Highlights
B. Dankert
0:22
MATARAZZO: “MODESTE’S GOAL WAS LIKE A FADEAWAY JUMPER IN BASKETBALL”
0:23
WATCH: MODESTE: "WE BELIEVED IN OURSELVES"
90'
+ 4
COLOGNE GO EIGHTH!
Back-to-back wins for the Billy Goats, and 10 points from the last 15 available! That’s enough to lift them up to eighth in the standings, eight points clear of Stuttgart, who sink to the relegation play-off spot with 17 points.
Full-time
90'
+ 3
90'
+ 1
THREE ADDED MINUTES
Can Cologne hold on for their first clean sheet of the season?
90'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
89'
Substitution
89'
THERE IT IS!
Schindler crosses from the right and Modeste is there in the middle to guide a header in at the back post! That's surely the winner now!
86'
LATE GOAL SPECIALISTS
Cologne have scored eight times in the final 15 minutes of their games this season - and hit the winner against Wolfsburg during the week in the 89th minute.
86'
Substitution
81'
SHOT SHY?
Every Bundesliga game so far this season has produced at least 17 efforts on goal. We're only on 12 so far in this one, six for each side. Will there be a flurry of action in the closing stages as they go for a winner?
79'
Substitution
78'
CHANCE FOR COULIBALY!
Silas gets on the end of a long ball forward, draws a defender to him and lays it off to Coulibaly. He's about 10 yards out but his shot is blocked - it wouldn't have counted anyway as the assistant referee raises his flag for offside.
72'
Substitution
72'
SUBS GALORE
Kainz, who's on a yellow card, is taken off, with Schindler replacing him in attacking midfield. Meanwhile, Stuttgart make three changes as they bid to shake things up. Silas is on too - can he have an impact?
72'
Substitution
72'
Substitution
71'
Substitution
68'
MOMENTUM BUILDING
Cologne have been camped out in Stuttgart's half for the past few minutes. They're attacking at pace again, particularly down the right, and the home crowd are urging them on. Still no way through though.
66'
NEXT OPPORTUNITY FOR MODESTE!
Hector receives a throw-in on the right byline. He cuts back onto his left foot and spies Modeste arriving at the near post. The captain plays it to the 33-year-old forward, but Modeste gets his angles wrong and fires wide of the target.
61'
COULIBALY ALMOST IN!
The VfB winger chases a long, bouncing punt down the left. Hübers goes in to head it clear but misjudges the bounce and all of a sudden Coulibaly is free. He's on the left-hand edge of the box, but he's all alone. Instead of shooting he cuts back to look for a teammate, but is quickly dispossessed.
58'
OPENING FOR MODESTE
A cross from the left into the Stuttgart box and Modeste bursts into life. He gets a little flick on it at the near post, but it's an easy save for Müller.
57'
Substitution
57'
TRIPLE SUBSTITUTION
Home coach Steffen Baumgart has seen enough, with his side no longer the relentless attacking force they were in the first half. Uth, Thielmann and Horn all come on, with Andersson, Duda and Schaub making way.
57'
Substitution
57'
Substitution
52'
HALF-CHANCE FOR STUTTGART
Stuttgart break forward well down the right and the ball is played in low towards the near post. Marmoush is first to it, beating his marker and finding space, but the angle is very tight and his attempted cross into the middle is blocked by Schwäbe.
HOPE FOR COLOGNE
© BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Wunderl via www.imago-images.de/imago images/Beautiful Sports
48'
STUTTGART PRESSING
The visitors have gone on the front foot here and have already won two free-kicks in promising positions. The deliveries into the box haven't been quite right though, and Cologne have been able to clear.
46'
UNDER WAY AGAIN
Cologne get the ball rolling once more. No changes from either side during the interval.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 2
NOTHING IN IT AT THE BREAK
Cologne began the match in furious fashion as they went straight for the jugular. They had two goals disallowed, one for handball and one for offside, and were subsequently unable to carve out any chances of note. Stuttgart have gradually grown into the match, but have posed very little threat going forward so far.
Half-time
45'
POSITIVE FROM KAINZ
The Cologne midfielder drives into the Stuttgart box from the left, cuts on to his right foot and shapes to shoot. He appears to run out of steam at just the wrong time though, and his effort is weak and no trouble for the visitors.
