AUDIO: SG professional Lasse Möller: “We are satisfied with the result” (2 min)
As of: October 14, 2025 11:11 p.m
Three days after the derby victory against THW Kiel, the handball Bundesliga team SG Flensburg-Handewitt managed a difficult 32:30 (16:15) against Saint-Raphael Var from France at the start of the European League. The SG remained well below its potential on Tuesday evening.
Nevertheless, SG coach Ales Pajovic’s team has the two points they were aiming for after the first matchday of the European League. The defending champions are the clear favorites in their Group A. The top two teams in each of the eight preliminary round groups reach the main round.
“We are really happy with winning the two points.”
SG backcourt player Lasse Möller
“We didn’t start the game well enough. But I think we handled it well over 60 minutes,” said Lasse Möller in an interview with NDR. “We are really happy with winning the two points. In terms of the result, it was a good start to the European League.”
The people of Flensburg have no time to relax. Less than 45 hours after the final siren against Saint-Raphael Var Handball continues in the Bundesliga. The winner of the 113th state derby against THW Kiel will play against ThSV Eisenach on Thursday (7 p.m.). In the European League, Schleswig-Holstein will be visiting Spanish club Bidasoa Irun next Tuesday.
Flensburg-Handewitt is slow to get going
The contrast to the derby against Kiel was significant. Many seats in the Flensburg Arena remained empty at the start of the European League, the atmosphere in the first few minutes was more like a preparatory game for a major league team, and the SG team’s performance fell far short of what it had shown against the “Zebras”.
The defense lacked compactness, and behind it goalkeeper Benjamin Buric barely got a hand on the ball. It was almost logical that the French led 13:11 after 20 minutes. Pajovic reacted and brought Kevin Möller, the match winner against Kiel, into the game, and the 36-year-old Dane, similar to against Kiel, also fended off a seven-meter shot against Saint-Raphael Var – this time against Drevy Paschal (22nd).
The Flensburg team worked their way into the game, and at some point a little lightness found its way into the hosts’ game. An example can be seen in the 27th minute, when Simon Pytlick served left winger Emil Jakobsen with a nice pass, who then got a good angle and scored to make it 16:14. Shortly afterwards, Flensburg went into the dressing room with a 16:15 lead in front of only 2,497 spectators.
Flensburg-Handewitt with larger reserves
Almost ten minutes after the restart, the guests were shocked: After Micke Brasseleur had scored his seventh goal (eleven attempts) with a jump shot, he twisted his ankle when landing and apparently seriously injured his heel. The game ended prematurely for Saint-Raphael Var’s top scorer.
When the Flensburg team increased their defense and, in particular, the middle block was there for the French’s throws, they moved ahead to 27:24 with a goal from left winger Patrick Volz (49th). But two goals immediately followed – and also Pajovic’s time out.
The hosts improved in the final phase and that was enough to win the two points. Lasse Möller decided the game early with 32:28 (58th). The most successful Flensburg players were Jakobsen and Lasse Möller with six goals each.
