second half saw Cologne emerge with renewed intent, but they found it difficult to penetrate the Stuttgart defense. Marius Bülter had a rare opportunity for the visitors, but his shot lacked accuracy. Ragnar Ache, however, did manage to find the back of the net in the 79th minute, capitalizing on a misplaced pass to level the score and briefly silence the home crowd.
Stuttgart’s response was swift and decisive. Just five minutes later, Demirović restored their lead with a well-taken volley, completing his brace and sending the MHP Arena into raptures. Ramon Henriks provided the assist with a pinpoint cross from the left flank. Any lingering doubts about the outcome were extinguished in added time when Deniz Undav marked his 100th appearance for Stuttgart with a goal, making it 3-1.
Undav’s goal was a fitting end to a strong individual performance and a testament to his growing importance to the Stuttgart attack. The victory moves Stuttgart closer to their Champions League aspirations, and Hoeneß was keen to emphasize the team’s unwavering belief. “The team believes in itself until the very end,” he said after the match.
For Cologne, the defeat represents a missed opportunity to climb further away from the relegation zone. Despite their efforts, they lacked the cutting edge to trouble Stuttgart consistently. Kwasniok acknowledged Stuttgart’s quality after the game, praising their attacking prowess.
The result sets up a potentially pivotal week for Stuttgart, with a Europa League playoff clash against Celtic Glasgow on the horizon. Before that, they travel to face 1. FC Heidenheim on Sunday, where a win would further solidify their position in the Champions League qualification spots. The team’s ability to perform consistently across multiple competitions will be crucial as the season reaches its climax.
Cologne, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly as they prepare to host TSG Hoffenheim next Saturday. They will be hoping to rediscover their form and secure the points needed to maintain their Bundesliga status.
