The MT Melsungen has kept a cool head in an intensive chase duel in the handball Bundesliga and finally ended the master dreams of TSV Hannover-Burgdorf.
Due to the 29:23 (14:15) in Lower Saxony, the team of coach Roberto García Parrondo claimed their second place in the table and, after the 29th matchday, remains tied with leaders Füchse Berlin (both 48:10).
Melsungen made a strong start both at the beginning and after the break. Hanover was initially able to counter and first turned a four-goal deficit into a break.
But after the change of sides, Melsungen found the right answer again – the 26:23 (58th) by right winger Timo Kastening was the preliminary decision. The national player was the best shooter of the guests with seven goals.
The Hanoverian team of ex-national coach Christian Prokop missed the connection to the top group through the sixth defeat of the season and should no longer be able to intervene in the title race with 43:15 points. Five game days are still pending.
In addition to the Melsungers, who also compete with the top runner in Berlin on May 29, SC Magdeburg also has the realistic chance of a successful title defense. The team of coach Bennet Wiegert is third with 43:11 points, but has played two games less than Berlin and Melsungen.
In the table cellar, the SG BBM Bietigheim celebrated an important 31:30 (18:14) success against Frisch on Göppingen and initially left the relegation ranks. With 14:44 points, the promoted team passed the HC Erlangen and was in 16th place.