Michael Kightly scored with his first touch as a Stoke player but Tony Pulis' side were held to a 1-1 draw by Bundesliga newcomers Greuther Furth in Germany.
Kightly finished from a narrow angle after Marc Wilson's long ball was flicked on by Peter Crouch to give the Potters the lead inside five minutes. But Tobias Mikkelsen forced a fine save from Asmir Begovic and the hosts were denied an equaliser by an offside flag and then by Matthew Upson's intervention.
Upson was to blame, though for the equaliser when his foul at a corner allowed Bernd Nehrig to fire home a penalty.
Ryan Shotton hit a post and Stoke's second debutant, Geoff Cameron, went close with a free-kick before Ilir Azemi wasted a late chance to win it for the Bundesliga newcomers.
