FC BW Linz vs Eintracht Braunschweig

The first half was a tight, physical affair played in heavy rain. Braunschweig's first real chance fell to Jovan Mijatovic inside six minutes, but Linz goalkeeper Valentin Oelz denied him with his foot. Samuele di Benedetto tested Oelz from distance shortly after, but neither side could break through before the interval. The half-time score read 0-0.

Lars Kornetka, Braunschweig's head coach, made a full 11-man substitution on the hour mark. Within three minutes of the change, the new-look side took the lead: a move involving Max Marie, Lino Tempelmann and Johan Gomez freed Junior Zé in the box, and the summer signing slotted home (63').

Linz's response was swift. Karim Conte's free kick from the left found Maranda, who rose highest to head past Benjamin Uphoff in the Braunschweig goal (67'). The match then opened up, with chances at both ends. Filip Ristanic struck the post for Linz in the 88th minute, and Benjamin Uphoff made a strong save to deny Nico Grimbs in extra time (100'). Johan Gomez hit the side-netting for Braunschweig (107'), but the 1-1 scoreline held through 120 minutes.

The four-minute window between Junior Zé's opener and Maranda's equaliser defined the contest. Braunschweig's inability to hold the lead after a promising move betrayed the disjointed nature of a side with 11 new players on the pitch. Maranda's headed response — from a set piece, a department where pre-season sharpness often shows — restored equilibrium and denied Kornetka's men a morale-boosting win on the road.

• Manuel Maranda (FC BW Linz): Scored the equaliser with a well-timed header and anchored a back three that kept Braunschweig at bay in the first half.
• Valentin Oelz (FC BW Linz): Made several important saves, notably a close-range stop from Mijatovic in the sixth minute and a comfortable catch from di Benedetto's long-range effort. The new No. 1 made a strong impression on his home debut.
• Junior Zé (Eintracht Braunschweig): The summer signing from Switzerland scored his first goal for the Löwen with a composed finish and linked well with Gomez and Tempelmann after the mass substitution.
• Alem Pasic (FC BW Linz): Dominated his right-sided defensive role, repeatedly winning duels and preventing Braunschweig from building through that channel.

Player of the Match: Manuel Maranda

The match produced 120 minutes of football with two goals from a combined 0.75 xG (estimated), reflecting the even, cautious nature of the contest. Braunschweig's mass substitution at 60 minutes gave them a brief edge — Junior Zé's goal within three minutes of the change — but Linz's set-piece response levelled the game. The heavy rain (which began at kick-off) made controlled passing difficult; both sides relied on set pieces and individual moments rather than sustained build-up. Linz's 11 substitutions across the match mirrored Braunschweig's approach, as both coaches prioritised minutes over scoreboard management.

Linz finished their pre-season campaign unbeaten (draws with Crvena Zvezda and Eintracht Braunschweig either side of a win over regional opposition). They turn to competitive action next week in the Austrian Cup followed by the Bundesliga opener. Braunschweig, who have now played four friendlies (7-0 vs FT Braunschweig, 22-0 vs FC Schwülper, 2-1 vs TSV Havelse, 1-1 vs Linz), face Southampton at home on 24 July 2026 in their next outing.

A useful run-out for both sides in testing conditions. Linz showed defensive solidity and a quick response to going behind, while Braunschweig's second-string XI demonstrated enough attacking chemistry to suggest depth. The 1-1 draw was a fair reflection of two teams still building match sharpness ahead of their respective league campaigns.

Sources: FC Blau-Weiß Linz (club website), Eintracht Braunschweig (club website), provider match data (api-sports)