Johannes Hoff Thorup's first home game as Norwich City head coach ended in defeat, as 2. Bundesliga strugglers Magdeburg beat the Canaries 1-0 in a friendly.

Baris Atik scored the decisive goal of an evening that still had a distinctly pre-season feel to it, with only two warm-up fixtures left for Thorup's side before the Championship kicks off in two weeks' time.

There was a modest but expectant crowd at Carrow Road, with fans hopeful of seeing the style of football the Dane had promised in a series of encouraging public appearances earlier this summer.

His trademark passing from the back surfaced quickly, but Gabriel Sara's sloppy lay-off led only to a visiting corner. The hosts got away with it, however, as they had Magdeburg's first set-piece early in the contest.

But City soon settled, and created the evening's first real chance when Borja Sainz broke the offside trap and latched onto Kenny McLean's fine chip. The Barclay stand waited eagerly, but the Spaniard somehow volleyed well over from close range.

Not every attack came from intricate possession play; in the 15th minute Norwich countered sharply, and Sainz should have opened the scoring again. This time Jonathan Rowe found him in his favoured inside left position, but he scuffed his curler straight at Dominik Reimann.

It hadn't been a great evening for the winger, and it went from bad to worse three minutes later. His casual mid-match kick-ups already felt risky before he unknowingly rolled into the path of FCM's Atik, who coolly rounded George Long and tapped into an empty net.

Abu-Bekir El-Zein then had a half-chance to double the lead when he stepped up to a free-kick 25 yards out, but his strike was as uninspiring as City's performance in the first 30 minutes.

Two chances for them to atone came five minutes from the break, first for Abu Kamara and then Rowe. But the former couldn't find a team-mate after Marcelino Nunez' free-kick fell to him via Jacob Sorensen's back, and the latter was just behind Sainz's fizzed low cross.

Rowe came close again when he beat two defenders and curled towards the far post from the corner of the box, only just failing to get enough bend on his effort.

After what presumably was a stern half-time talking to by Thorup, City emerged with greater intensity and a sense of increased urgency. Unfortunately they needed the quality to go with it, and their attacking work was just as sloppy as it had been.

Magdeburg, by contrast, were sharp on the counter, and should have had their second in the 53rd minute. Atik strolled into the Norwich area and found a clever pass for El-Zein, but his side-footed shot had neither the power nor the direction to beat Long.

Martijn Kaars went through on goal two shortly thereafter, but Grant Hanley's well-timed block denied him. Thorup's men finally had their first shot of the second half in the 58th minute, but substitute Liam Gibbs' strike was deflected wide.

The game should have been done and dusted when Connor Krempicki was the beneficiary of Nunez' blunder on the edge of his own box, but fellow substitute Shane Duffy made a goal-saving block to deny him.

Next it was Atik's turn to take aim, but Long adjusted well to palm his strike wide despite a deflection off Jack Stacey.

With fresh legs from their nine changes and new optimism from a younger side, City took the game to Magdeburg in the final 15 minutes, but still couldn't carve out the opportunities needed to level the game.

They left their first home outing of the new era with more new concerns than added optimism, even if the friendly nature of the match took away from its potency. The result was a reminder that Thorup's project will take time, and that patience will be required.

NORWICH CITY: Long (GK); Stacey (Cordoba, 75), Sorensen (Forsyth, 75), Hanley (Duffy, 65), Fisher (Montoia, 65); McLean (Warner, 65), Nunez (Myles, 82), Sara; Rowe (Hills, 82), Kamara (Gibbs, 55), Sainz (Hernandez, 75). UNUSED SUBS: Mair (GK), Renecke, Adegboyega.

Head Coach: Johannes Hoff Thorup

1. FC MAGDEBURG: Reimann (GK), Teixeira (Burcu, 78), Kaars, El Hankouri (Bockhorn, 62), El-Zein (Krempicki, 62), Heber, Mathisen, Musonda, Atik (Nollenberger, 90+5), Hugonet, Gnaka. UNUSED SUBS: Kruth (GK), Hoti, Muller, Michel, Marusic.

Head Coach: Christian Titz

Goal: Atik (18)

KEY MOMENTS

9 - McLean picks out Sainz and he breaks the offside trap, but fires well over from close range.

15 - Rowe counters quickly and lays off for Sainz, but he scuffs his curler straight at Reimann.

18 - GOAL MAGDEBURG (Atik): Sainz juggles the ball on the edge of his area before unknowingly rolling into the path of Atik, who rounds Long and opens the scoring.

29 - El-Zein drives a free-kick well wide.

Half time: Norwich City 0-1 Magdeburg

53 - Atik strides forward and tees up El-Zein, but he slides straight at Long.

56 - Kaars goes through on goal, but Hanley gets back to make a well-timed block.

58 - Norwich move the ball quickly and Sara finds Rowe in the box. He cuts back for Gibbs, whose shot is deflected wide.

67 - Krempicki should score when the ball breaks for him after Nunez loses it, but Duffy makes a goal-saving block.

72 - A deflection off Stacey complicates Atik's strike, but Long manages to palm it behind.

81 - A long-range strike hits the bar, and Magdeburg can't force the rebound over the line.

Full time: Norwich City 0-1 Magdeburg

PLAYER RATINGS

Long 6, Stacey 4, Hanley 7, Sorensen 5, Fisher 6, McLean 5, Sara 6, Nunez 5, Rowe 6, Kamara 4, Sainz 4. Subs: Gibbs 6, Duffy 7, Warner 5, Montoia 6, Hernandez 5, Cordoba 6, Forsyth 6, Hills 5.

Attendance: 7,659 (350 Magdeburg)

Added time: 1 min/5 mins