The North German handball Bundesliga teams started the main round of the European League on Tuesday evening with one win and one defeat. While SG Flensburg-Handewitt won 38:28 (21:11) against Bjerringbro-Silkeborg, TSV Hannover-Burgdorf lost 32:38 (17:18) against HBC Nantes.
Flensburg now leads Group III with 4:2 points ahead of Kadetten Schaffhausen (Switzerland), who have the same number of points, and is well on the way to moving straight into the quarter-finals of the competition. To do this, the SG would have to finish the main round first. The second and third placed teams in the four groups of four will determine the other four participants in the quarter-finals in play-off games around Easter.
The “Recken” also have 4:2 points in Group I, but the competition is stronger. In addition to Nantes, there are also the Rhine-Neckar Lions. And on the next matchday of the European League, TSV coach Christian Prokop’s team will be heading to their Bundesliga rivals.
SG Flensburg-Handewitt pulls away early
Things went pretty well early on for the SG, who had announced the signing of Austrian backcourt player Boris Zivkovic as a replacement for Kay Smits (inflammation of myocardium) before the game. With a 5-0 run, the North Germans turned an 8:6 (13th) into a 13:6 (18th).
A lot of things just fit. The defense worked, Kevin Möller was a good support in goal, and the gaps in the defensive formation of the third-place team in the Danish league were consistently exploited in the attack. Thanks to another 4-0 run, the score was 21:11 at the break.
Since SG coach Nicolej Krickau’s team didn’t have to endure a blackout lasting several minutes after the restart, the only question after the break was how big the win would be for the Schleswig-Holstein team. Although they downshifted a gear or two, they managed to win by a ten-goal difference.
The most successful SG professional was Emil Jakobsen with seven goals. The Danish left winger was very satisfied with the performance of the entire team. “It was almost a perfect game for us. We did well from the start,” said Jakobsen in an interview with NDR.
TSV Hannover-Burgdorf botched the start in both halves
Unlike Flensburg, TSV Hannover-Burgdorf got off to a bad start in the game. After the 3:8 (10th minute), TProkop took a time out and made it clear to his players that they should finally play more physically and courageously. “This is fearful handball,” said the TSV coach angrily. As the first half progressed, his team improved and came within 17:18 at the break.
At the time of the restart everything seemed possible, but seven minutes later things looked different. Nothing had come together at TSV, even more so at Nantes – and so in the 37th minute the score was 18:25 from the hosts’ perspective. No matter how hard the Lower Saxons tried, they couldn’t come close. The game was no longer exciting.
TSV Hannover-Burgdorf – HBC Nantes 32:38 (17:18)
Gates Hanover-Burgdorf: Fischer (7), Büchner (7), Uscins (4), Hanne (4), Steinhauser (3), Kulesh (3), Strmljan (2), Michalczik (1), Brozovic (1)
Gates Nantes: Minne (10), Avelange (10), Briet (4), Cavalanti (3), Damatrin (3), Mequeda (2), Rivera Folch (2), Bos (2), Toto (2)
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“Today there was something missing at both ends of the pitch. We didn’t have the same access at the back either. I think we’ll go out of the game without a time penalty – there’s a bit of aggression missing,” TSV playmaker Marian Michalczik told NDR . The Bundesliga club’s best thrower was Justus Fischer with seven goals.
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NDR 2 Sport | 02/13/2024 | 11:03 p.m
