VfB Stuttgart - Preseason results

SV Horn 0-1 Stuttgart

Filip Kostic (83)

Christian Gentner, 8.3

FC BW Linz 2-6 Stuttgart

Benjamin Tahirovic (14), Darijo Pecirep (84)

Daniel Ginczek (19, 72, 78), Filip Kostic (36, 47), Martin Harnik (62)

Filip Kostic, 9.7

Ferencváros 1-1 Stuttgart

Kristzián Viszket (84)

Florian Klein (84)

Mitchell Langerak, 7.7

Stuttgarter Kickers 0-1 Stuttgart

Marco Rojas (33)

Kevin Großkreutz, 8.4

Reutlingen 0-5 Stuttgart

Daniel Ginczek (17, Pen 21, 35, 41), Christian Gentner (33)

Star of Preseason?

Despite being the subject of a £9m bid from Freiburg, 24-year-old striker Daniel Ginczek has been able to perform in this preseason period for Stuttgart.

Although Ginczek requested permission to hold talks with Freiburg, his issues with Ballack are thought to be long gone as the German netted seven goals in five starts for his side.

Furthermore, Ginczek is expected to be Stuttgart's main striker over the coming season, with only veteran striker and former German international Cacau and Simon Terrode being the other strikers in the squad.

LFC

9 years

Barcelona wonderkid Munir signs for Stuttgart on loan

Bundesliga 2. side VfB Stuttgart have finalised a deal to bring Barcelona's 19-year-old striker Munir El Haddadi to Germany on a season-long loan.

The Madrid-born attacker turned down an offer from La Liga side Eibar to sign for Stuttgart and claims that is was the German club's reputation that attracted him.

"Stuttgart is a club with a rich history and they are desperate to get back to where they once were. I want to be a part of that and I hope we can achieve our goals this season."

Munir made his debut for Spain in 2014 aged just 18, coming on as a late subsitute for Atlético Madrid's Koke.

Munir was born to Moroccan parents but following his international bow for Spain, claimed that he never considered playing for the North African nation.

Since his debut against Macedonia, he has not played for Spain but this move to Germany with undoubted regular first team football coupled with the recent appointment of Fabio Capello as Spain boss could see that change in the future.

Munir brings something very different to what first choice striker Daniel Ginczek offers.

Ginczek is best utilised as a target man, his tall figure being a perfect marker for crossers. His strength is also one of his best assets.

On the other hand, Munir is more of a flair player and often creates space for himself and his team-mates.

It will be interesting to see whether Ballack will opt to use the two in a strike partnership or whether he sticks with what worked in pre-season, seemingly playing a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Munir made ten appearances for Barcelona last season in La Liga, scoring once.

Stuttgart will be a different kind of challenge for the youngster - he won't have players of the calibre of the likes of Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta and will likely be seen as Stuttgart's main attacking outlet.