The Bundesliga women handball team from SG BBM Bietigheim have won the European League. The German champion clearly prevailed in the final tournament against hosts HK Viborg from Denmark in a one-sided final with 31:20 (17:10).
This is the first time since SC Leipzig exactly 30 years ago that a club from the women’s Bundesliga has won the second most important trophy in European club handball.
One day after the lucky 34:33 in the semi-final against Herning-Ikast (Denmark), Bietigheim played like a single piece and after only 33 minutes was in a double-digit lead at 20:10 for the first time. As in the semifinals, goalkeeper Melinda Szikora was a strong support, national player Julia Maidhof was the best SG thrower in the final with six goals.
50th win in a row
The final success in Viborg was the 50th win in a row across all seasons and competitions for the team of coach Markus Gaugisch, who has also been the women’s national coach since mid-April. “We came here to win this pot, now we have it,” said backcourt player Xenia Smits, who was voted the tournament’s most valuable player (MVP). However, the Gaugisch team will not defend the title in the European League next season, because the champions will then play in the Champions League.
At the end of May, the SG can win the third title. In the final tournament for the DHB Cup in Stuttgart, defending champion Bietigheim is the favorite.