Bergisch Gladbach vs Viktoria Jüchen-Garz.

Jüchen had reason for optimism at 2-1, having weathered Bergisch Gladbach's early storm and found a way back into the match. But the home side's deep bench proved decisive. Kruth's ability to introduce fresh legs — Belousov and Heider in particular — without sacrificing quality shifted the game decisively in the final quarter-hour. The 3-1 goal in the 80th minute effectively ended any prospect of a Jüchen comeback.

• Finn Stromberg — opened the scoring inside three minutes and was a persistent threat on the left flank throughout his time on the pitch. His movement and finishing set the tone.
• Ole Tillmann — scored the second goal and was at the heart of Bergisch Gladbach's best first-half attacking play. His link-up with Pinchuk and Arndt caused consistent problems.
• Artem Belousov — the substitute's 80th-minute goal was the moment that killed the contest. A clinical finish from a player making his case for a starting role.
• Claudio Heider — the captain delivered the final blow with a composed finish in the 87th minute, putting the seal on a convincing win.

Player of the match: Ole Tillmann — his goal and all-round attacking contribution in the first half laid the foundation for the victory.

The 4-1 scoreline reflected a game that Bergisch Gladbach controlled from the first whistle, but the 2-1 half-time score tells a more nuanced story. The home side's early dominance produced two goals inside 23 minutes, but Jüchen's response — including the penalty just before the break — showed they could trouble their higher-tier opponents. The second-half introduction of substitutes restored the intensity gap, with Belousov and Heider proving the difference late on. The match was a useful test of depth for a Bergisch Gladbach side preparing for the rigours of Regionalliga West.

This was the final pre-season friendly for SV Bergisch Gladbach 09 before the Regionalliga West campaign begins. Kruth's side completed their six-week preparation programme with a convincing victory in front of their home supporters.

Next up for Bergisch Gladbach: SG Wattenscheid 09 (Regionalliga West opener, Saturday 1 August 2026, BELKAW Arena).

Next up for Viktoria Jüchen-Garzweiler: The Oberliga Niederrhein season continues with a fixture on 1 August 2026 (opponent TBC).

A professional and well-managed pre-season finale from Bergisch Gladbach. The early goals settled any nerves, and while Jüchen briefly threatened after halving the deficit, the home side's superior depth told in the closing stages. Kruth will take encouragement from the attacking fluency and the impact of his substitutes heading into the competitive season.