"Looking forward to the whole occassion" - Stuttgart gear up for final friendly | OneFootball

Back in Cannstatt, following the club's training camp in Rottach-Egern, Stuttgart held their first training session of the week on Tuesday afternoon, with plenty of fans in attendance.

Before Saturday's match against Coppa Italia winners Bologna, more festivities will take place on Mercedesstraße in the yearly “VfB Opening” event.

Second-choice goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow has recalled last year's opener, speaking fondly of the event.

“We're really looking forward to the season opener and the whole occasion,” Bredlow told Stuttgart's club media. “It was a great setting, and it was a lot of fun.”

“We're professionals. On the one hand, we'll be focused on the match, but on the other, we want to enjoy the day with the fans and kick off the season together.”

The 30-year-old shot-stopper also welcomes the challenge of facing another overseas opponent: “In pre-season, we've always had strong opponents, and that's important to test ourselves and get into shape.”

Stuttgart's first competitive match of the term takes place a week later, with Sebastian Hoeneß's men preparing for the recently renamed Franz Beckenbauer Supercup clash against Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

VfB's first Bundesliga outing takes place on Saturday, August 23, away against Union Berlin at Stadion an der Alten Försterei.