VfB Stuttgart beat FSV Hollenbach 5-0 in a pre-season friendly on Saturday afternoon. The Champions League participant struggled early against the Verbandsliga side but ran out comfortable winners. The Swabians remain unbeaten in pre-season.
What happened in Hollenbach?
The Jako-Arena was sold out in Hollenbach, but the FSV side - fresh off a WFV-Pokal shootout win over VfR Heilbronn on Friday - pushed Stuttgart hard. The first half ended 2-0, a scrappy affair despite the scoreline.
Tiago Tomás opened the scoring in the 24th minute after a Chris Führich assist. Führich doubled the lead in the 42nd. After the break, Maxi Mittelstädt made it 3-0 in the 51st. Jovan Milosevic added the fourth in the 59th. Nikolas Nartey finished things off in the 64th.
Why did this friendly matter?
For Stuttgart, this was about more than just fitness. The club finished third in the 2024/25 Bundesliga with 56 points. Pre-season training began on July 16; their first friendly ended 7-0 against TSG Balingen.
Head coach Sebastian Hoeneß rotated the squad heavily. National team players Deniz Undav, Angelo Stiller and Jamie Leweling stayed on the bench, as did most regulars. Still, the side showed grit and sharp finishing.
Who stood out for VfB?
Beyond the scorers, Chris Führich impressed with a goal and an assist. Mittelstädt shored up the backline and added a goal. Fabian Bredlow started in goal and looked solid. Dennis Seimen, recently injured, remains second choice.
What’s next for Stuttgart?
Pre-season continues. Stuttgart trail league leaders Bayern München by 20 points. Their next competitive fixture is at home against SC Paderborn 07 on February 20, 2027. Until then, the focus stays on keeping form sharp and fine-tuning the squad.
Stuttgart ended pre-season with 60 goals scored and just 38 conceded (+22 goal difference), the best attack in the build-up. Fans will be eager to see how the side fares in the Champions League.
