Hannover 96 vs Phönix Lübeck

Matsuda's 55th-minute opener. Until that moment, Phönix Lübeck's compact shape had frustrated Hannover, who had 42 minutes of pressure and two posts to show for it. The goal — born of a defensive error rather than sustained build-up play — forced Lübeck to push forward, opening the space for Vogel and Hobrecht to exploit in the transitions that followed.

Hayate Matsuda — The Japanese midfielder broke the deadlock with a poacher's finish and was a constant threat from the left flank in the second half. His movement off the ball stretched Lübeck's back line.

Alexander Vogel — Scored a composed 18-metre finish that doubled the lead and effectively killed the contest as a contest. His positioning in midfield transitions was a key factor in the second-half dominance.

Tom Hobrecht — The forward made it 3-0 with a clinical finish from Taibi's through ball, showing the sharpness Titz will want to see from his attacking options as the season approaches.

Julius Kliti — The Phönix Lübeck striker's consolation volley was the standout moment of quality from the visitors, a well-taken strike that deserved more than a footnote.

Player of the Match: Hayate Matsuda — his opener changed the dynamic of the game entirely.

Hannover's 3-1 scoreline flattered the margin of control in the second half alone. The first half produced 0-0 but two woodwork strikes (Mhango 3', Oudenne 42') and multiple saves from Lübeck's goalkeeper. That the 2. Bundesliga side needed a defensive error to break through suggests Phönix's organisation in their own third was effective for 55 minutes. But once the dam broke, Hannover's quality advantage told: three goals in 22 minutes from three different scorers, with a clear pattern of exploiting space left by a tiring fourth-tier opponent.

The 79th-minute reply from Kliti was Phönix's only shot on target of real consequence, a reminder that Hannover's second-half concentration dipped briefly after the 3-0 goal.

Hannover 96 have now won all three pre-season friendlies (6-1 vs Pattensen, 7-0 vs Ramlingen/Ehlershausen, 3-1 vs Phönix Lübeck) under Christian Titz. The 2. Bundesliga side travel to face newly-promoted Bundesliga side SC Paderborn on Saturday (11 July), a match that will be played behind closed doors over 2x60 minutes, with a live stream on 96TV.

Phönix Lübeck, preparing for the 2026/27 Regionalliga Nord season, showed competitive organisation in the first half but were overpowered after the break. They continue their own pre-season schedule.

Notably, Lars Gindorf — who scored a hat-trick against Ramlingen/Ehlershausen — was absent due to muscular issues in his left thigh, managed as a precaution.

A professional, if unspectacular, pre-season workout for Hannover 96. The first-half struggles against a well-organised fourth-tier side will give Titz talking points, but the ruthless second-half finishing — three different goalscorers in 22 minutes — showed the depth of attacking options. The step up in class against Paderborn on Saturday will be a more revealing test.

Hannover 96 (1st half): Weinkauf — Siewert, Tomiak, Ghita — Oudenne, Mhango, Thordarson, Neubauer — Yokota (c), Källman, Ünal (Kurt 24')

Hannover 96 (2nd half): Schwanke — Allgeier, Engelbreth, Hugonet — Kokolo, Roggow, Vogel, Matsuda — Hobrecht, Taibi, Bundu

1. FC Phönix Lübeck (starting XI): Kips — Vollert, Touray, Dammeier, Markvoort Beeke, Coimbra Fernandes, Haritonov, Hüneburg

Goals: 1-0 Matsuda (55'), 2-0 Vogel (68'), 3-0 Hobrecht (77'), 3-1 Kliti (79')

Referee: Robert Schröder

• Hannover 96: vs SC Paderborn (A) — 11 July 2026 (behind closed doors, 2x60 min)
• Phönix Lübeck: TBC (Regionalliga Nord preparations continue)