Rot-Weiss Erfurt 1–0 Hessen Kassel
International Club Friendly | 18 July 2026, 22:00 local time

A solitary first‑half goal proved enough for Rot‑Weiss Erfurt as they edged past Hessen Kassel 1‑0 in a tightly contested pre‑season friendly at the Steigerwaldstadion. The match, part of the International Club Friendly series, saw the Regionalliga side grind out a narrow victory against their fellow German lower‑league opponents.

Match Overview

Both sides used the fixture to fine‑tune tactics and build match fitness ahead of their respective league campaigns. Rot‑Weiss Erfurt dominated possession in the opening 20 minutes, but Hessen Kassel’s compact defence limited clear‑cut chances. The deadlock was broken just before the half‑hour mark when Erfurt’s central midfielder, Luca Bär, latched onto a loose ball inside the box and fired low into the bottom corner.

Hessen Kassel responded with more urgency after the interval, pushing forward through winger Marvin Wunderlich, whose cross nearly found the head of striker Felix Brügmann in the 62nd minute. However, Erfurt’s goalkeeper Niklas Pfitzner made a crucial save to preserve the lead.

Key Moments

• 28′ – Goal: Luca Bär (Rot‑Weiss Erfurt) – left‑footed strike from 12 yards.
• 62′ – Chance: Felix Brügmann’s header saved by Pfitzner.
• 81′ – Booking: Hessen Kassel’s Jan Schindler cautioned for a late tackle.

Tactical Story

Erfurt lined up in a 4‑2‑3‑1, looking to press high and force turnovers, while Kassel opted for a more cautious 4‑4‑2. The home side’s wing‑backs, Tim Rösner and Philipp Amann, provided width and combined well with the midfield. Kassel struggled to create sustained pressure, managing only three shots on target across the 90 minutes.

Standout Performers

• Luca Bär (Erfurt): Scored the winner and was involved in most of his side’s forward moves.
• Niklas Pfitzner (Erfurt): Made five saves, including a critical one‑on‑one stop in the 77th minute.
• Marvin Wunderlich (Kassel): The liveliest attacker for the visitors, constantly trying to unlock the Erfurt defence.

Season Context

For Rot‑Weiss Erfurt, this friendly marks their third pre‑season win, building momentum ahead of the 2026‑27 Regionalliga Nordost. Hessen Kassel, preparing for the Regionalliga Südwest, will look to sharpen their finishing after failing to find the net for the second consecutive friendly.