In handball in the European League things are still going well for the German representatives. Berlin has already booked the round of 16, but Flensburg and Göppingen are also on course for the knockout stages.
Just two days after the Bundesliga home defeat against Magdeburg, Füchse Berlin have prematurely reached the round of 16 in the European League. The Berliners won the top game in group D at direct pursuer Skanderborg-Aarhus Handbold from Denmark with 29:28 (15:16). The best Berlin pitcher was Hans Lindberg with eight goals.
The foxes, who did without backcourt player Lasse Andersson for private reasons, did not come into the game at first. They acted too unfocused in attack, made a few technical mistakes and failed too often at host keeper Salah Boutaf. The defense also allowed Aalborg easy goals.
Time out and goalkeeper changes bring the turning point
So the foxes ran behind from the start. After a good ten minutes it was 3:8. Coach Jaron Siewert then took a break. Viktor Kireev also replaced the unlucky Dejan Milosavljev in goal – that helped. At the end of the first half, the guests acted more consistently and came back.
The foxes continue this upward trend at the beginning of the second half. The Berliners were much better defensively and took the lead for the first time at 17:16. Up to 25:21 the guests were able to break away. The Danes were able to equalize in the final phase, but the post saved the foxes’ lucky away win on the last shot.
Flensburg remains at the top
In Group B, SG Flensburg-Handewitt is still at the top of the table. The three-time German champion clearly defeated the Hungarian club Ferencvaros Budapest 42:30 (23:15) and thus got the fifth win in the sixth game. In Flensburg, national team captain Johannes Golla scored nine goals.
Göppingen wins in Switzerland
Frisch Auf Göppingen was also able to take another big step towards the playoffs. The traditional club, threatened with relegation in the Bundesliga, won the Kadetten Schaffhausen 35:30 (17:17) and thus passed the Swiss champions in second place in Group A.
First win of the season for Zaporizhia
Meanwhile, Ukrainian series champions HC Motor Zaporizhschja celebrated their first win of the season on the international stage. The Ukrainians, who are guest starters in the 2nd Bundesliga due to the Russian war of aggression, defeated the Portuguese team Aguas Santas 30:24 (13:8) at their home ground in Düsseldorf.