VfB Stuttgart played their first home match of the season against 1. FC Köln at the MHP Arena, and the broadcast rights were held by Sky. The Friday 8:30 PM kick-off was not available on free-to-air television. Pre-match coverage began at 7:30 PM. Currently, VfB sits seventh in the Bundesliga table with three points from two games, having recorded one win and one loss.
The live broadcast of the Friday match between VfB Stuttgart and 1. FC Köln was on Sky Sport Bundesliga 1. Viewers could also follow the action via livestream on Sky Go. The commentators for this fixture were Hansi Küpper and his son Corni Küpper. "Hansi Küpper and his son Corni Küpper commentate on the Friday match together," they both said. This pairing created a unique atmosphere in the coverage.
In contrast, VfB's season opener away at Bayern Munich was available on the free-to-air channel SAT.1. This exception proved the rule, as Sky holds the exclusive rights to broadcast individual Friday and Saturday Bundesliga matches. The rights allocation changed prior to last season and remained unchanged for this campaign. DAZN secured the rights for the Saturday conference and individual Sunday matches.
VfB Stuttgart began the season with a heavy 5-1 away defeat to FC Bayern Munich. The first home game against Cologne therefore offered a chance for a quick response. The opponents, 1. FC Köln, came into the match off the back of a 3-2 home win against TSG Hoffenheim. For VfB, the current record after two matchdays is mixed: five goals scored against six conceded, resulting in a negative goal difference of minus one.
The club's injury list presents a challenge. Currently sidelined are Dan Zagadou, Lorenz Assignon, Luca Jaquez, Nikolas Nartey, Tiago Tomás, and Dennis Seimen. Fans can track the latest status of absent players on our injuries page.
Following the home match against Cologne, VfB Stuttgart is already looking ahead to the next away fixture. On September 12, 2026, the team travels to face TSG Hoffenheim. Hoffenheim currently sits in 13th place in the table. The full schedule for the coming weeks can be found on our fixtures page. A look at the standings shows that every opportunity for points is vital in the league's tight midfield.
The focus now shifts to preparation for the encounter in Sinsheim. The unavailable players pose personnel questions for the squad that must be addressed in upcoming training sessions. The next match is scheduled for September 12, 2026.
