Fulham finished their pre-season campaign with a win over Stuttgart in Alvaro Arbeloa’s first game at Craven Cottage thanks to a Timothy Castagne goal.
The game lacked clear-cut chances, with the biggest opportunities coming from corners for both sides. After several close calls from corners, it was only a matter of time before one went in.
Castagne was the one to finally take advantage from a corner, as his flicked header went over the head of everyone in the box and found the side netting.
Overall, it was a solid performance from Fulham, who looked defensively stable and were able to knock the ball about well in the middle of the park; the only thing missing was the final product.
A home game against Chelsea is Fulham’s season opener as they look to start the season positively against their West London rivals.
Highlights of the match
Fulham had the first chance of the game after an Alex Iwobi corner found Sander Berge in the box, but the midfielder was unable to get more than a flick onto the ball, which gave the goalkeeper an easy save.
Josh King made a brilliant run in behind that was picked out by Iwobi, but Maxamillian Mittelstadt got back and made an impressive challenge in the box to stop the Fulham man.
Stuttgart had their first chance of the game after Ermedin Demirovic was found with space in behind, but Bernd Leno closed him down well and stopped the attempted dink over his head.
It was Stuttgart’s turn to have a chance from a corner, with Grischa Promel’s header on target saved well by Leno.
Cesar Palacios used his skill to get himself away from his man in the middle of the park; the ball found its way to Oscar Bobb, whose shot was saved well by Fabian Bredlow.
Calvin Bassey went down after his head collided with another player making a challenge from a corner; he came back on after a short time on the sideline.
Fulham thought they had taken the lead from a corner, after Berge got on the end of a flick-on by Castagne, but Bredlow somehow managed to keep the ball from crossing the line.
Jorge Cuenca blocked Stuttgart forward Tiago Tomas on the halfway line, with the Fulham player coming off worse from the challenge. The defender managed to carry on after the heavy challenge, a major boost for Fulham, as Joachim Andersen is suspended for the opening game of the season against Chelsea.
Palacios produced some more magic, as he played Antonee Robinson clean through on goal, but Bredlow closed the angle down well and made a good save from the defender.
Bobb was found in the box by Palacios, but the winger’s effort was easily saved by the goalkeeper.
King found himself behind the Stuttgart defence and flashed a ball across the box, but nobody could get on the end of it.
Castagne put the ball in the net from a corner, something Fulham had been threatening all game, with his looping header flying over the keeper into the far corner.
Stuttgart threatened to equalise, but Badredine Bouanani’s header was saved at full stretch by Leno.
The game went flat towards the end, with both sides happy to see it out.
Shea Charles came on for his home debut and was able to get some minutes under his belt ahead of the start of the season.
Player of the Match: Cesar Palacios
The young midfielder is starting to show why Arbeloa wanted to bring him to the club.
He is playing in the wide left position but has the freedom to roam wherever he wants to get on the ball, with the rotation between him and King working wonders.
The Spaniard tried and pulled off some lovely flicks, and with some better finishing from his teammates, could have picked himself up a couple of assists.
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