Stuttgart vs Cologne Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Stuttgart began their season with a shellacking at the hands of the champions as they now take on a Cologne side that got off to a winning start last weekend.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer / USA – ESPN+
Stuttgart preview: Entertaining but beaten
Stuttgart started the season by succumbing to a 5-1 demolition at the hands of defending champions Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena last weekend in a game in which Stuttgart stuck to their attacking and entertaining but often naïve principles.
Those principles did get them a fourth place finish in the Bundesliga, returning to the UEFA Champions League this time around under the management of highly-rated coach Sebastian Hoeness.
Cologne preview: Off to a winning start
Last season, Cologne were fairly underwhelming but eventually eased themselves clear of the bottom three and the danger zone. This time around they will seek to kick on and they got themselves off to a winning start last weekend.
At home to Hoffenheim, Cologne ran out 3-2 winners at the RheinEnergie Stadion, having been 1-0 and 2-1 down but coming from behind with one from key man Said El Mala and a brace scored by summer signing Thijs Dallinga.
Stuttgart team news: Mixed transfer deadline
Stuttgart were able to keep hold of the likes of Jamie Leweling and Bilal El Khannouss but they did eventually lose key midfielder Chema Andres to Brighton and Hove Albion.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Bredlow; Jeltsch, Chabot, Hendriks; Vagnoman, Promel, Stiller, Mittelstadt; Tomas, Undav; Pejcinovic
Unavailable: Seimen (Injured), Diehl (Injured)
Questionable: Assignon (Injured), Jaquez (Injured), Zagadou (Injured), Nartey (Injured), Sauer (Injured), Fuhrich (Injured), Jeremy Arevalo (Injured)
Cologne team news: Mikey Moore could be involved
Cologne may be without Luca Waldschmidt, who has suffered an injury, but Mikey Moore may be involved after joining on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Schwabe; Castro-Montes, Simpson-Pusey, Lochoshvili, Mensah; Johannesson, Krauss, Okon-Engstler; Moore, Dallinga, El Mala
Unavailable: Hubers (Injured)
Questionable: Sebulonsen (Injured), Waldschmidt (Injured)
Stuttgart vs Cologne prediction
Stuttgart have home advantage and were strong at home for much of last season. They will, as ever, get themselves on the front foot and that should help Cologne, too, with their newfound energy and intensity in the final third. Stuttgart, with that home advantage, would seem a decent bet for this one – but it is also expected to be quite an entertaining watch for the neutral, too, at the VfB Stadion.
Stuttgart vs Cologne tip: Stuttgart to win & both teams to score
