Normannia Gmünd vs Stuttgart II

Normannia Gmünd's strong start in the opening five minutes raised the prospect of an upset — the Oberliga side had a shot on target and tested Draband early. But Sessa's post in the sixth minute was a warning sign, and once Rölke's header hit the net in the 23rd, the gap in class between a 3. Liga reserve side and a fifth-tier opponent became evident. The quick double-blow before half-time (23', 38') killed any realistic hope of a Normannia response.

Oli Rölke — opened the scoring with a well-timed header and led the line effectively for the first half. His movement was a constant problem for the home defence.

Jordan Majchrzak — clinically finished the second goal and showed sharp link-up play in the final third. His movement off Preu's through-ball was textbook.

Enis Redzepi — the U19 graduate came on at half-time and capped his appearance with a composed 76th-minute finish, reflecting the depth of talent in Stuttgart II's ranks.

Dominik Draband — a relatively quiet afternoon but made a sharp early save inside four minutes that kept the score level before Stuttgart II found their rhythm.

The 3-0 scoreline reflects a game that was more one-sided than the final margin suggests. Stuttgart II dictated possession throughout, with Normannia Gmünd's best moment arriving in the fourth minute. The visitors' two first-half goals in the 23rd and 38th minutes came from periods of sustained pressure, while the second-half lull after seven substitutions was predictable. The absence of detailed xG and shot data for this friendly is standard for pre-season fixtures at this level, but the eye test told a clear story: Stuttgart II controlled the game from the sixth minute onwards.

For Stuttgart II, this is a productive early step in their pre-season build-up. The 3. Liga campaign begins in three weeks, and Willig was able to give minutes to two distinct XIs — the first half featured more senior options, while the second half was predominantly U19 players. The result itself is secondary to the fitness work, but the clean sheet and controlled performance are encouraging signs.

Normannia Gmünd, competing in the Oberliga Baden-Württemberg (fifth tier), can take heart from a competitive first 20 minutes against a side two divisions above them. Coach Patrick Faber's side offered resistance and forced Draband into action early, but the gulf in class eventually told.

Stuttgart II's next pre-season fixture is against Regionalliga side SSV Ulm next Saturday (25 July, 14:00 local time) in Jungingen. Normannia Gmünd continue their own preparations for the Oberliga season.

A straightforward pre-season workout for Stuttgart II, settled by two sharp first-half goals and a well-taken second-half finish. Normannia Gmünd competed gamely for spells but were never likely to trouble a side two divisions above them. The scoreline was fair, the game controlled, and Willig will have learned plenty about his squad depth.