Shortly before probably winning the German championship, SC Magdeburg is also playing for the title in the European Handball Cup. The sovereign Bundesliga table leader moved into the final of the European League with a 34:29 (18:13) victory against RK Nexe Nasice on Saturday (May 28th, 2022).
There, coach Bennet Wiegert’s team meets hosts Benfica Lisbon on Sunday (7 p.m.). The Portuguese won their semi-final against Wisla Plock from Poland with 26:19 (10:8).
Coach Wiegert: “We had energy from the bank”
“We’re very happy to be in the final again. It’s not normal for us. We’re very proud.”said Wiegert after the game. “It wasn’t easy. But I think we had more substitutions, more energy from the bench – that was the key to the win.”
Matthias Musche best SCM thrower
In front of 2,114 spectators in the Portuguese capital, Matthias Musche was the best thrower for Magdeburg with eight goals.
After the game started evenly in the first three minutes with three goals on each side, Magdeburg then went ahead with a 3-0 run for the first time. As a result, Nasice was unable to reduce the gap to less than two goals throughout the game.
After the change of sides, Wiegert then began to rotate. While the Croatians were getting weaker, the SCM was able to bring fresh players off the bench. That could also be a key to the targeted victory in the final on Sunday.
According to Musche, defensive work still needs improvement
The Magdeburg defense was not always sovereign against Nasice. “We weren’t happy with our defence”said Mushroom.
The SCM didn’t have to be that permanently against the outsider – which was because the SCM used almost every one of his chances himself.
SC Magdeburg can make championship perfect
The success, which was never in jeopardy, served as the first warm-up program for the upcoming Bundesliga party. Next Thursday, the SCM could make the second German championship after 2001 perfect.
But Wiegert doesn’t want to know anything about that yet. For the coach and his players, only the successful title defense in the European League counts this weekend.
Source: dpa/red