Stuttgart's Fire-Breathing Rise: How a Seven-Goal Sparked a Bundesliga Comeback

Key reasons behind Stuttgart's surge

Having tasted European competition for the first time in 14 years last season, VfB Stuttgart are on track for a quick return to the continental stage in the coming campaign.

With 21 points from the first 10 games, Stuttgart, fourth, picked up where they left off in 2024-25, when they beat Arminia Bielefeld at the Olympiastadion in Berlin to lift the German Cup for the fourth time.

Balancing domestic and continental duties has proven challenging for the 2023-24 runners-up, who finished ninth in the Bundesliga and bowed out early in Europe last season.

Yet early in the current campaign, the young but mature Hoeneß squad looks better prepared for three-front contention.

The home strength

One key to Stuttgart's success has been their stunning home form, seven wins from seven across all competitions so far, save for a defeat to Bayern Munich in the Franz Beckenbauer Cup (the German Super Cup) last August.

Visitors like Borussia Monchengladbach, St Pauli, Heidenheim and Mainz left Stuttgart's home ground empty-handed, while other European opponents faced stern tests on home soil.

Tiago Tomas, who joined in the summer, explained the home form: "The passion and emotions we show on the pitch, and in our mindset, pass to our fans—and vice versa. Those aspects play a major role for us."

Dennis Undav was more succinct: "Our fans are simply amazing."

Strong playing style and advanced stats

Only Bayern Munich has a 100% home record among top-tier German clubs this season, but Stuttgart's approach is clear: they have more shots on goal (57) and a higher possession average (60%) than all but the Bavarians under coach Hoeneß at 43.

They are also open to direct routes to goal when needed; Mainz is the only side with more crosses from open play than Stuttgart in the first 10 league games (116 crosses).

Focus on team spirit

Flexibility is another hallmark of Stuttgart, who have dealt with injuries to several key players early in the 2025-26 season, especially in attack.

Undav and a German international forward missed chunks of time, but the summer signings Tiago Tomas, Bilal Khannous, Chima Andres and Lorenz Assignon helped ease the blow, with the emphasis remaining on collective spirit.

Tomas: "There are no selfish players here. We all fight together to achieve the same goals. Solidarity is one of our core values at Stuttgart."

Hoeneß: "Our success comes from the whole squad. Every player has played their part with effort and commitment."

In the coming weeks, solidarity and commitment will be tested as Stuttgart face Dortmund and Hamburg away before hosting Bayern in early December.

Perhaps this run of games seemed daunting not long ago, but Hoeneß and his players will back themselves to maximize points and cement their place in the Bundesliga's upper reaches.

Stuttgart head to Signal Iduna Park next Saturday, then travel to the Netherlands to face Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League on Thursday.

They will also travel to Hamburg on Sunday 30 November, and to Bochum in the German Cup last-16 on 3 December.

They then host Bayern Munich on 6 December, play another Europa League match on 11 December against Maccabi Tel Aviv, then travel to Werder Bremen on 14 December and finally host Hoffenheim on 20 December before the winter break.

Stuttgart currently sit fourth with 21 points, seven wins and three losses, 17 goals scored and 12 conceded, level on points with Dortmund in third but behind on goal difference.

They are seven points behind Bayern at the top, and one point behind RB Leipzig in second.