Stuttgart
EvertonBy Kelechi Balogun — Football expert specializing in European and American leagues
The second leg of Everton’s pre-season training camp in Germany sees them face a significant step up in class. After a 2-1 victory over Hamburg, David Moyes’s side now takes on Champions League-bound Stuttgart, a team that has been prolific in front of goal and remains unbeaten this summer.
Sebastian Hoeneß continues to steer the ship at Stuttgart, having guided the club back to the Champions League for the second time in four years following last season’s success. The Swabians have played four friendlies this pre-season, but only their previous encounter with Paris FC (2-2) provided a real test. That match saw them throw away a 2-0 lead and miss a penalty, turning a certain victory into a draw. Before that, Stuttgart had ruthlessly dismantled three local amateur sides, racking up a combined 20 goals.
The club’s management has managed to retain all of its key players. Notably, Angelo Stiller, Bilal El-Hannous, Ermedin Demirović, Deniz Undav, and Jeremi Arevalo have only just returned from their post-World Cup holidays and could feature in the squad for the first time. Their return will significantly bolster an already potent Stuttgart attack. Jamie Leweling was also on that list, but the winger will miss this match due to illness. Dennis Seimen was set to be the new number one following Alexander Nübel’s loan expiry, but the young goalkeeper has suffered a fairly serious injury. As a result, Frederik Bredlow is being actively integrated into the first team. New signing Leo Sauer is also in the treatment room, but the attack remains well-stocked with quality players even without him.
David Moyes has also been selecting opponents carefully during pre-season, but his list is still respectable: a Scottish side in Dundee (4-0), followed by Bolton (0-0) and Stoke City (0-1). Notably, the Toffees’ coaching staff has barely used any youth players, instead immediately fielding their strongest available XI. The exception is in goal, as Jordan Pickford has yet to be seen in training following the World Cup. However, Iliman Ndiaye has returned from his break; the starting right winger could get some game time in this match, though he is more likely to appear from the bench.
The club has lost Idrissa Gueye this summer, a key defensive midfielder who spent a total of seven seasons at the club. However, at 36, maintaining his standard in the Premier League was becoming increasingly difficult. The center of midfield has been reinforced with Hayden Hackney (5 goals, 7 assists in the Championship last season) and Christian Nørgaard (a former Brentford leader and Arsenal benchwarmer). Hackney has featured in the two previous friendlies, while Nørgaard’s transfer was only announced recently, and the Dane has not yet traveled to Germany.
Stuttgart (4-2-3-1): Bredlow – Vagnoman, Al-Dakhil, Chabot, Hendriks – Premel, Stiller – Buanaani, Undav, Führich – Demirović
Out: Seimen, Aissignan, Sauer, Diehl (all injured), Leweling (illness)
Head Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß
Everton (4-2-3-1): Travers – Patterson, Branthwaite, Keane, Aznu – Armstrong, Hackney – Dibbling, Alcaraz, George – Beto
Doubtful: Jordan Pickford
Head Coach: David Moyes
Main Prediction: Stuttgart to Win @ 2.11
A compelling argument in favor of the Germans is the home-field advantage. This match will not be played on a training ground like the one against Paris FC but at the MHP-Arena. In the previous Bundesliga season, only Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich had better home records than Stuttgart (12 wins, 3 draws, 2 defeats). Everton did beat their last opponent on this tour, but Hamburg are a team of a lower caliber, and the English side’s winning goal came only at the very end. Before that, they failed to overcome modest opposition in Stoke and Bolton. Furthermore, compared to their previous friendlies, Stuttgart’s squad could be strengthened by as many as four first-team regulars (excluding Arevalo). Backing a Stuttgart victory at 2.11 looks like the smart play.
Total Goals Prediction: Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.50
Hoeneß’s men have only kept clean sheets in their first two pre-season matches. Without the injured Seimen, the team has conceded not only to Paris FC but also to Offenbach (8-1), a side from the fourth tier of German football. Stuttgart are capable of breaching the “over” line on their own, but their opponents are likely to contribute as well, finding the net at least once. The Toffees have had no major attacking problems this summer, except against Championship sides. With this in mind, a bet on over 2.5 total goals at odds of 1.50 looks like a solid choice.
