VfB Stuttgart have found their footing after a turbulent start to the season, stringing together back-to-back wins that have steadied the mood around the club. A 4-1 home victory over 1. FC Köln erased the memory of a chastening 1-5 opening-day defeat at Bayern Munich, and Stuttgart then carried that confidence into Europe, beating Norwegian champions Viking Stavanger 3-1 in their Champions League debut this season. The results place the club ninth in the Bundesliga with three points from two games, and confirm their status as a credible force on two fronts.

The squad that delivered those wins looks different from the one that started pre-season. Chema Andres joined Brighton for up to 23 million euros on deadline day, while Badredine Bouanani departed on loan to Rangers and Mirza Catovic moved to Barcelona's second team. Jamie Leweling, courted by AS Roma and Borussia Dortmund throughout the summer, stayed put and will now feature in the Champions League. Ermedin Demirovic, who spent much of the transfer window batting away false reports that the club wanted to sell him, scored the decisive third goal against Köln and spoke pointedly about wanting to reclaim respect after weeks of unwanted speculation.

Coach Sebastian Hoeneß has also backed captain Deniz Undav publicly despite a quiet opening to the campaign, citing Achilles tendon issues as a factor. With Hoffenheim next in the Bundesliga and a demanding Champions League group featuring Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan ahead, Stuttgart's momentum arrives at exactly the right moment.