VfB Stuttgart
| 1-2 | Didavi | (79. Min) |
1. FC Köln
| 0-1 | Modeste | (75. Min) |
| 0-2 | Zoller | (77. Min) |
| 1-3 | Osako | (90.+2. Min) |
Timo Baumgartl
Stats 
Daniel Ginczek in a duel during the match.
Turbulent season start
In front of a crowd of 59,500 spectators in the Mercedes-Benz Arena, VfB bitterly crashed to a 1-3 (0-0) defeat to 1. FC Köln. Trainer Alexander Zorniger’s men controlled much of the game and created an abundance of chances on goal, which they unfortunately failed to take. The visitors, on the other hand, proved decidedly more effective and made use of the few chances that came their way.
Personnel
VfB coach Alexander Zorniger made two changes to the side that began in last weekend’s cup success in Kiel. Lukas Rupp got the nod ahead of Carlos Gruezo in defensive midfield, whilst Martin Harnik was back from illness to take a place in the starting eleven, forcing Timo Werner to take a place on the substitute’s bench.
Highlights
2nd minute: Matthias Lehmann lets fly from distance, luckily for VfB, the Köln captain’s effort crashes away off the foot of the post.
7th minute: The framework denies another effort – this time at the other end. Daniel Didavi drives in a powerful shot from 20 meters out, but can only find the crossbar. The euphoric crowd in the Mercedes-Benz Arena were treated to openings at both ends in the early phase of the match.
12th minute: Aluminium again! VfB captain Christian Gentner shoots from the edge of the box, striking the left post. VfB are clearly the more attacking of the two sides.
Florian Klein: "We played quite well, but the most important element was lacking for us in this match – we didn’t get the goals. We did well in implementing just what we had set out to do, but we unfortunately didn’t have the luck on our side."
Post match comments
74th minute: The visitors somewhat surprisingly take the lead. In a race for the ball with Przemyslaw Tyton, Köln’s Anthony Modeste goes crashing down in the box. Referee Wolfgang Stark awards the visitors a penalty, which the fouled man converts.
77th minute: Köln double their lead, with Simon Zoller making it 2-0.
79th minute: VfB are back in the game. Daniel Didavi converts from the penalty spot after Köln’s Simon Zoller fells Filip Kostic in the penalty area.
90th minute + 2: The visitors make effective use of a counter attack to seal the deal. Substitute Yuya Osako slots home from close range to make it 3-1 for Köln.
Summary
The width of the posts and crossbar, two penalties and a fruitless attempt to level the deficit. The crowd of 59,500 in the Mercedes-Benz Arena were treated to quite a spectacle in VfB’s opening game of the season. The home fans saw their side put in a performance with a great deal of tempo, but the chances were left untaken. On the day, trainer Peter Stöger’s men needed just three genuine attacks to seal the points, whilst for VfB, the opening day defeat is an extremely frustrating one. The team were determined and at times looked very convincing, in spite of the ultimately very deflating defeat.
