U17 Bundesliga – FC Schalke 04 U17 vs VfB Stuttgart U17 (Matchday 29)
VfB Stuttgart Lineup (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
#1 Ioannis Kechlimparis
Defenders
#2 Nikolas Matic – Right-back
#4 Luc Holzwarth – Center-back
#5 Gabriel Zarrella – Center-back
#3 Collin Schramm – Left-back
Midfielders
#6 Ertugrul Yigit – Defensive mid
#8 Enis Redzepi – Central mid
#10 Sohrab Samandari – Attacking mid
Forwards
#7 Leon Sonnenblick – Right wing
#19 Che Louw – Attacking mid (floating support role)
#11 Kian Speidel – Left wing
Bench Vincent Huber (#12), Neo Jeggle (#14), Mykola Petrovskyi (#15), Jeremy Noah Djeukui Yomba (#16), Brayann Kenmoe (#17), Mohamed Drammeh (#18), Felix Bauer (#9)
Coach: Daniel Jungwirth
FC Schalke 04 Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper
#1 Marcell Biskup
Defenders
#2 Rafael Czulak – Right-back
#4 Mika Nahler – Center-back
#5 Semih Müjde – Center-back
#3 Luca Lehnhoff – Left-back
Midfielders
#6 Richard Makengo – Defensive mid
#8 Noah Çandır – Central mid
#10 Bissara Djaby – Attacking mid
Forwards
#7 Clinton Wilson – Right wing
#9 Jonas Dieckmann – Center-forward
#11 Fadih Vasić – Left wing
Bench Ty Uchmann (#12), Kjell Steffen (#13), Samuel Nyarko (#14), Arian Güzel (#15), Bakir Mahmoud (#16), Mika Brocks (#17), Julien Becker (#18)
Coach: Charles Takyi
Kickoff
Schalke kicked off the first half, taking a composed approach as both teams started slowly, easing into the match tempo.
Stuttgart matched that calm energy with a low press, not committing bodies too early. Schalke managed to handle the pressure well since it wasn't intense yet. With no real opening through the middle, they recycled possession back to their keeper, who booted it long—Stuttgart took over from there.
Stuttgart began building from the back, Schalke sitting compact, denying central passing lanes and forcing Stuttgart wide. Schalke had clearly done their homework: they knew Stuttgart didn't have a proper aerial threat up front, so pushing them out wide was safe.
The idea? Force Stuttgart to cross. That neutralizes Che, who thrives on quick, central link-up and balls to feet.
But what Schalke didn't expect? Che had been given freedom to roam—he wasn't locked into position and could float into attacking support roles.
Stuttgart's First Big Chance
The ball worked its way to the right wing, where Leon faced his marker. Instead of going at him, he calmly played it back, and the ball was quickly switched to the opposite flank.
Kian Speidel brought it down with one bounce and instantly drove at his defender. He flashed two quick stepovers—right, then left—before pushing the ball toward the byline. He faked a cross, froze the defender, and spotted Che creeping in from outside the box.
With nobody near him, Speidel slipped a pass back inside.
Che took the ball inside the box and was immediately closed down. But he used the defender's momentum to his advantage—nutmegged him clean.
He was through.
But in a flash, the space disappeared—not one, not two, but three Schalke players closed in like a trap.
They won the ball, cleared it, and Che stood there for a split second, stunned by how fast they collapsed on him.
That moment hit him: this wasn't like coming off the bench in the second half when everyone else is tired. This was minute 10. Everyone's fresh. Everyone's sharp.
He'd need to adapt—fast.