Schöningen vs 1. FC Magdeburg

The game was effectively over inside nine minutes. An own goal in the eighth minute followed by Manthey's strike in the ninth gave Magdeburg a two-goal cushion before Schöningen had settled. The third goal in the 18th minute — a beautifully improvised header from Baars from an improbable angle — killed any hope of a comeback before the first quarter had elapsed.

Kevin Manthey — the new centre-forward was involved in the opening two goals, first seeing his flick turned in for an own goal before scoring the second himself. A lively 45-minute shift before being substituted at half-time.

Leon Mergner — the only player to feature for the full 90 minutes, he assisted Baars's header with a fine cross and scored the fourth goal with a composed finish from the edge of the box. Nominal man of the match.

Magnus Baars — his 18th-minute header from a seemingly impossible angle was the standout moment of the match, giving Magdeburg a three-goal lead.

Justin Kick (FSV Schöningen) — the home goalkeeper made several sharp saves to prevent an even heavier defeat, particularly in the first half when he denied Manthey and Mergner in quick succession.

Magdeburg's 4-0 scoreline reflected total control rather than a barrage of chances. The 2. Bundesliga side used two entirely different outfield lineups in each half, making fluid possession and attacking rhythm difficult to sustain across 90 minutes. The first-half trio of Manthey, Baars and Mergner was particularly effective, generating three goals from open play inside 18 minutes. Schöningen, by contrast, rarely threatened the Magdeburg goal — a reflection of the gulf in quality between a Regionalliga side and a second-tier professional outfit. The 10 half-time changes by Magdeburg also explain why the tempo dropped in the second period, with only one goal added.

Magdeburg's fourth pre-season victory extends their perfect start to summer preparation. The 2. Bundesliga side next face Bundesliga promoted side SC Paderborn on 25 July — a significant step up in opposition quality. For Schöningen, the friendly served as a reality check against a professional side as they prepare for the upcoming Regionalliga Nord season.

The match also marked the end of an era. Christian Beck, the 38-year-old FCM legend who scored 42 goals in 106 appearances for Schöningen and previously helped Magdeburg rise from the Regionalliga to the 2. Bundesliga, played his final game for the club. He was substituted in the 58th minute and will join Landesliga side Burger BC.

"A strange feeling, but it was also a nice feeling to have the farewell match against my heart club," Beck told the Magdeburger Volksstimme.

A routine pre-season workout for Magdeburg — clinically efficient in the first half, controlled in the second. The scoreline was never in doubt after the opening nine minutes, and the 10 half-time changes allowed the coaching staff to assess squad depth. The real test comes against Paderborn next weekend.