VfB Stuttgart's early-season form has been a source of concern, and a 1:2 defeat at Hoffenheim on Matchday 3 left them sitting 14th in the Bundesliga table with just three points from three games. The loss was compounded by an injury scare involving Angelo Stiller, who was withdrawn in the 34th minute after a collision. Stuttgart confirmed on Sunday that the 25-year-old suffered only a bruise, though the club has not specified when he will return.

The mixed picture is not entirely bleak. Ermedin Demirovic delivered a stunning Champions League debut, scoring a hat-trick in 12 minutes during a 3:1 home win over Viking Stavanger, giving the club a strong start in Europe. That performance injected some confidence into a squad that had looked inconsistent in domestic competition.

The form of captain Deniz Undav remains the central talking point. The striker has not scored in four competitive appearances this season, and his physical statistics have drawn scrutiny. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß has defended him publicly, pointing to his two assists against Viking and arguing that judging Undav purely by numbers misses the point. Achilles tendon trouble may also be a factor in his slow start.

Stuttgart host Borussia Dortmund next in the Bundesliga, a fixture that will test whether the club can arrest a stuttering domestic campaign before it becomes a deeper problem.