The tension is slowly rising at SC DHfK Leipzig before the East clash against SC Magdeburg. But the view also goes a little further, albeit with a certain degree of caution. Former world champion Dominik Klein expects a thrilling game, but has a clear favorite.
The start of the season wasn’t really that satisfactory for SC DHfK Leipzig. The Green-Whites were only able to get one win out of four games and are thus ahead of the East duel against SC Magdeburg on Sunday (live from 4 p.m. on MDR TELEVISION as well as in the stream and Sport-in-the-EastLive ticker) only in 14th place in the table.
Don’t communicate your dream of Europe too aggressively
Actually not enough for the frequently communicated demands of the trade fair city residents, who have had the big dream of European Cup games in their own arena since being promoted to the HBL in 2015. In the 2020/21 season they came closest with sixth place. “The next logical step would be Europe,” said captain Lukas Binder again on Wednesday Sports in the East. But the 31-year-old said at the same time: “at some point.” In recent years, they have put a little too much pressure on themselves with their goals and are now pursuing a different strategy: “We’re going back a little and focusing on winning games and doing our homework.”
Coach Sigtryggsson praises Binder as a “phenomenon”
Binder has been with the club since 2008 and, in almost a decade and a half at SC DHfK, has developed the standing to publicly express certain demands. For coach Rúnar Sigtryggsson, his extended arm at the plate is a “phenomenon”. “He’s been through it all and experienced it all. He can pass on everything that’s lived here to the team,” said the Icelander. Binder acts like a 20-year-old in training. These players are the foundation for Leipzig to move up the table towards the European Cup places.
But for this to happen, the performance must also be consistently maintained: “In this young season you can see what we still lack in order to be right up there,” emphasized Binder. Other teams with which the DHfK sees itself on an equal footing are much more confident. In close games, Binder & Co. have to secure the points or at least one point. Against Melsungen and Hamburg was lost by just one goal difference. The last-minute hit in the Hanseatic city last week was particularly bitter.
Former world champion Klein sees Magdeburg as the favorite
Dominik Klein sees it similarly. The 2007 world champion explained in “SpiO”-Talk: “A buzzer-beater like in Hamburg, where you lose two points – that eats away at your psyche. You had a week to analyze it and check it off.” Now you need a fighting spirit, cohesion in defense and a really good plan against the SCM, says Klein: “If the flow comes, the unity with your own fans – then there can be a nice surprise.”
When the flow comes, the unity with your own fans – then there can be a nice surprise.
Dominik Klein | Former handball world champion on the chances of SC DHfK Leipzig
Nevertheless, the eight-time German champion and three-time Champions League winner “clearly” sees Magdeburg as the favorite. He was particularly impressed by SCM coach Bennet Wiegert’s style of play: “The way he puts his team together is outstanding. He has a clear task for each player. They pull it off quite successfully.”
Nevertheless – and a few euros go to the famous phrase pig – this does not give 100 percent security: “A derby has its own laws.”
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