Altglienicke vs RB Leipzig

Demichelis made a full XI change at the interval, handing minutes to an entirely different outfield group. The move paid dividends within six minutes of the restart. Johan Bakayoko, the Belgian winger who joined Leipzig earlier this window, produced a fine finish in the 51st minute to restore the lead. Bakayoko came closest to adding a third when he struck the crossbar in the 71st minute.

RB Leipzig's second-string side controlled large periods of the second half, with Suleman Sani, Tidiam Gomis and Samba Konaté catching the eye. However, the defence remained unconvincing — a pattern that carried over from the first period — and Altglienicke spurned several chances to level the score again.

Brajan Gruda — The 21-year-old scored the opener and looked sharp in his first game since making his loan from Mainz permanent. His movement off the ball caused problems for the Altglienicke backline throughout the first half.

Johan Bakayoko — The Belgian winger scored the winner and rattled the crossbar later in the second half. His direct running and composure in the box stood out as Leipzig's most dangerous attacking threat after the break.

Jonas Nietfeld — Altglienicke's captain and top scorer last season (19 goals in the Regionalliga) showed his quality with a well-taken equaliser. He led the line effectively against a higher-tier defence.

Suleman Sani — The 19-year-old Nigerian winger, known as "the magician", was lively in the second half and one of several young players who impressed under Demichelis' new system.

The match page shows 3 goals from 2 shots on target across the 90 minutes, reflecting the early-stage nature of both teams' preparations. RB Leipzig's rotation of the entire XI at half-time means the first-half stats (possession, passing accuracy) reflect a more settled side, while the second period tested squad depth. Altglienicke's ability to create chances against both Leipzig XIs underlines why they are considered favourites for the Regionalliga Northeast title. The fact that only one of the three goals came from open-play build-up in the first half suggests Leipzig's attacking patterns remain a work in progress under Demichelis.

For RB Leipzig, this was the first step in a pre-season schedule that includes friendlies against FC Ingolstadt and Leeds United before their competitive opener against Eintracht Trier in the DFB-Pokal. The Bundesliga campaign begins at home against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Demichelis has spoken about implementing a more aggressive, high-intensity style, and while flashes appeared in the second half, the new coach acknowledged after the match that his side must "be an uncomfortable opponent every week" (MDR).

New signings Maxime Estève and Rocco Rietz were present with the squad but did not feature. Both are expected to be integrated into the matchday squad in the coming friendlies.

For Altglienicke, this was a useful test against elite opposition before their competitive season begins. They face Erzgebirge Aue on 25 July in the Regionalliga Northeast, with ambitions of winning the division and securing promotion to the 3. Liga. Former USMNT international John Anthony Brooks, now with Altglienicke, said after the match: "We want to be at the top at the end of the season" (MDR).

A predictable outcome — a Bundesliga side beating a fourth-tier team — but the performance was far from polished. RB Leipzig's first XI looked disjointed after minimal training time, and the defensive errors that plagued last season resurfaced. The positive signs came from the second-half XI, where young players like Sani and Gomis showed the intensity Demichelis demands. For a first outing with five training sessions, this was a useful exercise rather than a statement of intent. Altglienicke depart with real credit and a reminder that they can compete with higher-level opponents.