VfB Stuttgart wins 4-1 against Cologne – Undav cools his Achilles tendon despite the win

National striker Deniz Undav gave a thumbs up. The gesture matched VfB Stuttgart's 4-1 win against 1. FC Köln. But Undav's personal performance paled behind the performances of goalscorers Bilal El Khannouss and Ermedin Demirovic. And after the Swabians' first win of the season in the Bundesliga, the striker also had to cool his Achilles tendon.

“It is the fate of a superstar to be asked about Deniz's performance after the 4-1 win,” replied VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß to a corresponding question. “He can certainly play better, as he has shown us very, very often,” admitted the coach. He doesn't have the feeling that Undav is 100 percent clear-headed. The Achilles tendon is causing a bit of problems.

Teammates shine as goal scorers

Against Cologne, it wasn't important that Undav didn't deliver a top performance. Even so, the success was well deserved. El Khannouss shone with his opening goal to make it 1-0. Midfielder Grischa Prömel, storm rival Demirovic, who came on for Undav, and right-back Josha Vagnoman also got on the scoresheet with a fantastic volley.

With the victory, the Swabian Bundesliga team showed a strong reaction to the 1:5 defeat at the opening of the season at FC Bayern Munich a week ago. Undav, who has led VfB as captain since the start of the season, can put in a more convincing performance on Wednesday: Then the Stuttgart team will start in the Champions League against the Norwegian representatives Viking Stavanger.