Ermedin Demirović's double powers VfB Stuttgart to a dominant 3-1 victory over 1. FC Köln.
VfB Stuttgart continued their impressive Bundesliga campaign, securing a vital 3-1 home win against 1. FC Köln at the MHPArena on February 14, 2026. Striker Ermedin Demirović was the hero, scoring twice to ensure the Swabians claimed all three points.
Stuttgart, positioned fifth in the league standings, entered the contest looking to solidify their European aspirations. Their recent form, a mixed bag of wins and losses, hinted at a need for consistency. Köln, sitting 10th, sought to cause an upset and climb into the top half.
The home side quickly established control, demonstrating their attacking intent from kickoff. Their strong start paid dividends in the 15th minute. Josha Leweling provided a sharp assist, allowing Ermedin Demirović to guide the ball home and open the scoring.
Stuttgart maintained a high tempo, but the physical nature of the game soon emerged. Chris Führich received the first yellow card of the match in the 29th minute for a rough challenge. Despite the booking, Stuttgart looked comfortable heading into the break.
At halftime, Stuttgart held a deserved lead, but the narrow margin meant Köln remained a threat. The visitors needed to find a way to break Stuttgart’s resolute defense. A tactical change or a moment of individual brilliance was required.
The second half brought increased intensity from both sides. Jeff Chabot, playing for Stuttgart, was booked in the 53rd minute. Demirović then added his name to the yellow card list in the 61st minute for tripping.
Köln introduced fresh legs with substitutions around the 68th minute, including Luca Waldschmidt. Their persistence finally paid off in the 79th minute. Waldschmidt turned provider, setting up Ragnar Ache who slotted home to pull a goal back for Köln. This brief moment of hope for Köln was quickly extinguished.
Just five minutes later, in the 84th minute, Demirović struck again. Ramon Hendriks delivered an accurate pass, and Demirović finished clinically to complete his double. Deep into stoppage time, in the 90+2 minute, Deniz Undav capped off the win, latching onto an Angelo Stiller assist to make it 3-1. Jakub Kamiński picked up a late yellow card for Köln in the 90+6 minute.
Stuttgart's dominance was reflected in the statistics, with an expected goals (xG) of 2.51 compared to Köln's 1.59. The home side registered 13 total shots, with four on target, and commanded 58% of the ball possession. Köln managed 10 shots, with three on target.
This crucial victory firmly entrenches VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga's top five. They continue their push for European qualification, while 1. FC Köln remains in a congested mid-table battle, needing to find more consistency in upcoming fixtures.
