Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Mehmet Ibrahimi's 89th-minute winner gave Regionalliga side Altglienicke a 1-0 win over Oberliga hosts Optik Rathenow in their pre-season opener.
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Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Played in scorching late-June heat with temperatures well above 30°C, the match was always likely to be a low-tempo affair. Both managers rotated liberally throughout, prioritising fitness minutes over result.
Optik Rathenow, under head coach Ingo Kahlisch, set up in a compact defensive shape and succeeded in nullifying Altglienicke's attacking threat for the vast majority of the match. The home side's back line — likely featuring a mix of returning regulars and trialists — held firm through a goalless first half in which clear chances were at a premium.
Altglienicke enjoyed the bulk of possession but struggled to break down a well-organised Oberliga defence. The Regionalliga side's best opportunities came from set pieces and half-openings on the break, but goalkeeper and defence stood their ground.
As legs tired in the second half, the game opened up slightly. Optik Rathenow even threatened on the counter on a handful of occasions but could not find a finishing touch in the final third.
Just when it looked as though the 60 spectators at Stadion Vogelgesang would see a creditable goalless draw, Ibrahimi produced the decisive moment.
The turning point
Altglienicke's No. 10, Mehmet Ibrahimi — an attacking midfielder with Kosovo roots who has been at the club since summer 2025 — collected the ball in a central position, worked space on the edge of the box and fired past the Optik goalkeeper with just one minute of normal time remaining. The 89th-minute strike came against the run of the second-half pattern and broke the resistance of a tiring Optik defence that had held out for 88 minutes.
The goal was Ibrahimi's first of pre-season and demonstrated the individual quality that separates a Regionalliga player from the Oberliga level — the ability to win a match from nothing late on.
Key performers
Mehmet Ibrahimi (Altglienicke) — The match-winner arrived at the crucial moment. His composed finish from the edge of the box settled an otherwise even contest and gave Altglienicke the victory their territorial dominance arguably merited.
Optik Rathenow's defensive unit — While no names were officially published in lineups, the collective defensive organisation held a side two divisions higher to a single late goal. For a first outing of pre-season, the shape and discipline were encouraging signs for Kahlisch.
Altglienicke's goalkeeper — Untested for long spells but alert when called upon, keeping a clean sheet that his side needed to preserve the narrow lead.
By the numbers
The 0–1 scoreline was the most likely outcome according to pre-match models — Sports Mole's data gave a 9.59% probability for an exact 0–1 Altglienicke win. The actual match produced only one goal, but the underlying pattern of a 0–0 stalemate broken late fits a pre-season friendly between a defensively organised lower-tier side and a possession-dominant higher-tier opponent.
The fixture's historical average of 3.8 goals per game (from five prior meetings) suggested a more open contest, but the extreme heat and early pre-season fitness levels suppressed that. Both teams scored in 60% of previous H2Hs, but this time only Altglienicke found the net.
Possession and territory likely favoured the visitors heavily, though official advanced stats were not published for this friendly. No cards were recorded in the match.
What it means
For FSV Optik Rathenow, this was the opening test of an 11-match pre-season schedule. The Oberliga side, who secured their NOFV-Oberliga Nord status on the final day of 2025/26, face a daunting step up next weekend: a home friendly against Bundesliga side 1. FC Union Berlin on Saturday 4 July (15:30 kick-off). Kahlisch will use the lesson of this tight defensive display to build confidence ahead of that showcase match.
For VSG Altglienicke, the win marks a solid start to pre-season preparations for the 2026/27 Regionalliga Nordost campaign. Having finished their 2025/26 season with mixed results (one win in the last five friendlies before Saturday), the victory restores some momentum.
Altglienicke's next confirmed friendly is set for 8 July 2026 as part of the club's 80th-anniversary celebrations.
Verdict
A textbook early pre-season friendly: high temperatures, low intensity, and decided by a single moment of quality. Optik Rathenow will take more from the performance than the result, while Altglienicke got exactly what they needed — 90 minutes, a clean sheet, and a late winner to sharpen competitive instincts.
Rivalry since 2019
Optik Rathenow vs Altglienicke Head to Head Results· 5
Optik Rathenow and Altglienicke have met 5 times — Optik Rathenow won 0, Altglienicke won 3, with 2 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2019. Altglienicke leads the head-to-head with 3 victories from 5 meetings. A combined 19 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 3.80 per match (4 for the home side, 15 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 3 matches (60%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 3 games (60%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. Altglienicke are currently unbeaten in the last 5 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 6–0 in 2022.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 27 Jun 2026