Hammer Eisbären saw off Cassel 7-3 in a club friendly on Friday, 29 August. The away side had been testing themselves recently and showed what they're made of. To be fair, Cassel had looked lively in their last outing, winning 4-3 at Rosenheim, but this was a different matter.
The visitors took control early and never really let go. Cassel managed three goals — not nothing — but the gap kept widening. By then it was clear the home side had run out of legs, something that happens when you're chasing games all evening.
Looking at the recent results, Hammer Eisbären have been scoring freely. They beat Leipzig 5-1 and Rostock 6-1 in their last five, though they also dropped points in a 7-8 thriller against Erfurt. Cassel's form has been mixed, with three losses to Krefeld Pinguine in April alone.
The final score reflects the difference in momentum heading into the new season. Cassel will need to work on their defensive shape — they let Hammer Eisbären find space too often. And here's the thing, seven goals conceded in a friendly is a sign you've got work to do before the real fixtures begin.
For Hammer Eisbären this is a confidence builder. They came to Cassel and showed they can compete anywhere. The scoreline doesn't tell the whole story, but it tells enough.