In the top game of the handball Bundesliga, Ludwigsburg meets Borussia Dortmund. In the first leg, the defending champion had the only season defeat so far. It should stay that way.
HB Ludwigsburg, formerly SG BBM Bietigheim, has been the measure of all things in German women’s handball for years. After last Three championship titles in a row The Baroque townspeople grab the shell this year after a almost flawless season.
“We want to get the championship. We are all here in Ludwigsburg to win,” says Xenia Smits in an interview with SWR Sport. “We have a great quality in the team, which does not always mean that it works without hard work and setbacks, but that is our absolute upper goal – especially for next year to be back in the Champions League,” said the The captain of the Ludwigsburgers on.
First against second: Can Ludwigsburg further expand the lead?
The chances for this are good. Because after 17 out of 22 game days in the main round, the HB with five points ahead of Borussia Dortmund is at the top of the table. If the Ludwigsburgers succeed in a victory against their direct pursuers from Dortmund on Wednesday (19.02.
However, this is not yet a guarantee of the championship title. Because for the 2024/2025 season, the play-offs were introduced again in the women’s handball Bundesliga. Means that the best eight teams play the championship after the main round. “The cards could be mixed again due to the playoff system,” says Smits, “accordingly we cannot rest on it. What does not change is our goal to win and secure the first place in the round.”
Ludwigsburg with the only season defeat against Dortmund
And preferably with a win against the strongest competitor from Dortmund. But even if the reigning German champions – as in every game – go on the record as a favorite, a self -run will not be the game against the Borussin: in the first leg in October Ludwigsburg collected the only season in Dortmund in Dortmund League.
“We have to make sure that we set the pace and, above all, work on our exploitation of opportunities. In addition, we have to deal with the 5: 1 defense that you played against us in the first leg,” so better, ” Germany’s handball player of the year“But we developed and prepared the season better about it”.
How well the Ludwigsburgers have developed, they not only want to demonstrate in the game against Dortmund and in the fight for the German championship: also in the DHB Cup and in the Champions League the Xenia Smits team is still in the race.
