VfB Stuttgart vs 1. FC Köln

VfB Stuttgart welcome 1. FC Köln to the MHP Arena on 4 September in the second round of the new Bundesliga season. Stuttgart arrive off a fourth-place finish and a DFB-Pokal final run last term, while Köln open their second season back in the top flight under new permanent boss René Wagner. Stuttgart's preseason was eye-catching, headlined by an 8-1 rout of Kickers Offenbach and a 3-1 win over Everton, though a loss to Fulham showed room to sharpen up. Deniz Undav and Ermedin Demirović remain the focal points of Sebastian Hoeneß's attack. Köln have added Thijs Dallinga and lean on Ragnar Ache and Linton Maina, though back-to-back preseason losses to Paderborn exposed defensive fragility. Historically Stuttgart hold the edge, winning 13 of 26 meetings to Köln's seven. With home advantage and greater squad depth, Stuttgart look like the side better placed to hit the ground running. Our prediction: 2-1