VfB Stuttgart 3:1 Everton: Friendlies Clubs Match Result

Match report

VfB Stuttgart beat Everton 3-1 in a club friendly on Friday at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. The match ended with the hosts taking a comfortable lead before Everton pulled a late goal back. Both sides used the game to test options ahead of the new season.

N. Nartey opened the scoring in the sixteenth minute, and Stuttgart built on that advantage. R. Hendriks added a second in the sixty-fifth minute, and T. Barry converted a penalty in the seventy-first. B. Bouanani scored for Everton in stoppage time, but the result was never in doubt. And here's the thing — the second half looked like a different game entirely.

The hosts made more changes, bringing on L. Jovanovic, M. Mittelstadt, C. Fuhrich and C. Alcaraz. Everton responded with M. Travers, J. Branthwaite, F. Bredlow and A. Al Dakhil. By then the tactical shape was clear — Stuttgart preferred to stretch play wide while Everton stayed compact.

Statistics showed the pattern. Stuttgart had 74 attacks compared to Everton's 67, and won eight corners to three. Possession sat at fifty per cent for each side, but the hosts created more from set plays. Three or four moments decided this one, not the numbers on the sheet.

Stuttgart came into the game with momentum, having beaten Kicker Offenbach 8-1 and Holtenbach 5-0 in recent friendlies. Everton had won against Dundee 4-0 but drew with Bolton and lost to Stock City. This result keeps Stuttgart's winning run alive while Everton head home with work to do.

Prepared from match data

Key numbers

Possession, % 50 – 50

Attacks 74 – 67

Corners 8 – 3

Free kicks 6 – 4

⚽ 16' N. Nartey — Goal ⇄ 22' T. Iroegbunam — Substitution ⇄ 32' D. Zagadou — Substitution ⇄ 46' L. Jovanovic — Substitution ⇄ 62' M. Mittelstadt — Substitution ⇄ 63' C. Fuhrich — Substitution ⇄ 63' C. Alcaraz — Substitution ⚽ 65' R. Hendriks — Goal ⚽ 71' T. Barry — Penalty ⇄ 76' M. Travers — Substitution ⇄ 80' J. Branthwaite — Substitution ⇄ 84' F. Bredlow — Substitution ⇄ 90' A. Al Dakhil — Substitution ⚽ 90+1' B. Bouanani — Goal