Stuttgart lead Cologne as El Khannouss nets solo stunner
Stuttgart lead Cologne 1-0 in Friday's Bundesliga clash after Bilal El Khannouss scored a brilliant solo goal in the 39th minute at MHP Arena. The Moroccan danced past defenders and saw his shot deflected past Marvin Schwabe, putting Stuttgart ahead after early woodwork misses.
Key Takeaways
- Bilal El Khannouss put Stuttgart 1-0 up in the 39th minute with a nutmeg-laden solo run.
- Josha Vagnoman smashed a close-range chance against the bar in the ninth minute.
- U.S. viewers can stream on ESPN+ or watch on Universo and Peacock Premium.
- Stuttgart entered with zero points (18th); Cologne had three points (sixth).
- Said El Mala missed out for Cologne through illness; Linton Maina started.
What is the Stuttgart vs Cologne live score?
According to BBC Sport live coverage, Stuttgart lead Cologne 1-0 after El Khannouss struck before half-time. Kick-off was 19:30 BST (2:30 p.m. ET) on Friday, September 4, 2026, with Stuttgart hosting at the MHP Arena.
The goal capped a dominant early spell. Yahoo Sports reported that El Khannouss completed a world-class solo, including a cheeky nutmeg, for the overdue opener in the 39th minute. The finish took a deflection past goalkeeper Marvin Schwabe, but the build-up earned praise as deserved.
Stuttgart were seeking a first Bundesliga win of the season after a 5-1 thrashing by Bayern Munich on matchday one. Cologne arrived looking for back-to-back league wins after a 3-2 comeback victory over Hoffenheim.
How did Stuttgart nearly score earlier?
Stuttgart hit the woodwork twice before the breakthrough. In the ninth minute, El Khannouss crossed from the left for an unmarked Josha Vagnoman roughly two meters out. Vagnoman's inside-foot effort smashed the underside of the bar and bounced back into play—huge luck for Cologne.
Minutes later, Dzenan Pejcinovic's header also struck the woodwork. Denis Undav then saw a chance saved by Schwabe, while Chris Führich created another big opening. Cologne threatened from set pieces, including a Gideon Mensah shot that flew over, but Stuttgart remained largely in control.
Sebastian Hoeness made two changes from the Bayern defeat, bringing in El Khannouss and Führich for Tiago Tomas and Ramon Hendriks, and switching to a 4-4-2. Cologne's one change saw Maina replace El Mala on the left wing.
Where can U.S. fans watch Stuttgart vs Cologne?
The Athletic lists kickoff at 2:30 p.m. ET from the MHP Arena. Streaming is on ESPN+ (including via Fubo sign-in on ESPN), with TV options on Universo and Peacock Premium.
Pre-match standings showed Stuttgart on zero points in 18th and Cologne on three points in sixth. Cologne listed Thijs Dallinga as out. For more viral sports and entertainment alerts, follow Celebrity Breaking News on BlasterPost.
Historically the sides are tightly matched across 108 meetings, but Stuttgart entered undefeated in their last seven against Cologne, while the Billy Goats' last away league win in Stuttgart dated to the opening day of 2015/16.