Magdeburg (dpa) – Ironically, the three north clubs THW Kiel, SG Flensburg-Handewitt and HSV Hamburg have it in their hands to crown SC Magdeburg as German handball champion on Sunday.
The sovereign table leader from Saxony-Anhalt, who has already won the club world championship this season and is in the final four of the European League, can hardly take the second championship title after 2001 with a six-point lead and four games left. Only the timing of the title win is still open.
Coach Bennet Wiegert’s team have their first chance on Sunday. But for that the SCM needs help from Flensburg. If SG Flensburg-Handewitt takes at least one point from Magdeburg’s pursuer THW Kiel in the 106th North Derby (2:00 p.m. / Sky), Magdeburg only needs to win at HSV Hamburg (4:05 p.m. / Sky). “We’re looking forward to what’s to come. I’m really in the mood for it,” said Wiegert with a view to the possible crowning of the championship.
“It doesn’t really matter to us whether we become champions on Sunday or hopefully later,” said captain Christian O’Sullivan about the chance of winning the title early on. But national player Lukas Mertens admitted: “The closer we get, the greater the euphoria. We’re hot.”
“We want to enjoy this until the rest of the season,” said Wiegert. The former professional has put together a team in the Börde that inspires with speed handball in almost every game. “I can roll who I throw in. Something has really grown there,” Wiegert praised the team. Recognition also comes from outside. “They are playing an outstanding season, have strong goalkeepers and good defense work,” said former national coach Heiner Brand about Magdeburg.