On Saturday (6 p.m.) the German champions SC Magdeburg welcome the cup winners THW Kiel to the top game of the Handball Bundesliga – live on the first and on sportschau.de. Everything you need to know about the top game.
On paper, the fourth in the table expects the second, and yet it is “the” top duel in the league. SC Magdeburg has 17:3 points and played two games fewer than leaders Füchse Berlin. THW Kiel is in second place with 20:4 points.
Both teams have recently won their catch-up games and thus consolidated their places in the top group. Magdeburg prevailed on Wednesday (11/16/2022) at TVB Stuttgart with 32:28. Kiel followed suit and won 34:27 at HC Erlangen.
Gislason: “Points count double”
Handball national coach Alfred Gislason attaches great importance to the summit meeting between the champion and the cup winner for the outcome of the season. “Even if we’re still in the first third of the season, the direct comparison counts in the end, of course. And that’s why the points on Saturday count double, and the game is extremely important for both sides.”said Gislason.
The 63-year-old had led both teams to the title, in 2002 he won the championship with Magdeburg and won the cup six times with Kiel. With both clubs he also celebrated the triumph in the Champions League.
Magdeburg wants revenge
Gislason sees Magdeburg as the favorite due to the home advantage. “But if you think back to the cup final, THW did it very well at the time, thanks to the defense and thanks to goalkeeper Niklas Landin.” Therefore, Gislason expects “a balanced game”.
SC Magdeburg has something to put right anyway: The team lost all three of their most recent games against Kiel – in the cup final, in the last Bundesliga duel of the previous season and in the Super Cup, THW always had the better end for itself.
Accordingly, the Magdeburg are hot for a revenge. “Motivation is always high against Kiel”said coach Bennet Wiegert: “The good thing about sport is that the past doesn’t matter and we can determine the future. I hope that we will get the whole THW Kiel package processed better this time.”
Kiel relies on Pekeler
Magdeburg relies on the home advantage, Kiel on Hendrik Pekeler. The return of the chief of defense after around half a year on sick leave should give the “Zebras” an extra boost – even if the 31-year-old can certainly not be a decisive factor. “It was a long, long time without handball. I’m not the same again from zero to one hundred. It takes time.”Pekeler said.
But the presence of the ex-national player alone gives the THW even more security and sovereignty. Because Pekeler was missed as a leader not only on, but also off the floor: “It will be an incredibly heated atmosphere, as has always been the case in Magdeburg in recent years. But we’re going there with a good feeling.”