Waldhof Mannheim vs FC Liefering

SV Waldhof Mannheim ran out emphatic 4-1 winners over FC Liefering in their Austrian training camp on 23 July 2026, scoring four times after a goalless first half to secure their sixth pre-season victory in seven outings.

Liefering started brightly, combining through short-passing patterns to create two early threats inside the Mannheim box. The German third-tier side grew into the contest past the 10th minute, tightening up defensively without carving out clear chances. Lovis Bierschenk fired over from range in the 25th minute, and Julian Ulbricht forced a sharp save from Liefering goalkeeper Jonas Winklhofer in the 33rd.

The deadlock broke three minutes into the second half. Bierschenk delivered a cross from the flank and Jid Okeke met it with a volley at the far post to make it 1-0 (48').

Mannheim should have doubled the lead almost immediately — substitute Kushtrim Asallari missed from five yards with the goal gaping — and the missed chance proved costly when Ilia Ivantschitz equalised from the penalty spot (52'), a decision described by Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung as "rather not" a clear foul.

Djayson Mendes then fired straight at the goalkeeper from three yards (55'), but the miss didn't matter. Arlind Rexhepi took over the game, winning the ball near the corner flag on the right, cutting inside and curling a superb finish into the far corner (65'). He struck again eight minutes later, firing home from six yards into the far corner (73'). Mendes added a fourth in stoppage time from close range (90+1').

Rexhepi's first goal shifted the game decisively. Until the 65th minute, Liefering were still in the contest at 1-1 and had weathered a wave of missed Mannheim chances. The 20-year-old's solo effort — winning the ball deep, driving inside and finishing with precision — broke Liefering's resistance and opened the floodgates for two more goals inside 25 minutes.

Arlind Rexhepi — Two goals (65', 73') in an eight-minute spell, the first a high-quality solo effort from the right flank. The winger was the match-winner and the clear standout.

Jid Okeke — Opened the scoring with a well-taken volley at the far post three minutes into the second half, setting the tone for Mannheim's dominant second period.

Lovis Bierschenk — Provided the assist for Okeke's opener and was a persistent threat down the flank, causing Liefering problems with his crossing.

Rui Mota (Waldhof coach) — His half-time adjustments paid off. "The balance between attack and defence was very good today," Mota told RNZ. "It was a step forward compared to the game against Eintracht Frankfurt II. It's always important when you learn from your mistakes."

The 0-0 half-time scoreline reflected a genuine contest: Liefering's early possession-based approach troubled Mannheim, who struggled with their final decision-making in the first period. The second half was a different story entirely. Mannheim's four goals from open play, sparked by a quick restart after the break, showed the impact of Mota's tactical tweaks. The hosts' willingness to press high and counter quickly after the interval overwhelmed a Liefering side that had kept clean sheets in their previous two friendlies.

For Waldhof Mannheim, this was their sixth win in seven pre-season friendlies — only a 2-0 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt II has blemished the record. The 3. Liga campaign begins against Fortuna Düsseldorf, with a DFB-Pokal first-round tie against Kaiserslautern on 21 August also on the horizon.

For FC Liefering, the defeat ended a perfect pre-season run that included wins over Wiesbaden (2-0) and FK Jablonec (3-1). Coached by former SV Sandhausen boss Danny Galm since February 2026, Liefering were without several first-team regulars including Terrence Boyd, Diego Michel, Goncalo Gregorio and Vincent Thill, who were all nursing minor knocks. New signing Leroy Mickels also watched from the stands having not yet trained with the group. The Austrian 2. Liga side open their competitive season on 29 July.

A tale of two halves. Mannheim were patient, disciplined and ruthless after the break; Liefering competed well for 45 minutes but couldn't sustain it. Rexhepi's individual quality proved the difference, and the German third-tier side will take real confidence from the margin of victory against a technically proficient opponent.