Everton Faces Tough Challenge Against Vfb Stuttgart in Germany

Everton step up their German tour this weekend with a far stiffer examination: a trip to Champions League-bound Vfb Stuttgart at the MHPArena.

The backdrop is encouraging. David Moyes’s side arrive in Stuttgart on the back of a late, slightly chaotic 2-1 win over Hamburg, sealed when Jordan Torunarigha turned into his own net in stoppage time. Before that slice of fortune, Merlin Röhl had marked his return to Germany with the sort of composed finish that will only sharpen interest in his role this season.

Four games into a busy summer, Everton now move from sparring partners to something closer to the real thing. Stuttgart, under Sebastian Hoeneß, are not a soft landing. They finished fourth in the Bundesliga last season, muscling their way into the Champions League places, and backed that up with a second straight appearance in the DFB-Pokal final. This is heavyweight pre-season fare.

A higher bar in Stuttgart

The rhythm of Everton’s summer has been about layers: fitness first, structure second, now a test of resilience against a side used to dictating games. Stuttgart’s energy and vertical play will stress every line of Moyes’s 4-2-3-1, from the first press to the last-ditch block.

The Toffees will again turn to Mark Travers in goal, with a back four likely to read: O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko. It is a unit that needs minutes together, and Germany offers them that without the unforgiving glare of Premier League points.

In front, Röhl is set to continue in a deeper role, partnered by Tim Ireogbunam and Kieran Dewsbury-Hall in a three-man midfield that blends legs, bite, and a left foot capable of changing the tempo. Ahead of them, Sam Dibling and Louie Barry are expected to flank Iliman Ndiaye in a fluid trio that should give Stuttgart’s back line more to think about than Hamburg ever managed.

The shape is familiar. The nuances are still forming.

New faces, late arrivals

One new signing will not be on show. Christian Norgaard, recruited from Arsenal for £7m earlier in the week, will stay back in England to work on his fitness at Finch Farm. The plan is clear: bed him in properly, then unleash him. His first glimpse in royal blue may come against Newcastle United at Murrayfield next Wednesday.

Two others are only just rejoining the rhythm. Iliman Ndiaye and Nathan Patterson have returned to the group after extended breaks following their involvement at the 2026 World Cup. Both now chase their first pre-season minutes, and both have something to prove in a squad that suddenly looks more competitive in their positions.

Jordan Pickford, who went deep into the tournament with England and reached the semi-finals, will not feature. He links up with the squad only after they fly back from Germany. James Garner remains sidelined by a groin problem, a small but nagging concern as the start of the campaign creeps into view.

What this game really means

Pre-season always comes with a caveat, but matches like this carry weight. Stuttgart will attack with the confidence of a team that expects to play on Tuesday and Wednesday nights this season. Everton must show they can live with that tempo, hold their nerve in possession, and carry a threat of their own.

Kick-off is at 4:00 pm BST on Saturday 8th August at the MHPArena in Stuttgart. Supporters can watch live via evertontv, with one-off match passes priced at £5.99, or follow every twist through updates on the ToffeeWeb Live Forum.

One more test on German soil, one more chance to sharpen the edges. With the Premier League looming and Newcastle waiting in Edinburgh, this is where Everton’s pre-season stops being gentle preparation and starts to look like a dress rehearsal.