Pure Barca domination! VfB is clearly subject to the big favorites with rump troops
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By David Frey
Stuttgart – Clear affair with a Champions League-worthy atmosphere in the Mercedes-Benz Arena! the VfB Stuttgart lost the friendly against the big favorites FC Barcelona with 0: 3 (0: 2).
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The fans waited in front of the Mercedes-Benz Arena for the FC Barcelona team buses to arrive. © TAG24
Memphis Depay (21st minute), Yusuf Demir (36th) and Riqui Puig (73rd) isscored the goals for Barca in front of 25,000 spectators in the football temple on Mercedesstrasse.
After three corona cases at VfB, which meanwhile even put the game on the brink, coach Pellegrino Matarazzo had to work with a rump squad – only eight of the 16 available players were permanent staff.
As the club announced before kick-off, all professionals who were not used were either injured or beaten, tested positive or not fully vaccinated. As a result, Manuel Polster, Dominik Nothnagel and Richard Weil, who normally play for the second team, made the starting line-up.
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The Catalans, on the other hand, who are still missing superstar Lionel Messi, sent pure world class onto the field with Gerard Piqué, Antoine Griezmann, Frenkie de Jong and newcomer Memphis Depay.
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VfB Stuttgart relied on this starting eleven in the friendly against FC Barcelona
So the FC Barcelona started the test match against VfB Stuttgart
FC Barcelona dominated with a lot of possession and let the joy of playing flash
Barca newcomer Memphis Depay celebrates after his goal to 1-0 against VfB Stuttgart. © imago images / Revierfoto
At the beginning of the game, VfB came in quite well against the clear favorite, concentrated on defending and did not allow a shot at goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow’s box in the first 20 minutes. As usual, Barca took over the action, clearly had more possession and pressed the home side high into their half.
In the 21st minute, however, the Blaugranas cracked the Swabian defensive bar: After playmaker de Jong made a wonderful through pass to his Dutch national team colleague Depay, he did not accept twice and took the lead from close range.
The VfB then did not manage to provide relief and to develop an offensive threat itself. Rather, the Barca superiority continued to grow, the Spanish cup winner showed a lot of joy in the game.
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Test match: VfB Stuttgart can play against Barcelona today!
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This was then rewarded in the 36th minute: After a great combination of Depay and Griezmann on the edge of the box, the world champion served Demir lurking in the middle with a sharp cross pass, who only had to insert to 2-0.
With this score it went into the cabins at 24 degrees and wonderful summer weather.
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VfB Stuttgart braver in the second half, but Barca too strong
Barcelona’s captain Gerard Piqué (r.) Clears the ball in front of Stuttgart’s Philipp Förster. © imago images / Eibner
VfB started the second section more courageously and caused great excitement: Massimo was played in the penalty area, turned around defender Piqué and was stopped. The fans loudly demanded penalties, but that was not enough for referee Tobias Reichel.
After that, the game calmed down, the flow of the game also suffered from the many changes on both sides. The Stuttgart tried to run the Catalans high and force them to make mistakes, but they knew how to prevent this due to their high ball security.
Instead, the star ensemble struck again. Substitute Puig was served in a counterattack by Griezmann and pulled hard. From the right inside post the ball went 3-0 into the net (73rd).
VfB goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow even prevented the fourth goal with a strong save against Rey Manaj. In the end, Barcelona deservedly won 3-0, although Stuttgart with a full squad would certainly have radiated a little more goal danger.
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It will be serious for the Swabians next Saturday (3:30 p.m.) when they play in the first competitive game of the new season DFB-Pokal at the regional league team BFC Dynamo. Barca, on the other hand, will play another friendly at RB Salzburg on Wednesday (7 p.m.).
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Cover photo: imago images / Revierfoto
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