Who challenges defending champion Berlin in the handball Bundesliga? Will it be a duel – or a six -fight? A look at the top teams.
The handball Bundesliga (HBL) starts the new season on Wednesday, Hannover-Burgdorf starts against VfL Gummersbach at 7 p.m.-and thus a team that is at least part of the extended group of favorites. ARD expert Dominik Klein wants the season: “We are not only talking about the best league in the world, but also of the most exciting.” Like national coach Alfred Gislason, he believes that six clubs can intervene in the title fight. However, two stings out:
Defending champion Füchse Berlin and runner-up and Champions League winner SC Magdeburg, in contrast to most persecutors, go into the season without major personnel changes and thus recorded. A look at the six top teams of the pre -season and their squad.
Füchse Berlin – Gidsel and more
With one point ahead, the foxes caught the title in the pre -season – and are no longer hunters, but the hunted. “We have to be psychologically prepared for that”, said Füchse sports director Stefan Kretzschmar.
As a reigning master, the foxes Berlin understandably rely on Mathias Gidsel, the best handball player in the world, who recently achieved a magic goal again at the Supercup victory against THW Kiel (34:33). The selective reinforcements are the Norwegian playmaker Tobias Gröndahl (24) and the Spanish left winger Aitor Arino (32), who won the Champions League five times with his home club FC Barcelona.
SC Magdeburg – specifically reinforced
The Champions League winner SC Magdeburg also kept its regular staff and secured a promising access: Elvar örn Jonsson from MT Melsungen has qualities in defense and attack, offers coach Bennet Wiegert.
Elvar örn Jonsson in action
Sebastian Barthold (33) from Aalborg should represent the injured Matthias Musche (Achilles tendon tear) and form the duo on the left wing with Lukas Mertens. The young Croatian top goalkeeper Matej Mandic (23) comes to Magdeburg a year earlier than planned for Nikola Portner’s doping lock until December 10th.
The fact that Berlin and Magdeburg play every third day due to the Champions League from the beginning of September is an advantage for small: “The faster you get a rhythm and collect plus points, the more self -confidence you have.”
MT Melsungen – painful departures
After the strong place in the table, a lot is new in Melsungen – forced. Through his move to Magdeburg, Jonsson leaves a gap that the experienced Swede Olle Forsell Schefvert (34) is supposed to close – or in perspective Reynir Thor Stefansson, one of the greatest handball talents in Iceland.
Also painful: left wing Ian Barrufet returns to FC Barcelona after his loan, back room player Aaron Mensing (Achilles tendon tear) and goalkeeper Nebojsa Simic (cruciate ligament and meniscus tear) are missing longer. That is why the MT relies on a completely new, Hungarian goalkeeper duo: Kristof Palasics (23) and Laszlo Bartucz (33).
SG Flensburg-Handewitt – Hope for Witzke and Grgic
Flensburg without Jim Gottfridsson – you have to get used to that. The Swedish veteran moved to Hungary (Szeged) at the SG after twelve years. Mads Mensah Larsen is also gone, now plays for Skjern Handbold in Denmark. The German international Luca Witzke (Leipzig) and, one year earlier than planned, shooter Marko Grgic (Eisenach) are new.
“We got one of the best players of the next few years”, said coach Ales Pajovic about the Bundesliga goalkeeper king grgic. “On the other hand, I lost my two extended arms on the field.” The Slovenian Pajovic (47), recruited by Austria’s national team in early 2025, faces a major challenge in his first full Bundesliga coaching year.
Further change: The former Balinger left winger Patrick Volz replaces August Pedersen (to Hanover) and Kent Robin Tönnesen for Kay Smits (to Gummersbach).
THW Kiel – new inner block
Kiels fans still have to wait months for the Towart dream duo Andreas Wolff/Gonzalo Perez de Vargas, because Spain’s national goalkeeper Perez de Vargas fails with a cruciate ligament tear for the time being. Hendrik Pekeler is also missing several months due to an Achilles tendon injury.
Because Patrick Wiencek is now known to be handball pensioners, the THW needs a completely new middle block. In preparation and in the Supercup, coach Filip Jicha mainly relied on the new circular runners Lukas Laube (TVB Stuttgart) and Veron Nacinovic (Montpellier HB).
For several weeks, Eric Johansson, Emil Madsen and Petter Öz ry also missed several weeks in preparation for injuries. Hope is that Mykola Bilek and Harald Reinkind can get involved again after lengthy injuries.
TSV Hannover-Burgdorf – The scaffolding stands
There were times last season, that seemed possible for Hanover, the TSV even greeted the top of the table. In the end it was only enough for sixth place, but because important players are still on board in Renars, Justus Fischer and Marian Michalczik, the next step could now follow.
Four new ones should help: August Pedersen (left wing, Flensburg), Leif Tissier (back area, Hamburg), Maxim Orlov (Potsdam) and Sindre Aho (Montpellier). Trainer Christian Prokop continues to pretend to qualify for a European competition.
Klein does not want to commit
Even if teams like Kiel have to wait a long time for the return of top players like Perez de Vargas, Klein does not want to commit themselves in the title race before the season. “I just find it sensational how everyone shows their playing style and club philosophy.”
Already on the third matchday, the two top favorites meet with the Foxes and Magdeburg. The ARD broadcasts live.