Highlights

FINAL
RheinEnergieSTADION
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H. Osmerswhistle
RheinEnergieSTADION
Full-time
90'
+ 5

Thielmann!

Almost the late, late winner. A free-kick is headed clear but only as far Thielmann 20 yards out. It sits up kindly and he hits it sweetly, heading straight for the top corner but Müller - who's not had much to do - reacts just in time jumping high to his right and gets a strong hand to it.
90'
+ 4

Substitution

90'
+ 1

Disappointment for both?

information
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
Stuttgart will certainly feel they had the chances to win this today. But Cologne boss Baumgart will no doubt be disappointed with the lack of chances his side created. This is his 44th game in charge of the club and the first not to produce a single goal.
xGoals
0
0.31
1.73
0
Goals
90'
+ 1

Added time

Four minutes to be added on and potentially find a winner...
90'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes

information
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
1.
Jan Thielmann
Jan Thielmann34.07km/h
2.
Hiroki Ito
Hiroki Ito32.75km/h
3.
Sargis Adamyan
Sargis Adamyan32.68km/h
85'

Ljubicic wide

Make that three shots that fail to test Müller. Ljubicic tries to bend one from 20 yards but puts it well wide.
84'

Underwhelming?

Cologne have mustered just two attempts (both off target) since Stuttgart went down to 10 men.
Goal attempts
3off target
1on target
8off target
5on target
82'

Another Schwäbe stop

No Silas this time but a shot from 20 yards by Mavropanos that takes a deflection off Hübers. Good reactions and hands from the Cologne goalkeeper to hold. And just moments after the Greek defender popped up in the box and was just beaten to a tap-in.
76'

Silas withdrawn

He's not happy but it's the Congolese forward whose number goes up on the board as the visitors perhaps look to shore things up with 15 minutes to go and a man down.
75'

Not quite working

Still Stuttgart look to get forward. Silas attempts a one-two in the box but he's blocked just before he can get a shot away.
72'

Matarazzo dismissed

Doesn't quite count as the 144th red card but VfB coach Pellegrino Matarazzo has talked his way into a second yellow card and he's banished to the stands.
70'

Another red

Pfeiffer's dismissal - on his first start for the club - was the 143rd red card in Stuttgart's Bundesliga history. That's more than any other club.
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Story of the day

64'

Still VfB on top

They might be a man down but the visitors are still the team in control here. Are Cologne feeling the effects of their Thursday trip to Hungary?
57'

Yellow for Kilian

The Cologne defender is next into the book as he takes out Silas before he could burst into the box. The ensuing free-kick is cleared, though.
55'

Pfeiffer off!

A reckless challenge from Pfeiffer as he slides in high and late on Hübers. Referee Osmers has no hesitation in pulling out a straight red.
51'

Rough day for Chabot

Jeff Chabot is going to be feeling very sore later on. He's caught by Pfeiffer on the ankle and rips off his head bandages knowing that's his game run. He does hobble off under his own steam, but that's it for the centre-back today as he's replaced by Hübers.
48'

Silas in again

Once again it's a ball in behind the Cologne defence that does the job for Stuttgart. Again it's Silas on the end of it after blindsiding Hector. Again he can't beat Schwäbe from close range. Story of the game thus far.
46'

Back under way

Cologne make a change for the second half as well with Adamyan on for Dietz, who we didn't see much of in the first 45 minutes.
Kick-off!
Half-time
45'
+ 4

Substitution

45'
+ 3

Off the line!

First chance of any real note for Cologne and they so nearly take the lead. An in-swinging Hector corner is high and deep but Chabot meets it with his head at the far post. Müller is beaten as it goes back across him, but Mavropanos read the danger and got back on the line to clear.
45'
+ 1

Added time

Four minutes of it at the end of this half, which feels right after all the early stoppages.
40'

Busy Silas

But he'll feel he should have put at least one of those efforts away.
Shots
1
4
Jonas Hector Silas Katompa Mvumpa
39'

Stuttgart should be ahead

information
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
Based on the accumulation of chances they've had, VfB should at least have one goal on the board. But it remains 0-0 with five minutes to go in this half.
xGoals
0
0.02
1.15
0
Goals
38'

Silas again!

This is turning into a battle between Silas and Schwäbe. Führich with the ball over the top from his own half and the Stuttgart forward is away with nobody in sight, yet he can't beat the Cologne goalkeeper one-on-one, who has kept his side in this game.
31'

Hector!

The Cologne skipper wins a free-kick to the left of the penalty area. He leaves it to Duda, who shapes to cross high as bodies charge towards goal. But Hector stayed on the penalty spot as the space opened up. He's got a free shot with the low ball but misses it on his left foot - the angle was perhaps better suited to a right-footer - and is left with a wry smile.
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30'

Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes

information
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
28'

Another Stuttgart chance

VfB go long again up to Silas. Führich crosses over behind him demanding the ball in space, but it comes a bit too late to get a shot away. He manages to play it back but the angle is now too tight for Silas and he puts it into the side netting.
22'

Silas!

The visitors then suddenly burst back to life. Silas is slipped through by Führich. He cuts inside Chabot and tries to pick out the far corner on his right foot, but Schwäbe reads it well and times his dive to make a good stop.
21'

Struggling for flow

Sosa is the next to go down holding a body part. Chabot uses the latest break to get more strapping on his head. Stuttgart's fast-paced start has stalled a bit with all the stoppages.
20'

Strong Stuttgart start

Goal attempts
0off target
0on target
2off target
2on target
15'

Olesen done?

