Stuttgart launched their pre-season preparations with a dominant 7-0 victory over fifth-tier TSG Balingen, giving manager Sebastian Hoeneß the opportunity to distribute minutes across his squad. The Bundesliga side controlled proceedings from the outset, building a commanding first-half lead before fielding an entirely different XI after the interval.
The opening 45 minutes featured several established first-team players alongside new faces. Summer arrival Grischa Prömel made his debut, while goalkeeper Dennis Seimen started between the posts following his return from a loan spell at Paderborn. Dan-Axel Zagadou wore the captain’s armband, with Chris Führich, Maximilian Mittelstädt and Chema Andrés also featuring from the beginning.
Stuttgart’s early pressure translated into goals as Jovan Milošević struck twice within the first half-hour. The forward opened the scoring after just five minutes and doubled his tally roughly 20 minutes later. Führich and Tiago Tomás added further strikes before the break to establish a 4-0 advantage.
Youth prospects shine in second period
Hoeneß utilised the full depth of his roster by introducing eleven fresh players at half-time. Among them was Jarzinho Malanga, who returned to the club following a loan stint at Elversberg, and defender Joshua Vagnoman despite persistent rumours suggesting a potential transfer away from the Mercedes-Benz Arena.
The youthful second-half lineup maintained the intensity against the lower-league opposition. Teenage forward Lazar Jovanović proved particularly sharp, netting twice in the second period to extend the lead. The 19-year-old struck first around the hour mark before adding his second with approximately ten minutes remaining. Malanga completed the scoring late on to round off the seven-goal margin.
Road to competitive action
The friendly represents the opening chapter of Stuttgart’s six-match pre-season programme. The schedule includes notable fixtures against Premier League clubs Fulham and Everton, offering stiffer tests before the competitive season begins.
Stuttgart’s 2024-25 campaign officially starts on 21 August with a DFB-Pokal first-round trip to 2. Bundesliga side Hansa Rostock. The cup tie will serve as crucial preparation ahead of their Bundesliga title defence, with the league season commencing shortly afterwards.