RWE thrilled with a 5-0 win against Fortuna Cologne – Martinovic shines!

RWE thrilled with a 5-0 win against Fortuna Cologne – Martinovic shines!

On July 12, 2025, the football club Rot-Weiss Essen (RWE) experienced an impressive test match against Fortuna Cologne, which ended with a clear 5-0 win. The success, achieved behind closed doors, took place on Willi-Lippens-Platz on Hafenstrasse. Dominik Martinovic, who scored two goals, played a key role in the success, while Jannik Hofmann, Marek Janssen and Jaka Cuber Potocnik also scored for the first time for RWE. After all, 15 minutes after kick-off, Martinovic opened the scoring in the 18th minute after some nice preparatory work from Hofmann. Again it was Martinovic who made it 2-0 in the second half, specifically in the 47th minute.

The test match ran over four periods of 30 minutes each and included a lot of excitement and numerous duels. Hofmann followed up in the 53rd minute and increased the score to 3-0. Janssen and Cuber Potocnik scored in the 81st and 95th minutes, the latter benefiting from a goalkeeping error. Four young talents were also on the pitch for RWE, including Fadih Vasic and Franklin Opoku-Mensah, which highlighted the team's potential for the coming season. The line-up in the first half included Brüning, Hofmann and Martinovic, while almost the entire team was changed in the second half.

Preparation for the new season

Coach Uwe Koschinat's team uses the test match results as an important step in preparation. After the difficult test match against Hibernian FC, which was lost 2-3, the game against Fortuna Cologne was a welcome confirmation of the training efforts. In this other friendly match, Martinovic once again caused a stir by netting twice. RWE will continue to work on the tactical form before the training camp in Wesendorf from July 14th to 18th.

Several exciting encounters are also planned for the next few weeks. On July 18th, RWE will face 1. FC Magdeburg in another friendly match and are also looking forward to a double test against FC Augsburg on July 25th. A special highlight is coming up on August 18th when the team meets Borussia Dortmund in the first round of the DFB Cup.

New additions and player development

An exciting element of the preparation is the addition of Jaka Čuber Potočnik, who has moved to RWE on loan from 1. FC Köln. The young striker has already passed all medical tests and will provide a breath of fresh air in the attack. Potočnik, who scored 23 goals in 28 games in Cologne's A youth team, was described by RWE director Marcus Steegmann as strong in the air and technically adept. His motivation is clearly noticeable and he is looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead of him at RWE.

Looking ahead to the coming season, RWE will try to form a powerful team with the experienced and young players on the pitch. The first round of the 3rd league, in which RWE starts on August 1st against TSV 1860 Munich, will be a direct indicator of the structures that have been formed.

In summary, it can be said that preparations for the new season at Rot-Weiss Essen are in full swing. The team has a lot planned and the fans can hope for exciting games in the regional league and the DFB Cup.

Rot-Weiss Essen reports on the test match victory as well as about the preparations. But the challenges that were apparent in the defeat against Hibernian can also be found in the reports T Online again. The current tables and statistics of the regional league help to better classify RWE's performance soccerstats247 can be found.