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Full Time After Extra Time This is a live match. Extra Time Half Time

Stuttgart vs Manchester City. Friendly Match.

Mercedes-Benz ArenaAttendance40,122.

Stuttgart 4

  • F Kostic (15th minute)
  • D Didavi (31st minute)
  • D Ginczek (36th minute, 37th minute)

Manchester City 2

  • K Iheanacho (84th minute)
  • E Dzeko (89th minute)

Stuttgart 4-2 Man City: Pre-season ends in defeat for City

Stuttgart's Ivorian midfielder Serey Die (R) and Austrian defender Florian Klein vie for the ball with Manchester's midfielder Raheem Sterling
Image: Raheem Sterling brought a positive end to City's dismal defeat in Stuttgart

Manchester City ended an indifferent pre-season campaign with a heavy defeat as they slipped to a 4-2 defeat to Stuttgart, with only a late flourish from Raheem Sterling rescuing some pride.

Manuel Pellegrini sent out a strong starting line-up, featuring record signing Sterling, with Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and new recruit, Fabian Delph, the only notable absentees.

But Stuttgart, who only just avoided relegation from the Bundesliga last season, found themselves 4-0 up inside 38 minutes at the Mercedes Benz Arena.

Stuttgart defender Timo Baumgartl (C) vies for the ball with Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany (L) and Bacary Sagna
Image: Timo Baumgartl vies for the ball with Vincent Kompany and Bacary Sagna

First Filip Kostic put them in front before Daniel Didavi scored a fine second and Daniel Ginczek added two more past a helpless Joe Hart in the City goal, to the delight of the 40,000 in attendance.

City improved after the break, however, with Sterling setting up Nigerian teenager Kelechi Iheanacho to get a goal back six minutes from time.

And Sterling was the provider again for substitute Edin Dzeko to make it 4-2 on what could be the Bosnian striker's last appearance for the club, with a move to Roma imminent.

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Stuttgart's forward Daniel Ginczek reacts after he scored during the friendly football match between VfB Stuttgart and Manchester City in Stuttgart
Image: Stuttgart forward Daniel Ginczek celebrates his goal

City, who had previously spent time in Australia and played a friendly in Vietnam this pre-season, begin their Premier League campaign against West Bromwich Albion next week at The Hawthorns on Monday Night Football.

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