Second game, second win: SC Magdeburg got off to a dream start in the group stage of the Champions League. The SCM came up trumps against the Croatian champions RK Zagreb and won 35:25. As a reward, the people of Elbestadt in Group A now greet them from the top of the table.
The German handball champions SC Magdeburg have won their first home game in the Champions League in 17 years. Coach Bennet Wiegert’s team won against RK Zagreb on Thursday evening (September 22) 35:25 after beating Dinamo Bucharest 30:28 in the opening game last Thursday.
SCM keeper Portner shines
The champions got off to a good start against the Croatians around Zeljko Musa from Magdeburg and, thanks to the accuracy of Philipp Weber and Tim Hornke, who alone scored six goals in the first half, they pulled away to 13:9 (22nd). But the SCM initially made a few mistakes in front of 3,800 spectators in the GETEC Arena and thus brought the guests back into the game again and again. However, goalkeeper Nikola Portner shone with a number of saves, so that the half-time lead of 17:12 was still clear.
Clear conditions after the change
After the change, like Piotr Chrapkowski before him, the Dane Michael Damgaard got playing time after his injury break and used it immediately: With two goals in a row to 21:14 (36th). Magdeburg increased the tempo, came up with their well-known counterattack and made things clear early in the game with the 26:16 (42nd minute). The outstanding player at SCM was Tim Hornke with eleven goals. Next Wednesday (September 28) the Green-Reds will meet Paris Saint-Germain with former Magdeburg goalkeeper Jannick Green.
jmd/dpa