The editorial prediction is provided for informational purposes only and should not be treated as a direct call to action. Every reader should do their own analysis before deciding on a bet.
Stuttgart4-2-3-1
Everton4-2-3-1Stuttgart’s explosive starts have defined their season, and they’re facing an opponent that consistently struggles to contain early pressure. Goals in the first half look inevitable — I’m backing that outcome with conviction.
Bayern Munich versus Benfica — this is the kind of match where motivation writes the script. Bayern need the win to keep pace in the Champions League group, and they’ll push hard from the first whistle. Benfica won’t just sit back either; they’ve got attacking quality and will look to exploit any gaps. The most likely outcome is a tight, high-energy contest where Bayern edge it by a single goal — think 2-1 or 3-2. That combination of a one-goal margin and over 2.5 total goals just fits the narrative of a team desperate to win against a side that can score but not quite contain the hosts.
Home win.
The line moved from -0.75 to -1.0 in the last two hours. That's not noise — that's sharp money piling in on the favourite. The host side has been underrated by the market after a patch of unlucky draws, but the underlying numbers (xG difference, shots on target, set-piece efficiency) tell a different story. I see a clear edge at current odds. The probability of three points here is well above what the implied price suggests.
Stuttgart's recent scoring streak came against opponents far below Everton's level — that context matters. I'm not buying into their inflated goal average. Everton had a tough friendly schedule, but that won't stop them from getting a result today. They're simply the stronger side in this matchup. A 1-1 draw or a 1-2 win for the Toffees is the call.
The home crowd will be the difference here. When a team plays in front of their own fans, with the calendar falling in their favor and no travel fatigue eating into their legs, goals tend to flow naturally. This is exactly the kind of fixture where the attacking intent is amplified — the hosts push forward, the visitors sit deep or counter, and the game opens up.
I'm backing the over here without hesitation. The numbers, the form, and the emotional lift of a packed stadium all point in one direction: goals. Home advantage isn't just a statistic — it's a real, tangible force that changes how both sides play. When the crowd is roaring, the pressure builds, mistakes happen, and the net gets tested early and often.
Stuttgart come into this fixture with momentum that can't be ignored — their attacking rhythm has been sharp, and the opposition's defensive frailties are well-documented. Backing the visitors to get the job done here is the logical call, backed by recent form and tactical mismatches.
Stuttgart’s home patch has a way of settling these games before the first tackle. The Mercedes-Benz Arena crowd is loud, the schedule has been kind, and this side finds another gear when playing in front of their own fans—while Everton, for all their quality, have repeatedly gone missing on the road when the atmosphere turns against them. The numbers back it up: Stuttgart win plenty at home, and the visitors' away record lacks the same conviction.
That’s why I’m backing the home win. This isn’t about disrespecting Everton—it’s about the calendar, the pitch, and the wall of noise all tilting one way. The price on the hosts feels generous for a game where Stuttgart’s main strengths are amplified in front of their own support.
Germany’s opponent has conceded early in four of their last five. The defensive shape breaks under sustained pressure, and the Germans know exactly how to exploit that. That’s why this isn’t a gamble—it’s execution. Expect Germany to impose their rhythm from the first whistle and win by a clear margin.
Set the press high, force mistakes in the build-up, and the goals will follow. The numbers back the approach, and the form confirms it. I’m backing the Germans to cover the spread comfortably.
Germany's odds have been steadily dropping, and the line movement tells me the market is pricing in a clear edge. I see the probability of a German win north of 70% based on squad depth and recent form, so backing them at the current price feels like a straightforward value play.
