FRISCH AUF! Göppingen will host Swiss champion HC Kriens-Luzern at the EWS Arena on Saturday, August 15, 2026, for its official pre-season presentation game known as the Players’ Night. According to club announcements, the main event is scheduled to begin at 19:00, serving as the final test for coach Ben Matschke’s squad ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Saisoneröffnung 2026: Gegner and General Preparation
The fixture against HC Kriens-Luzern acts as the definitive general rehearsal before Göppingen enters competitive play. According to club reports, FRISCH AUF! has already completed two major pre-season benchmarks, which include an event match against Sporting Lissabon in Neu-Ulm and a tournament appearance in Altensteig. Following the match against the Swiss side, the team travels to face HG Saarlouis for the opening round of the domestic cup competition, before starting the Opel Handball-Bundesliga home schedule against HC Erlangen on September 29, 2026.
HC Kriens-Luzern: Champions League Ambitions Under Andy Schmid
HC Kriens-Luzern travels to Göppingen under the direction of new coach and national team coach Andy Schmid. According to club materials, the Central Swiss club secured its first Swiss championship last season by defeating Kadetten Schaffhausen in the playoff finals, earning a direct berth in the EHF Champions League. The roster features key young talents like Wyatt Aellen alongside experienced leaders such as Marin Sipic, Marco Milosavljevic, Jonas Schelker, and German goalgetter Jerome Müller. To bolster the squad for European competition, coach Schmid and team manager Nik Tominec added high-profile signings Nikola Bilyk from THW Kiel, Lukas Herberger from Füchse Berlin, and Kristian Pilipovic from Kadetten, according to official reports.
Kader Status und Nachwuchstest in der EWS Arena
FRISCH AUF! returns directly from a training camp in Lautenbach, Baden, ahead of Saturday’s match. According to team news, nearly the entire squad is available, with the exception of Martin Hanne, whose status remains uncertain due to a knee injury that limited his training camp participation. Because the core squad remains largely intact, left-hander Max Beneke stands out as the primary new addition being presented to fans, alongside playmaker Ole Pregler, who joined the club in January. The evening’s program begins earlier at 17:00 with a youth match where the FRISCH AUF! U-17 team faces SG Pilatus, the Swiss U-17 champion and youth affiliate of HC Kriens-Luzern.
Tickets, Autogrammstunde und Rahmenprogramm
Doors to the EWS Arena open at 16:00 on Saturday, concurrent with a public autograph session featuring the FRISCH AUF! team in the arena foyer. According to event organizers, season tickets remain valid for the Players’ Night, while single, family, and group tickets go on sale at the box office starting at 16:00. The indoor program includes interviews with club officials and players, while the official fanshop features the new team jersey. Additionally, a streetfood festival runs on the municipal stage area outside the EWS Arena from Friday through Sunday to round out the weekend’s events.
