THW Kiel competes today in the Handball Champions League with KS Vive Kielce. After the unexpected defeat in Celje, the game at the top Polish club has a decisive character for the “Zebras”.
Because Kielce, as last year’s finalist, is one of Kiel’s main competitors alongside defending champion FC Barcelona in the fight for a direct place in the quarter-finals, which is only granted to the top two in the group. Places three to six entitle you to progress, but only to the round of 16.
Duvnjak: “Kielce one of the strongest teams in Europe”
The fact that, in addition to the long-term injuries Sander Sagosen, Hendrik Pekeler and Sven Ehrig, Steffen Weinhold is also absent due to a corona infection does not make the task in the evening (8.45 p.m.) any easier. So far, however, the THW has defied its personnel problems and recently celebrated its sixth win in the sixth game in the Bundesliga – without the quartet – in a clear 40:28 win against HSV Hamburg.
Only two THW victories in ten duels
However, the respect for the upcoming opponent is great: “Kielce has one of the strongest teams in Europe, which was impressively seen not least at the EHF Final4,” explained THW captain Domagoj Duvnjak.
In addition, there has been a weak THW balance sheet against the Poles so far: In the ten premier class duels, the North Germans only managed two victories, the last one dated March 6, 2011. The most recent encounter should be more encouraging: At the “Handballcity Festival”. For almost six weeks in Veszprém, Hungary, the team from Kiel prevailed 35:33. Both teams contested the endurance test before the start of the season, however, weakened by replacements.
THW coach Jicha: “It will be super difficult”
In Veszprém, Kiel’s Karl Wallinius and Eric Johansson shone with eight goals each, both THW newcomers were recently in a goal mood against HSVH. Kiel’s coach Filip Jicha is correspondingly confident: “We are going to Kielce with confidence, but we know that it will be extremely difficult there.”
Like probably just three days later in the Bundesliga. On Sunday (2 p.m.) the top game for the Schleswig-Holsteiners at the Füchsen Berlin, who are also still undefeated, is coming up. Jicha: “We started a week in which four ‘big points’ are at stake. We have to be ready for that.”
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NDR 2 Sports | 06.10.2022 | 11:03 p.m
