Monheim vs Fortuna Düsseldorf

Fortuna needed just seven minutes to break the deadlock. Fabian Schleusener, a striker with extensive 2. Bundesliga and 3. Liga experience, opened the scoring with a composed finish inside the box after patient build-up play from the visitors.

Monheim, who finished 11th in the Oberliga Niederrhein in 2025/26 under coach Dennis Ruess, held their defensive shape reasonably well for the remainder of the first half. But Fortuna doubled their lead five minutes before the interval through Kilian Sauck, who slotted home in the 40th minute to make it 2-0 at the break.

The floodgates opened after half-time. Jordi Paulina converted a penalty in the 49th minute to stretch the lead to 3-0, and Monheim's resistance gradually faded as Fortuna rang the changes and tested their squad depth.

Hamza Anhari made it 4-0 in the 77th minute before new signing Eric Hottmann — a 26-year-old attacker who joined Fortuna on 29 June 2026 — announced himself with a goal in the 79th minute, volleying home from close range.

Elias Egouli completed the scoring in the 82nd minute, slotting the sixth and final goal past the helpless Monheim goalkeeper to round off a one-sided evening in Monheim am Rhein.

Six different scorers underlined the depth of Fortuna's attacking options even at this early stage of pre-season. Fabian Schleusener set the tone with his early opener and worked tirelessly off the ball. Eric Hottmann made an immediate impact off the bench, scoring within minutes of his first appearance since signing from an earlier club — exactly the kind of start a new arrival hopes for. Jordi Paulina was reliable from the spot, converting the penalty that effectively killed the contest early in the second half.

Six goals from six different scorers, all in the second half except for the first two. Three goals arrived in a blistering five-minute spell between the 77th and 82nd minutes, reflecting Monheim's physical drop-off as the game wore on — a familiar pattern for a lower-league side facing a professional opponent's first pre-season outing. Fortuna used the match to rotate heavily, giving minutes to new arrivals including Hottmann and goalkeeper Louis Lord, who signed from Erzgebirge Aue on 27 June 2026.

This was Fortuna Düsseldorf's first pre-season friendly under head coach Alexander Ende as they prepare for life in the 3. Liga following relegation from the 2. Bundesliga. The club has undergone significant restructuring, with a leaner squad and a focus on developing younger talent. Fortuna wore their special "Düsseldorf am Rhein" kit for the first time in this fixture.

Monheim, playing two divisions below their guests, were competitive for much of the first half but could not sustain the pace after the interval. Their next pre-season fixture was not announced at the time of writing.

Fortuna continue their pre-season schedule with further friendlies against SC St. Tönis (8 July), VfL Benrath (9 July), LASK in Austria (18 July), and additional matches during their training camp in Bad Leonfelden, Upper Austria (11–20 July). The 3. Liga season begins on the weekend of 7–9 August 2026, followed by the DFB-Pokal first-round home tie against SC Freiburg on 21–24 August.

A predictable but professional pre-season workout. Fortuna did what a third-tier side should do against an Oberliga opponent, particularly once Monheim's legs went in the final quarter. The six different scorers and early minutes for new signings were the positive takeaways for Ende. Nothing can be read into the scoreline itself, but the sharpness of Schleusener, Paulina and Hottmann in front of goal is an early sign that Fortuna may not lack firepower in 3. Liga this season.