German Bundesliga side Stuttgart are the toughest opponents for Birmingham City on their three-match pre-season trip to Austria.

Alex McLeish's side will face Markus Babbel's side in Zell am See on Tuesday, 21 July.

That is followed by a game against German second tier team Augsburg in Westerndorf two days later.

The final fixture is on Sunday, 26 July when Blues take on Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in Leogang.

Although McLeish is looking forward to all three games ahead of his club's return to the Premier League, the former Scotland boss wishes Stuttgart were not their opening opponents.

"It isn't ideal because I didn't really want such tough opposition in the first game, but they would be at the same stage as we are in terms of fitness and I will probably use the whole squad," McLeish told the club's official website.

Blues' only home friendly is against Spanish club Sporting Gijon on Saturday, 8 August.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version