VfB Stuttgart secured a 3-0 victory against 2. Bundesliga side 1. FC Heidenheim during a friendly fixture played at the Stadion Benzach in Weinstadt.
First-Half Stalemate Breaks Late Before Stuttgart Takes Control
The opening forty minutes offered few openings as both teams battled through a cagey spell in Weinstadt. Stuttgart finally broke the deadlock just before the interval in the 42nd minute. Deniz Undav drove down the left flank, reached the baseline, and cut the ball back into the danger area where Atakan Karazor slotted home from ten yards out to give the Bundesliga side a 1-0 lead.
After the break, Stuttgart seized complete control of the pitch. Heidenheim made several substitutions that blunted their attacking threat, leaving Marius Funk—who replaced Fabian Bredlow in goal at halftime—with very little defensive work to manage. The second half belonged entirely to the home side’s attacking combinations.
Assignon’s Overhead Kick Highlights Second-Half Surge
The match produced its defining moment in the 72nd minute. Jamie Leweling chipped a precise ball into the penalty area, and substitute Lorenz Assignon met it mid-air, hammering an acrobatic overhead kick underneath the crossbar to double the lead to 2-0.
Stuttgart capped the afternoon four minutes before full-time. In the 86th minute, Leweling delivered another decisive pass, allowing fellow substitute Jeff Chabot to tap in from close range and seal the 3-0 final scoreline.
Tactical Experiments and Squad Management
Hoeneß utilized the international break to test unusual midfield configurations. The starting lineup featured three established defensive midfielders simultaneously—Grischa Prömel, Atakan Karazor, and Angelo Stiller. Prömel pushed forward into the number ten role, while Leweling occupied the left wing.
Squad rotation also shaped the afternoon. Nikolas Nartey completed a planned 30-minute appearance in his return from an injury layoff before giving way to U21 player Lauri Penna. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Dennis Seimen remained sidelined as he continues his recovery from a thigh muscle injury suffered in July, keeping him out of action while Bredlow and Funk handled goalkeeping duties.
Upcoming Schedule
Stuttgart returns to action on Thursday, October 1, for their second international break friendly against 2. Bundesliga club SpVgg Greuther Fürth in Aspach. The team will then resume Bundesliga competition on October 10 with an away fixture against SC Paderborn 07, looking to reverse a difficult start that saw them drop three of their opening four league matches.
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