39'
NO WAY THROUGH
Plenty of effort on both sides, but both just seem to be lacking the necessary creative spark to find a gap in the other's rearguard.
35'
STUTTGART MORE STABLE
Possession (%)
5050
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
POETRY IN MOTION
© Michael Taeger via www.imago-images.de/imago images/Jan Huebner
24'
STUTTGART'S DEFENSIVE SHIELDS
Holding midfielders Mangala and Endo have both won all of their challenges so far this game, winning five and three respectively, going some way to explain why Cologne have not had many goal attempts despite their greater attacking thrust.
22'
CHANCE FOR DUDA!
The attacking midfielder jinks his way forward down the left, cuts inside onto his favoured right foot and gets a shot away. He hits it well but it's straight at Müller, who punches clear.
16'
IRONIC
Goal attempts
0off target
0on target
1off target
1on target
15'
COLOGNE PUSHING
The hosts are very much on top now, pushing forward with purpose and really rattling their visitors. Stuttgart are trying to hit them on the counter, but aren't having much joy at the moment.
11'
GOAL DISALLOWED!
Another one chalked off for the hosts! Modeste gets on the end of a cross from the right, but it's saved by Müller. The rebound falls to Schaub, who drills in an emphatic shot from the left. It won't count though, as there Duda was offside in the build-up.
9'
SituationGoal
ReviewOffside?
DecisionNo goal
9'
SCRAPPY
It's been a fast and furious opening in Cologne, with both side looking to attack as quickly as possible. With neither side letting up, there are lots of tackles and interceptions at the moment.
5'
COLOGNE PROBING
Andersson does well to shield the ball in the Stuttgart box. He spins and tries to find Modeste with a low ball into the middle, but it's cut out by a defender.
3'
MODESTE HAS THE BALL IN THE NET!
Modeste thinks he's scored his 11th goal of the season but it won't count as the referee spotted a handball by Kainz in the build-up.
1'
HERE WE GO!
The final Bundesliga match of 2021 is up and running!
Kick-off!
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Overall though, Cologne have the better record against VfB, winning 35 of the 90 Bundesliga meetings to date. Stuttgart have won 30, with 25 draws. Last season Matarazzo's men won this fixture 1-0, with the return game at the Mercedes-Benz Arena ending 1-1.
HAPPY HUNTING GROUND
Stuttgart seem to enjoy their visits to the Cathedral City and are unbeaten in their last 11 trips there. They've won six of those, including each of the last three, drawing five. Can they continue that remarkable run today?
1:49
WATCH: ALL 10 OF MODESTE'S BUNDESLIGA GOALS THIS SEASON
TEAM NEWS - COLOGNE
There's a first for Cologne today as head coach Steffen Baumgart names an unchanged side for the first time. That's perhaps no surprise following the impressive 3-2 win over Wolfsburg during the week, with 10-goal Anthony Modeste leading the line once more.
TEAM NEWS - STUTTGART
VfB coach Pellegrino Matarazzo has made two personnel changes following the defeat to Bayern Munich last time out: Chris Führich and Mateo Klimowicz are both in the starting Xi for the first time since Matchday 10, with Atakan Karazor and Marc-Oliver Kempf making way.
0:10
WATCH: PITCH INSPECTIONS UNDER WAY
MILESTONE FOR ENDO
The Stuttgart captain will make his 50th Bundesliga appearance today; all for Stuttgart and all in the starting line-up.
0:20
WATCH: BEHIND THE SCENES IN COLOGNE
COLOGNE STARTING XI
Schwäbe – Schmitz, Hübers, Czichos, Hector (c) – Özcan - Kainz, Duda, Schaub – Modeste, Andersson
COLOGNE SUBS
Urbig, Uth, Kilian, Schindler, Ehizibue, Mere, J. Horn, Lemperle, Thielmann
STUTTGART STARTING XI
Müller – Mavropanos, Anton, Ito – Führich, Endo (c), Mangala, Coulibaly – Förster, Marmoush, Klimowicz
STUTTGART SUBS
Schock, Kempf, Stenzel, Didavi, Nartey, Beyaz, Silas, Faghir, Tibidi
Welcome along!
Here you can find all the information about Köln against Stuttgart on Matchday 17.