Hörbranz vs SCR Altach

Altach dominated from the first whistle on a sweltering evening in the Vorarlberg region. Head coach Ognjen Zarić fielded a strong first XI featuring several new signings, and it took only six minutes for the superiority to show. Yalcin opened the scoring, finishing calmly past the Hörbranz goalkeeper after early pressure.

The Bundesliga side continued to carve chances. Salif Tietietta (10') and Desire Massombo (12') both fired over from promising positions, but the second goal arrived in the 25th minute — Yalcin again, doubling his tally and effectively putting the game beyond reach before half-time.

Tietietta was forced off through injury in the 32nd minute, replaced by academy prospect Nico Helbock, who almost scored immediately with an effort that whistled narrowly wide. The score remained 2-0 at the break.

Zarić rang the changes at half-time, introducing captain Lukas Jäger and Patrick Greil among others. The impact was immediate. Jäger scored 10 minutes into the second half, converting after a flowing move down the right flank. Five minutes later, Japanese forward Shingo Nakano marked his first appearance in an Altach shirt with a goal, finishing after Helbock's determined dribble down the left.

Yalcin's second goal in the 25th minute effectively killed the contest. Hörbranz, a Vorarlbergliga side (Austria's fourth tier), had kept things respectable after the early setback, but the double from Altach's Turkish midfielder before half-time meant the second half was about damage limitation — and giving the travelling squad valuable minutes.

Erkin Yalcin — the clear standout. Two composed finishes inside 25 minutes set the tone and earned him an extended run in the second half. If pre-season form is any indicator, the 24-year-old midfielder could be central to Zarić's plans.

Lukas Jäger — the captain entered at the break and scored within 10 minutes, showing his enduring value as a box-to-box presence.

Shingo Nakano — the new Japanese striker got off the mark in his first Altach outing, linking well with Helbock down the left. A promising debut.

Nico Helbock — the academy graduate replaced the injured Tietietta in the first half and was lively throughout, setting up Nakano's goal with a driving run.

The 4-0 scoreline reflected a gulf in class that the raw shot count would likely mirror. Altach created chances with ease in each phase and never looked threatened at the back. The warm conditions and early-season fitness levels meant the tempo dipped in spells, but the quality differential was stark — as expected between a Bundesliga outfit and a fourth-tier side. Altach's two goals inside five second-half minutes (56', 61') underlined the depth Zarić has even before his international contingent returns.

This was the first of six scheduled pre-season friendlies for SCR Altach as they build towards the 2026/27 Austrian Bundesliga campaign. The club reached the ÖFB Cup final last season, and expectations are higher. Next up: FC St. Gallen away on Saturday 27 June (16:00, Widnau).

Hörbranz, who finished 7th in the Vorarlbergliga last season with striker Selim Kum scoring 30 goals, used the fixture as a prestigious test against professional opposition. They return to league preparations this week.

For the betting audience, Altach's emphatic start — even against modest opposition — suggests a squad with sharp attacking intent. Monitor their subsequent friendlies for clues on first-choice XI combinations ahead of the new season.

A professional, unfussy start to pre-season from SCR Altach. Yalcin's early double set the tone, and the second-half introductions added cutting edge. No drama, no surprises — exactly what a pre-season opener should be against a lower-league opponent. The real tests begin next week.