The result is never the most important thing at this stage of the campaign, but the score and performance will throw up plenty of talking points ahead of the Premier League opener against West Brom on Monday 10 August.
A strong and keen looking Stuttgart side took advantage of a City squad shorn of its key South American quartet of Sergio Aguero, Martin Demichelis, Pablo Zabaleta and Fernandinho, plus the absent Yaya Toure and Fernando in central midfield.
The Swabians unpicked City’s defence four times in the first half - three times within one dizzying seven-minute spell – to the delight of most of the 40,122 crowd.
At that point City were facing the prospect of a heavy defeat, but to their credit Manuel Pellegrini’s men battled on. Substitutes Kelechi Iheanacho and Edin Dzeko grabbed well-taken consolations late in the game, with Raheem Sterling providing both assists.
City, possibly feeling the effects of almost 24,000 miles covered in their pre-season tour of Australia and Vietnam, were wobbling from the first whistle when Joe Hart had to scramble to reach Vincent Kompany’s back-pass.
There was a short spell of encouragement as Wilfried Bony – on his first pre-season appearance after illness – linked well with new boy Sterling down the left, with the winger forcing Stuttgart keeper Przemyslaw Tyton into one diving save.
But after 15 minutes Stuttgart took the lead in simple fashion, when a long ball was flicked on for Filip Kostic to race between Bacary Sagna and Kompany to finish past Hart.
Shortly after Aleks Kolarov’s sliding clearance denied Stuttgart skipper Christian Gentner a goal, but that proved brief respite.
Daniel Didavi played a neat give and go with Florian Klein before racing down the right flank and placing his shot through Hart’s legs.
City’s keeper thumped the turf in frustration but there was more pain to come.
After Samir Nasri had briefly threatened by rounding the keeper, his cross came to nothing and Stuttgart were soon back on the attack.
Martin Harnik sent the ball in from the right and Daniel Ginczek was all alone in the middle to finish from close range.
Two minutes later Ginczek struck again, evading Kompany and Sagna to slam the ball past Hart.
City made changes at the break with Iheanacho adding urgency up front, but as more substitutions were made the game lost shape and momentum.
After efforts from Kolarov and Sterling had sailed wide, Bruno Zuculini had a golden chance to pull a goal back for City when his shot was saved at close range by Tyton – but a breakthrough did eventually arrive.
Sterling provided the assist, crossing for Iheanacho to bounce home a volley after 83 minutes.
There was still time for Dzeko to grab a goal from close range, with Sterling again the supplier.
For City it’s now back to Manchester for just over a week of intense preparation for the Premier League opener.
