FCC coach Kästner states, "Who's ready for an opening loss?"
FC Carl Zeiss Jena Women's Team Kicks Off Pre-Season with Exciting Test Match
FC Carl Zeiss Jena's women's team embarked on their 2025/26 Bundesliga preparation with a test match against FC Viktoria Berlin on July 19, 2025, at Stadion Lichterfelde. This significant encounter marked an important early step in their pre-season training camp.
The match, which served as a valuable competitive benchmark against Viktoria Berlin’s Bundesliga side, ended with a thrilling 3:2 victory for Jena. Aylin Yaren and Sarah Klotz scored for Jena in the first half, while Nelly Juckel and Isabelle Jaron equalised for Viktoria Berlin in the second half. The decisive goal came from Sarah Abu Sabbah for Jena in the 79th minute.
Coach Florian Kaestner expressed mixed feelings after the match, acknowledging that while a win is always nice, the outcome should not be overvalued. He used the match to gain insights into how his team and individual players perform under match conditions.
Kaestner's squad is known for its youth, talent, and ambition. Merza Julevic, who wore the captain's armband during the match, will lead the team in the upcoming season. Toma Ihlenburg will serve as his deputy.
The Jena women still have a score to settle with the Hanseatic women from the DFB-Pokal. Their next test match will be against Hamburger SV, scheduled for an upcoming Saturday. This match will serve as a preview of their league rivalry in the coming season.
Kaestner gave playing time to all traveling players, including representatives from the regional league team and a trial player, in the test match against Viktoria Berlin. Only goalkeeper Julia Kassen played the full 90 minutes of the match.
Looking ahead, Kaestner now knows what areas he needs to work on in the coming days and weeks, both collectively and individually. The location of the next test match is Gardelegen in Saxony-Anhalt. The Jena women's team is gearing up for an exciting season ahead.
The FC Carl Zeiss Jena Women's Team, preparing for the 2025/26 Bundesliga season, tested their skills against FC Viktoria Berlin in a competitive match, showcasing the dynamics of European leagues. Prior to their DFB-Pokal rematch with Hanseatic women, they will face Hamburger SV in another test match, serving as a preview of their league rivalry in the upcoming season.
