Hvidovre vs HB Koge

The match kicked off at 12:00 local time in front of a modest crowd gathered at the clubhouse end of the ground, with free entry and Tutten (the club's bar) open for refreshments. Both sides used the fixture as their second pre-season run-out of the summer.

The decisive moment arrived nine minutes before half-time. Bagou — listed as Hvidovre's goalscorer from open play in the provider data — found the net to give the hosts a lead they would not relinquish. No assist was recorded for the goal.

HB Køge pushed for an equaliser after the break but could not breach the Hvidovre defence. No cards were shown in a clean, competitive friendly that finished 1-0 to the home side.

Bagou's 36th-minute strike was the match's only goal and its clear inflection point. Signed primarily as a penalty-box poacher — he scored 19 goals in Denmark's 2nd Division for HIK last season — his finish justified head coach Martin Retov's decision to integrate him quickly into the first-team setup.

Hvidovre led 1-0 at the break and never looked vulnerable thereafter, controlling the second half without needing to extend their advantage.

Donavan Bagou (Hvidovre) — The new arrival needed only 36 minutes of pre-season action to open his account. Hvidovre manager Martin Retov praised Bagou's attributes upon signing him, noting his "physical package, ability to run in behind and nose for goal" — all on display here.

Hvidovre defence — Kept a clean sheet against a HB Køge side that tends to score in this fixture (both teams have found the net in 45% of their 20 competitive meetings). No cards were required, suggesting disciplined organisation throughout.

HB Køge rearguard — Limited the damage to a single first-half goal and kept Hvidovre from adding a second in the second period, a positive sign for new head coach Nicklas Pedersen's pre-season build.

The match page shows that Hvidovre and HB Køge have met 20 times across all competitions since 2013, with Hvidovre winning 11, HB Køge winning 5 and 4 draws. The 1-0 scoreline is below the fixture's average of 2.6 total goals per game, reflecting the early-season fitness levels and the cautious approach typical of July friendlies. Both teams scored in 45% of their 20 meetings — today was the other 55%, where only one side found the net.

This was Hvidovre's second pre-season friendly of summer 2026, coming six days after their opening test (a heavy 8-1 loss to Brøndby on 28 June). The clean sheet and narrow victory represent a significant step forward in Martin Retov's preparations. Hvidovre's next friendly is at home against Fremad Amager on Tuesday 7 July 2026 at 11:00 local time.

For HB Køge, this was also their second pre-season outing under Nicklas Pedersen, who took over as head coach in October 2025 after Daniel Agger and Lars Jacobsen stepped down. The result shows defensive solidity but work to do in attack ahead of their next pre-season fixture against FC Roskilde on 11 July 2026.

Both sides are gearing up for the 2026/27 Danish 1st Division (NordicBet Liga) season, which kicks off in late July.

A functional pre-season win for Hvidovre built on Bagou's early sharpness in front of goal. The 1-0 scoreline tells the story of two sides still building match sharpness, but Hvidovre will take more from it after their Brøndby defeat. HB Køge will focus on the clean defensive shape rather than the lack of cutting edge — that tends to arrive as fitness builds.