Stuttgart's season has shifted sharply in the past week. A 4-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen, confirmed by the latest sports data, lifted the club to 11th in the Bundesliga and provided a significant confidence boost after a difficult run that had left them deep in the relegation picture. The victory matters not just for the points but for what it signals about the squad's ability to respond under pressure. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß had tightened his grip internally after back-to-back league defeats, making clear that no starting place was guaranteed and that individual errors would be addressed openly within the group. That approach appears to have produced a reaction.

The other major storyline surrounds captain Deniz Undav. Lothar Matthäus publicly questioned whether the armband had weighed on the striker, noting he had lost his natural sharpness and ease in front of goal. Undav had gone seven Bundesliga appearances without scoring before the Leverkusen game, a run that contributed to the team's poor early-season form. Whether the win at Leverkusen marks a turning point for him personally will be closely watched.

Attention now turns to Istanbul, where Stuttgart face Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday. The club sits sixth in the European table and travels in a stronger position than their domestic form suggested just days ago. Galatasaray, buoyed by a derby win over Fenerbahce, will provide a fierce test, but Stuttgart arrive with momentum restored.