Rot-Weiss Essen to host Borussia Mönchengladbach in pre‑season friendly and face SV Sonsbeck in Niederrheinpokal

Rot‑Weiss Essen (RWE) will play a pre‑season test match against Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach at the Hafenstraße stadium. The friendly, scheduled for today, is expected to draw 7‑8 000 spectators and may feature two World Cup participants from Gladbach, Shuto Machino and Jens Castrop. RWE is also confirmed for the first round of the 2026/27 Niederrheinpokal, meeting Oberliga club SV Sonsbeck on 19 August at 18:00 in Duisburg’s Sportschule Wedau. The two teams last met in November 2024, when RWE won 3‑1 before about 2 000 fans. RWE’s next fixture after the cup tie is a DFB‑Pokal first‑round clash against FC St. Paulian on 23 August.