Bayern Munich versus Benfica — this is the kind of match where motivation writes the script. Bayern need the win to keep pace in the Champions League group, and they’ll push hard from the first whistle. Benfica won’t just sit back either; they’ve got attacking quality and will look to exploit any gaps. The most likely outcome is a tight, high-energy contest where Bayern edge it by a single goal — think 2-1 or 3-2. That combination of a one-goal margin and over 2.5 total goals just fits the narrative of a team desperate to win against a side that can score but not quite contain the hosts.
Home win.
The line moved from -0.75 to -1.0 in the last two hours. That's not noise — that's sharp money piling in on the favourite. The host side has been underrated by the market after a patch of unlucky draws, but the underlying numbers (xG difference, shots on target, set-piece efficiency) tell a different story. I see a clear edge at current odds. The probability of three points here is well above what the implied price suggests.
Stuttgart come into this fixture with momentum that can't be ignored — their attacking rhythm has been sharp, and the opposition's defensive frailties are well-documented. Backing the visitors to get the job done here is the logical call, backed by recent form and tactical mismatches.
Stuttgart’s home patch has a way of settling these games before the first tackle. The Mercedes-Benz Arena crowd is loud, the schedule has been kind, and this side finds another gear when playing in front of their own fans—while Everton, for all their quality, have repeatedly gone missing on the road when the atmosphere turns against them. The numbers back it up: Stuttgart win plenty at home, and the visitors' away record lacks the same conviction.
That’s why I’m backing the home win. This isn’t about disrespecting Everton—it’s about the calendar, the pitch, and the wall of noise all tilting one way. The price on the hosts feels generous for a game where Stuttgart’s main strengths are amplified in front of their own support.
Germany’s opponent has conceded early in four of their last five. The defensive shape breaks under sustained pressure, and the Germans know exactly how to exploit that. That’s why this isn’t a gamble—it’s execution. Expect Germany to impose their rhythm from the first whistle and win by a clear margin.
Set the press high, force mistakes in the build-up, and the goals will follow. The numbers back the approach, and the form confirms it. I’m backing the Germans to cover the spread comfortably.
Germany's odds have been steadily dropping, and the line movement tells me the market is pricing in a clear edge. I see the probability of a German win north of 70% based on squad depth and recent form, so backing them at the current price feels like a straightforward value play.
Stuttgart's recent scoring streak came against opponents far below Everton's level — that context matters. I'm not buying into their inflated goal average. Everton had a tough friendly schedule, but that won't stop them from getting a result today. They're simply the stronger side in this matchup. A 1-1 draw or a 1-2 win for the Toffees is the call.
Stuttgart’s explosive starts have defined their season, and they’re facing an opponent that consistently struggles to contain early pressure. Goals in the first half look inevitable — I’m backing that outcome with conviction.
The home crowd will be the difference here. When a team plays in front of their own fans, with the calendar falling in their favor and no travel fatigue eating into their legs, goals tend to flow naturally. This is exactly the kind of fixture where the attacking intent is amplified — the hosts push forward, the visitors sit deep or counter, and the game opens up.
I'm backing the over here without hesitation. The numbers, the form, and the emotional lift of a packed stadium all point in one direction: goals. Home advantage isn't just a statistic — it's a real, tangible force that changes how both sides play. When the crowd is roaring, the pressure builds, mistakes happen, and the net gets tested early and often.
The match takes place on 08.08.2026 at 16:00 at the MHP-Arena in Stuttgart.
The main prediction is a Stuttgart win at odds of 2.11, with an alternative bet on over 2.5 total goals at 1.50.
Stuttgart are favorites due to home advantage and a stronger squad, with several key players returning from post-World Cup holidays, while Everton have struggled against lower-tier opposition.
Stuttgart will miss Jamie Leweling (illness) and injured players like Seimen and Sauer, while Everton's Jordan Pickford is doubtful and newcomer Nørgaard hasn't traveled to Germany.
Stuttgart are unbeaten with three wins and a draw, scoring heavily, while Everton have mixed results: a win over Dundee, draws with Bolton and Stoke, and a last-gasp win over Hamburg.