Kiel/Magdeburg (dpa) – Record champion THW Kiel celebrated the eighth participation in the final tournament of the Champions League with 10,000 enthusiastic fans – this Sunday the jubilation stage could belong to the league rival SC Magdeburg.
If the people of Kiel don’t leave the hall as winners in the 106th North Derby at SG Flensburg-Handewitt, the sovereign table leader can complete the second championship title in the Handball Bundesliga after 2001 prematurely with a win at HSV Hamburg. “We’re looking forward to what’s to come. I’m really up for it,” said SCM trainer Bennet Wiegert after the 38:20 against bottom TuS N-Lübbecke with a view to the possible crowning of the championship.
The club world champion is six points ahead of the defending champion from Kiel, who can still win the Champions League after the DHB Cup. Thanks to the 33:32 in the quarter-final thriller against Paris Saint-Germain, THW can hold its own in the final 4 on 18/19. June in Cologne for the fifth time after 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2020 Europe’s handball crown. “It’s fantastic. It was a big dream to be back in Cologne, and then in front of spectators. It’s just terrific,” said THW Managing Director Viktor Szilagyi.
Coach Filip Jicha was also impressed: “This game is difficult to put into words. It was a magical night for all of us.” The only downside was Hendrik Pekeler’s serious injury. The defender suffered a torn Achilles tendon and will be out for a long time. “It’s a brutal blow for us and spoils the mood,” said Szilagyi. In the guest appearance at SG Flensburg-Handewitt, who failed in the premier class quarter-finals at defending champion FC Barcelona, the Kielers still want to defend second place in the table with all their might on Sunday (2 p.m. / Sky).