Jump to 3rd place: Is VfB Stuttgart already a top team?

analysis

As of: October 20, 2025 1:37 p.m

VfB Stuttgart is third in the Bundesliga after winning against VfL Wolfsburg. The Swabians’ mature performance is encouraging, but are the DFB Cup winners already a top team?

After football games in which one team clearly dominates the other and this is clearly reflected in the final result, the question often arises: Was team A so good or team B so bad? Most of the time one causes the other – and so too in VfB Stuttgart’s clear 3-0 away win against VfL Wolfsburg. The Wolves played so disappointingly because the Swabians were simply too strong. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß’s team went into the game with a surprising lineup that looked very defensive on paper. But only one team played forward on the field: VfB. Stuttgart’s players were constantly castled, especially on offense, and were more adept at tackling, running and, above all, combining than the Lower Saxons.

Strong numbers for VfB Stuttgart

VfB is third after the away win. 15 points after seven matchdays means a strong result. The victory in Wolfsburg was the fourth Bundesliga three-pointer in a row for the DFB Cup winners, and it was the fourth time they had a clean sheet. Six goals conceded are, together with BVB, the second best defensive value in the league behind Bayern, and they haven’t conceded a goal at all in front of their home crowd. So is Stuttgart one of the top teams this season?

The truth is that the opening program played into Stuttgart’s hands. Gladbach, St. Pauli and Heidenheim (all at home) as well as Union Berlin, Freiburg, Cologne and Wolfsburg (all away) were not particularly high hurdles. But: In the past season, VfB scored two points against Union (A), Gladbach (H), Freiburg (A), St. Pauli (H), Heidenheim (H) and Wolfsburg (A), and twelve points in the current season (Cologne played in the 2nd league in 2024/2025).

The real tests are yet to come

Nevertheless: VfB has not yet played against an absolute top team. They wait in November and December. There are difficult away games against RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund on the ninth and eleventh matchdays. On the 13th matchday, champions FC Bayern Munich are guests. The Europa League is now against Fenerbahce Istanbul and Feyenoord Rotterdam, and later against AS Roma. So the real tests are yet to come.

What is encouraging: the team seems to be developing. The defense is solid – Luca Jaquez is getting stronger, Jeff Chabot, who captained VfB for the first time in Wolfsburg, looks more confident in his second year with the Swabians. Maximilian Mittelstädt responded to his recent non-nomination for the DFB team with two strong performances against Heidenheim and now answered to the wolves. On the right, Lorenz Assignon is increasingly hinting at why Stuttgart put a double-digit million sum on the table for him in the summer.

Variability as a plus point

In midfield, Angelo Stiller, who had a difficult start to the season, was now outstanding in Wolfsburg. The late signing Bilal El Khannouss actually delivered from the moment he arrived, Chema Andres could turn out to be the bargain of the year if he continues like this. And Tiago Tomas played a strong game up front in Wolfsburg. The attack continued the departure of Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United) shortly before the end of the transfer period and the injuries to Deniz Undav and Ermedin Demirovic were a problem position, but the game in Wolfsburg proved that it is also possible without a classic center forward. Just like at VfL, when Tomas, El Khannouss, Stiller and the advancing rail players took turns looking for depth. The opponent finds it difficult to adjust to this – a plus point for the Hoeneß team. Undav is also back and expands the offensive options – in Wolfsburg it was already enough for a partial deployment.

VfB Stuttgart looks more mature

Overall, VfB seems more mature, it seems as if the team has taken another step in development. Compared to the second half of the season, efficiency and defensive behavior are good. The team plays more seriously. Not unimportant given the triple burden.

Third place after seven games is largely due to the opening program – but you have to get the necessary points first. However, it will only be decided in the “hot autumn” whether VfB Stuttgart will actually be one of the top teams in the league this year. The away game at Fenerbahce will show how far the DFB Cup winners actually are. Mainz 05 awaits in the Bundesliga – here the Swabians are favorites and can continue to build on their strong start.

Broadcast on Sun, October 19, 2025, 9:45 p.m., SWR Sport, SWR