Hannover 96 secured a 3-1 victory over Regionalliga side 1. FC Phönix Lübeck in its third preseason friendly on Saturday at the Eilenried Stadium. Goals came from Hayate Matsuda (55'), Alexander Vogel (68') and Tom Hobrecht (77').

What happened in the match?

The opening goal arrived early in the second half when Matsuda headed a cross into the net. Vogel doubled the lead 13 minutes later after a neat pass from Hobrecht. Hobrecht capped the scoring with a long-range strike that sealed the final score. Julius Kliti pulled one back for Lübeck in the 79th minute, but the result stayed the same.

Why does the result matter for the preparation?

The win gives coach Christian Titz a chance to test his attacking options before the team faces newly promoted SC Paderborn on Sunday – a closed‑door match in Paderborn. The absence of midfielder Lars Gindorf with a muscle issue forces Titz to rotate other players, which should broaden the squad depth.

Which players stood out in training?

Matsuda made an immediate impact after coming on, showing he can be a key piece in the forward line. Vogel, who has had limited minutes recently, took his chance and displayed sharp finishing. Hobrecht, with the third goal, reaffirmed his reliability as a central striker.

What comes next?

At 11:30 a.m. on Saturday Hannover 96 will meet SC Paderborn in a closed‑door test, played over two 60‑minute halves, serving as the final tune‑up before the season starts. Currently Hannover 96 sit fourth in the 2. Bundesliga with 60 points, 16 wins, 12 draws and 6 losses from 34 games – a solid base to build on. The side has not lost in its last five matches (DDDDD), remaining unbeaten as it heads into the new campaign.