The young attacker is hobbling down the touchline with the medical staff. He looks to be done for the day.
12'

Busy medics

The Cologne medical staff have been busy these opening minutes. Olesen is down at one end holding his ankle, while Chabot is now bleeding through his bandages at the other end of the pitch.
8'

Mavropanos again!

Still danger to the Cologne goal after a lengthy stop for Chabot to get strapped up. Ball comes back into the area to Mavropanos, who controls and shoots on the spin. Schwäbe again has to turn it over.
5'

Mavropanos!

This is a positive start from the visitors. They earn a corner on the left, which Sosa delivers. It's met by the head of Mavropanos and needs to be tipped over the bar by Schwäbe. The Greek defender and Chabot then need some treatment after colliding heads.
Kick-off!
1'

Endo!

The Stuttgart captain got that crucial goal right at the very end of the last meeting of these sides on the final day of last season. He now has the first of this game inside 60 seconds but drags wide from 18 yards.

Here come the teams...

No surprise to know that the 50,000 RheinEnergieStadion is full to the brim. European football will be returning here in just over a week. It's also hosting Viktoria-Bayern in the DFB Cup on Wednesday.

Captain's milestone

Cologne skipper Jonas Hector is making his 200th Bundesliga appearance today. It's also a landmark for Ellyes Skhiri, who features in Effzeh colours for the 100th time in all competitions.
2:03
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Previous meeting: Stuttgart 2-1 Cologne

Wataru Endo headed home in the 92nd-minute winner to give Stuttgart a 2-1 win over Cologne that, paired with Hertha Berlin's defeat at Borussia Dortmund, kept VfB in the Bundesliga for this season.
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Cologne coach Steffen Baumgart:

"We’ve got a home game on Sunday against Stuttgart and we have to make sure we remain successful in the Bundesliga. Anyone who saw the last game in Stuttgart knows what’s coming our way. But we’ll try to perform well – despite everything going on around, all the positive stuff – especially at home. And we’ll do everything to be successful."
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Stuttgart coach Pellegrino Matarazzo:

“A very intense team who are led by emotion. It’s also a challenge to play in Cologne. We’re looking forward to it. They’re definitely pumped up after winning 3-0 [against Fehervar] and the good game they played. I’m pleased they progressed, also for German football and the Bundesliga. They deserved it over the two legs. I can imagine they’ll come out flying on Sunday, that they’ll approach the game in a very intense way at home on the back of that success.”

Stuttgart team news

As expected, it is just the one change for Stuttgart from last week’s 1-0 loss to Freiburg. It’s enforced given the news that Sasa Kalajdzic asked not to be considered while his future is cleared up. It sees summer signing Luca Pfeiffer come in for his first Stuttgart start, up alongside Silas.

Cologne team news

Steffen Baumgart opts for five changes from the side that won 3-0 at Fehervar on Thursday to secure the Billy Goats a place in the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage. Captain Jonas Hector comes back in at left-back for Kristian Pedersen, while Jeff Chabot partners Luca Kilian at centre-back instead of Timo Hübers. Florian Dietz continues up top, but he’s got three new men around him with Kingsley Schindler, Jan Thielmann and Mathias Olesen. Florian Kainz, Dejan Ljubicic and Linton Maina drop to the bench.
0:09
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Watch: Stuttgart going in black today

Stuttgart subs

Bredlow, Millot, Perea, Stenzel, Karazor, Kuol, Klimowicz, Kastanaras

Stuttgart XI

Müller - Mavropanos, Anton, Ito – Vagnoman, Endo (c), Ahamada, Sosa - Führich - Pfeiffer, Silas

Cologne subs

Horn, Pedersen, Hübers, Ljubicic, Duda, Kainz, Tigges, Adamyan, Maina

Cologne XI

Schwäbe - Schmitz, Kilian, Chabot, Hector (c) - Skhiri, Martel - Schindler, Olesen, Thielmann - Dietz
0:16
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THE STAGE IS SET

Here's a sneak peak inside the RheinEnergieStadion, with strong "calm before the storm" vibes two hours out from kick-off in Cologne.
2:03
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WATCH: LAST TIME OUT: VFB 0-1 FREIBURG

Unlike their hosts, Stuttgart have lost this season and are, in fact, winless after three rounds. Following successive draws in their opening two matches of the campaign, VfB were beaten at home by Freiburg last weekend. They'll be hoping today's the day they get up and running with a first victory of the campaign.
2:03
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WATCH: LAST TIME OUT: FRANKFURT 1-1 COLOGNE

Prior to Cologne's midweek success in Europe, the Billy Goats salvaged a 1-1 draw at Frankfurt thanks to Jan Thielmann's late equaliser. That result kept Cologne unbeaten (W1, D2) from their first three matches and they could leap into sixth with a win today.

NO SASA FOR STUTTGART

Just as the hosts have a decision to make over who starts up front, so to do the visitors. With the future of the division's tallest player, Sasa Kalajdzic up in the air, VfB coach Pellegrino Matarazzo must decide who to leads his line. In the absence of Tiago Tomas, who's down with tonsillitis, summer signing Luca Pfeiffer is the likely candidate.

TIGGES TO START?

Cologne overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit to advance to the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage at the expense of Hungary's Fehervar, 4-2 on aggregate in midweek and Baumgart has been rotating his side around their continental commitments. That should mean for further changes against VfB, with former Borussia Dortmund striker Steffen Tigges among the candidates to come back in, while Mark Uth remains on the sidelines.

WELCOME TO COLOGNE VS. STUTTGART!

Hello and a very warm welcome to our live coverage of Cologne vs. VfB Stuttgart. This one kicks-off at 3.30pm CEST, with team news dropping an hour before that so set your alarms for those.
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