Military organization FCS conducts a general test in Dudelange.
In a closely contested preseason match, 1. FC Saarbrücken emerged victorious against F91 Dudelange, securing a hard-fought 3-1 victory. The match, played in front of around 500 spectators, saw both teams displaying impressive football, with Saarbrücken demonstrating resilience and determination in their comeback.
Head coach Alois Schwartz started the game with a strong lineup, including new signing Robin Bormuth at centre-back, as well as Niko Bretschneider, Baumann, and Wollschläger. The team's depth, according to Schwartz, has been bolstered by these additions, although he did not rule out further personnel reinforcements to maintain flexibility.
The first goal of the match came in the 31st minute, scored by Romanian newcomer Ştefan Tudor Neamțiu for Dudelange. The goal was preceded by a mistake by Joel Bichsel, which momentarily disrupted Saarbrücken's defence.
Florian Pick was the most notable player on the pitch during the first half, but Saarbrücken struggled to find their rhythm and equalise. The team's fortunes changed in the second half, with Schwartz making substitutions during the break, introducing Dominic Baumann, Luca Wollschläger, and Kasim Rabihic.
Wollschläger made an immediate impact, scoring the equalising goal seconds after his introduction in the 64th minute. Rabihic then set up the lead goal in the 76th minute, and scored the 3-1 final goal shortly afterwards in the 82nd minute.
Schwartz was satisfied with the team's comeback after the mistake in the first half, but emphasized that the win was almost too low in terms of opportunities. He stated that the team needs to be more clinical in their finishing to secure more convincing victories.
Despite the victory, Saarbrücken are still without key players Sebastian Vasiliadis, Philip Fahrner, Richy Neudecker, and Paddy Schmidt due to injuries. Schwartz looks optimistically towards the league start and emphasized the need to hold one's own and be brave.
Rabihic and Bretschneider formed a strong duo on the left side, causing constant unrest that the Luxembourgish defence could not control. Baumann, too, proved to be a constant source of unrest, contributing to Saarbrücken's offensive efforts.
In conclusion, the preseason match against F91 Dudelange provided an opportunity for 1. FC Saarbrücken to test their new signings and assess their squad depth. While the exact impact of the new signings and the squad depth changes for Saarbrücken remain to be seen, the team's resilience and determination in their comeback victory bodes well for the upcoming league season.
- Despite the impressive display and the victory in the preseason match, 1. FC Saarbrücken still lack key players for the upcoming European leagues, such as the Champions League, due to injuries.
- In the second half of the preseason match, Luca Wollschläger, a new signing, scored the equalising goal and made an immediate impact, demonstrating Saarbrücken's potential for the upcoming seasons in European leagues like the Champions League.
