AUDIO: Flensburg wins a high-scoring game against Montpellier (1 min)
European League
As of: February 24, 2026 10:35 p.m
The handball players of SG Flensburg-Handewitt have preserved their chances of making it directly to the quarter-finals of the European League. The North Germans won at home against Montpellier HB on Tuesday evening with 40:35 (21:20). The game was overshadowed by a death in the hall.
A medical emergency had occurred, the Flensburg team announced after the game: “Unfortunately, all measures taken were unsuccessful.” SG managing director Holger Glandorf said: “Our thoughts are with the relatives and friends of the deceased in these difficult hours. Handball and everything sporting is taking a back seat today.”
Golla: “We made it difficult for ourselves”
Even without knowing about the deceased, captain Johannes Golla spoke of “two important points for us” after a hard-fought game, even if he complained that “we made things a little difficult for ourselves in the first half.”
The group winners move straight into the quarter-finals, the second and third placed teams still complete play-offs. The SG botched the start of the main round a week ago. Against their eternal rival THW Kiel, who also won 37:32 in Irun on Tuesday evening and are first with 8:0 points, the Flensburg team suffered a home defeat in the 114th state derby.
For SG coach Ales Pajovic’s team there is a quick reunion with Montpellier: next Tuesday (8.45 p.m.) the second leg takes place in the southern French city.
SG professional Volz was outstanding in the first half
God knows the spectators in the Flensburg Arena couldn’t complain about too few goals in the opening quarter of an hour. However, when the score was 10:11 (15th), Coach Pajovic had enough. He hit the buzzer and took his first timeout. The 47-year-old lacked defensive access – and that was clearly the case. Behind the 6-0 defense, which didn’t act decisively enough, it wasn’t easy for goalkeeper Kevin Möller to stop the French’s throws at his goal.
Pajovic changed positions: the Bosnian Benjamin Buric moved between the posts for the 37-year-old Dane, who is returning home to GOG Gudme after this season. At the break the North Germans led 21:20. Left winger Patrick Volz played a big part in this, as he put all of his six throws into the opponent’s goal.
Despite the many hits, the mood in the arena was already depressed at this point due to the medical intervention: no music was played and the SG fans stopped providing active support.
Buric becomes Flensburg’s support
Even after the restart, things continued as before: almost every shot on goal was a goal. And the third-place team in the Bundesliga continued to have a hard time against the third-place team in the French Star League, who impressed with their quick attacks and directness. A quarter of an hour before the final siren it was 31:31 – everything was open.
Just a few minutes later, however, the hosts led 34:31 thanks to a 3-0 run. Aksel Horgen had won a ball well, and Buric also parried a seven-meter penalty from Benjamin Richert. That was the decisive step in winning the two points. Because even after that, Buric could be relied on. The French tried their best, but the SG didn’t let them get any closer.
Volz maintained his 100 percent throw rate: all nine throws found their target. He was also the most successful Flensburg player.
