Celta landed in Germany to play a somewhat atypical match against Stuttgart. We don’t say atypical because of the rollercoaster weather that Saturday afternoon experienced, but rather because it was a match divided into two halves of more than 60 minutes each. It was undoubtedly a very physical test for Claudio Giráldez’s players.
More than 130 minutes of play started late due to the tremendous storm that hit the Stadion Kreuzeiche just as both teams were lining up in the changing room tunnel.
As is customary in these preseason tests, Celta improved and, despite the result, a very positive assessment can be made due to the positive feeling and the improvement seen on the field. In the first half, Ferran Jutglà showed his desire in front of goal, participating heavily in the game and finishing a couple of balls without luck. Hugo Álvarez also had his chances but ran into the opposing goalkeeper. Many chances fizzled out in the final meters, while Stuttgart did know how to capitalize on their attacks. In the 34th minute, Leweling opened the scoring with a shot from the edge of the box that went straight into the back of the net, and in the second half, a defensive error increased the home side’s lead. It was a bitter blow to Celta, who continued to insist and pressure the German defense until the Celta goal finally came, an own goal.
Despite the accumulated fatigue, Claudio Giráldez’s team dominated almost the entire match. The highlight of the match was the team’s anticipation, which managed to stop several of Stuttgart’s attacking plays. This defensive improvement is evident and the team will continue to work on next Tuesday, July 29 at 3:00 PM, against Grasshopper in what will be the fifth friendly of this preseason.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
VfB Stuttgart: Bredlow, Stiller, Mittelstädt, Demirovic, Jaquez, Karazor, Leweling, Assignon, Chabot, Undav and Jovanovic. Also play: Jeltsch, Drljača, Hendriks, Vagnoman, Keitel, Führich, Stenzel, Nartey, Meyer, Penna, Sankoh y Catovic.
Celta: Andrei Radu; Javi Rodríguez, Yoel Lago, Marcos Alonso; Ilaix Moriba, Damián Rodríguez; Jones El-Abdellaqui, Hugo Álvarez, Williot Swedberg; Ferran Jutglà. After break: Iván Villar, Manu Fernández, Carl Starfelt, Óscar Mingueza, Mihailo Ristic, Hugo Sotelo, Miguel Román, Iago Aspas, Pablo Durán, Hugo González, Javi Rueda, Fran Beltrán and Tincho.
Goals: 1-0 Leweling, min.34. 2-0 (PP), min.82. 2-1 (PP), min.120.
Referee: Erbst.
