VfB Stuttgart II suffered a clear defeat in their 3. Liga away match on August 28, 2026. In front of 25,805 spectators at the Merkur Spiel-Arena, the team coached by Michael Prus lost 3-0 to Fortuna Düsseldorf. Referee Tom Bauer officiated the match on the third matchday of the 2026/2027 season. For the U23 side of the Bundesliga's fourth-placed team, it was the first defeat of the new third-tier campaign.
The team from Stuttgart struggled from the outset against the experienced Fortuna side. The defense was under constant pressure, while the attack created few dangerous moments. The home team used their chances efficiently and built a comfortable lead. For the young VfB Stuttgart II players, it was an instructive experience against one of the league's favorites. The defeat highlights the developmental steps the team still needs to take.
This encounter was only the fourth meeting between the two teams in the 3. Liga since 2008. The record speaks a clear language. Fortuna Düsseldorf has now won three of these matches, while Stuttgart II is yet to record a victory. One game ended in a draw. The goal difference across these four matches stands at 6:1 in favor of the Rhineland side. The last match before this latest duel took place as far back as April 4, 2009, underlining the rarity of this fixture.
The U23 side of VfB Stuttgart serves as a key talent factory for the Bundesliga squad. Players are meant to gather competitive experience here before making the jump to the first team. The current defeat is part of that learning process. VfB's first team finished the 2025 Bundesliga season in a strong fourth place with 62 points. From 34 matches, they recorded 18 wins, eight draws, and eight losses. The senior team's goal tally was 71 scored and 49 conceded, a positive difference of 22.
Attention now turns back to the first team. They are preparing for their next Bundesliga fixture. On September 4, 2026, VfB Stuttgart hosts 1. FC Köln at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. Köln finished the 2025 season in 14th place. For the Swabians, this is an opportunity to build on last season's strong performance. The final standings from the past season are available on the standings page. VfB finished 27 points behind champions Bayern Munich, which clearly defines the ambition for the new campaign.
The second team will need to learn from this defeat. The task is to perform more consistently in the upcoming 3. Liga matches. The individual development of the players remains under observation by the first-team coaching staff. For some talents, impressive performances in the 3. Liga could pave the way to the first-team squad. The current form of the senior side is eagerly anticipated, after their final five matches of 2025 ended with one draw, three further draws, and one loss.
