Bilal El Khannouss opened the scoring as Stuttgart routed Köln 4-1 to bounce back from their earlier Bayern defeat, with Sebastian Hoeneß calling his finish “very easy on the eyes” and saying the Moroccan “definitely deserves special praise.”
Chris Führich, Ermedin Demirović and Josha Vagnoman also found the net, according to official club reporting, rounding out the scoreline.
Führich, Demirović and Vagnoman also got on the scoresheet, per official club reporting, completing the rout.
El Khannouss’s opener was described in media coverage as a brilliant individual finish, prompting Hoeneß to call it “very easy on the eyes.” The Belgian international registered one goal and 29 completed passes, figures reflecting both his end product and his involvement in Stuttgart’s possession-based approach. Reports labeled his overall display a “command performance” and “superb,” pointing to his impact across multiple phases of play beyond the goal itself.
Hoeneß said El Khannouss “definitely deserves special praise,” singling him out at the press conference. Beyond the opener, the coach highlighted the player’s role in Stuttgart’s second goal, praising his ball control on the flank and the decisive through ball that helped create the chance. Hoeneß summarized the display as “a really great performance today from Billy.”
The coach also pointed to the player’s contribution without the ball, stressing his “responsible defending” and citing the frequency and success rate of his duels. On the flank, El Khannouss combined tight control with progressive passing, helping Stuttgart break down Köln’s defensive structure. According to Hoeneß, this all-round showing aligned with his broader expectations for efficiency and defensive solidity, themes he has consistently emphasized in his analysis of Stuttgart’s matches this season. His earlier evaluations had already described El Khannouss as technically strong and agile, with an improving goal threat — assessments reinforced by his performance against Köln. El Khannouss, regarded as a rising star from Morocco, continues to justify the growing attention surrounding his development at Stuttgart.
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