The German handball record champion THW Kiel defied his personal problems and successfully took revenge on HBC Nantes in the Champions League.
The four-time title holder won 37:33 (20:18) and reduced the gap to the French runners-up, who is third in Group B, to four points. In the first leg, THW suffered a bitter defeat (30:38).
Despite the third success in the ninth game of the current season in the European premier class, Kiel’s hopes for the first two places and thus a direct entry into the quarter-finals are low. The round of 16 playoffs are getting closer.
Before the turn of the year and the World Cup break, the away game at Aalborg Handbold is still on the program (December 15).
The recently injured Nikola Bilyk (10) and Karl Wallinius (7) scored the most goals against Nantes.
Major personnel concerns at THW Kiel
Kiel is currently without the long-term injured Sven Ehrig (torn cruciate ligament), Eric Johansson (broken metacarpus) and Steffen Weinhold (torn cruciate ligament).
Things are looking a little better in Group A for the German champions SC Magdeburg than for Kiel. Wednesday’s 36:34 was SCM’s fifth win, but top teams Paris and Veszprem are already four and three points ahead.
In the Bundesliga, SCM plays at leaders Füchse Berlin on Sunday before the next top game against Paris is scheduled for Wednesday.