SG Flensburg-Handewitt against the THW Kiel: On Saturday, the 112nd state derby in the “Hell Nord” and for both Top Clubs Schleswig-Holstein, the fight for the championship in the handball Bundesliga is concerned. The game runs live on the ARD and in stream at NDR.de.
The Kielers go into the game as a favorite from paper form. After the first leg defeat against the rival last November (33:37), the bankruptcy at HSG Wetzlar (25:27) only had a defeat in twelve Bundesliga games. The “zebras” have only one counter to the new league leader TSV Hannover-Burgdorf after HSV Hamburg outclassed the previous leader MT Melsungen on Thursday (42:32).
And so the Kielers have the chance to further increase the pressure on the top with a win. THW circuit runner Patrick Wiencek says: “If we take two points from Flensburg, we may be a bigger favorite for the championship.”
About the outcome of the game on Saturday (6 p.m.), the live on the ARD and in the livestream at NDR.deof course, that says little, because the following also applies in handball: Derbies have their own laws.
Premiere for SG coach Pajovic …
That alone, if only because the 112nd state derby in addition to the sporting explosiveness – the SG can move up to one counter with the fourth victory over the rivals in a row – again its own stories. The action of a premiere, but also from the last appearances in the Schleswig-Holstein Prestige duel.
“If we take two points from Flensburg, we may be a bigger favorite for the championship.”
-THW circuit runner Patrick Wiencek
Flensburg’s coach Ales Pajovic, who took over for the shot Nicolej Krickau in February, celebrates its premiere. Interesting: The Slovenian helped in autumn 2007 with the “zebras”, but did not play against Flensburg, so that he is now experiencing his first derby. “Shortly after my arrival, I felt that it was a special game because I was already asked about my short THW chapter back then,” says Pajovic.
… last derbies for Gottfridsson and Wiencek
On the other hand, Pajovic ‘playmaker Jim Gottfridsson and Wiencek, who also celebrates his 36th birthday on Saturday, will play their last regional derbies. Gottfridsson, who will move to Szeged after twelve years in Flensburg at the end of the season, would like to “really enjoy this derby, I no longer have that many games”.
WIENCEK is located: “If you look back, these were always very emotional encounters with a lot of prestige.” For a THW player it was “the biggest game of the year, for the Flensburg as well”.
THW coach Jicha: “The boys have the will”
Kiel’s coach Filip Jicha, however, “does not want to be fooled by the emotions of the derby”, but calls for his team: “We have to process our plan.” It has repeatedly demonstrated that his team is able to do this in recent months – and the Czech is convinced that this will also be the case on Saturday: “The boys have energy, will and the quality in implementation.”
After the clear defeat in the first leg, the championship for the THW was 12: 8 points away. Now the record champion is 34:10 points and the belief in the title and self -confidence as well as self -image are back.
“Anyone who wears a false jersey is my opponent. We can only be friends again after the game.”
-SG left wing Emil Jakobsen
At the SG too, a lot has happened since the game last autumn – but rather in the opposite direction: Pajovic followed Krickau, but the 46 -year -old has not yet got the fluctuations of the title released before the season. With 31:13 points, his team has three minus points more on the account than the big rival. But also means: With a success, the Flensburgers can move up to one point to the THW.
Pajovic: “Have to concentrate on us”
“A lot can still happen in the league, but if we want to stay on the top, we have to concentrate on ourselves,” says Pajovic: “Our mindset must be that every game and every point is important. This applies to the derby against keel, but also for the coming games.”
Friends in national teams, bitter opponents in the derby
In the past few weeks, the new coach has particularly worried the back area. With Simon Pytlick (forearm break) and Kay Smits (sick), two back room players fail in the long term. Mads Mensah was with the Danish national team, but was not used for foot complaints. With the Croatian left-hander Marko Kopljar, who, incidentally, is married to the sister of THW routine Domagoj Duvnjak, and the Danish half-left Andreas Holst Jensen hired the Flensburg two previously contractless players.
In the Kielers, Nikola Bilyk (thigh) had to cancel the Austrian selection, while other teammates spent an international week with the upcoming opponents. In the Danes, the two Kiel Emil Madsen and Magnus Landin played with seven Flensburgers against France, now it is about important Bundesliga points.
“In my first year in Flensburg, it was really a bit difficult for me to deal with it,” says SG left winger Emil Jakobsen. “Now it is clear to me that if you wear a false jersey, you are my opponent. We can only be friends again after the game.” And then the two points should be on their own.
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Sport Current | 22.03.2025 | 8:17 p.m.
