The German record champion THW Kiel has reached the Final Four of the Handball Champions League thanks to a successful quarter-final battle of nerves against Paris St. Germain. Coach Filip Jicha’s team beat the French subscription champions 33:32 (17:19) in a second leg thriller on Thursday evening and are now aiming for their fifth title win at the traditional tournament in Cologne’s Lanxess Arena on June 18th and 19th in the premier class.
The SG Flensburg-Handewitt is then doomed to watch: The Bundesliga runners-up missed the big surprise at defending champion FC Barcelona and after the 24:27 (10:10) defeat must continue on his first Final Four participation since the triumph of 2014 wait.
Kiel took advantage of the good starting position of the 30:30 first leg to approach the final in front of their home crowd with self-confidence. Jicha had expected “a very close game in which we can sometimes be behind” – and his team didn’t let up in the first half despite being constantly behind. After the break, Kiel took the lead for the first time at 21:20 (37 th ) and even extended it to three goals. In the final phase, THW and its best thrower Magnus Landin Jacobsen (7) saved the wafer-thin lead to the finish.
Flensburg didn’t have a real chance in Barcelona after the 29:33 defeat a week ago. Hampus Wanne was the top scorer for coach Maik Machulla’s team with six goals, while Dika Mem scored just as often for the Spaniards. Barca routinely defended their lead in the first leg and controlled the game until the end.
THW Kiel – Paris Saint-Germain 33:32 (17:19). – Goals: Landin Jacobsen (7), Reinkind (6), Wiencek (6), Zarabec (4), Sagosen (3), Ehrig (2), Duvnjak (2), Weinhold, Dahmke, Pekeler for Kiel – Remili (8 ), Syprzak (6), Nikola Karabatic (5), Grebille (3), Prandi (3), Steins (2), Luka Karabatic (2), Kounkoud, Sole Sala for Paris. – Viewers: 10,285
FC Barcelona – SG Flensburg-Handewitt 27:24 (10:10). – Goals: Mem (6), Ben Ali (5), Cindric (4), Janc (3), Arino Bengoechea, Gomez Abello, Langaro Inoue (2 each), Goncalves dos Santos, Fernandez Perez, Makuc for Barcelona – Tub ( 6), Golla, Svan (4 each), Sögard Johannessen, Einarsson (3 each), Mensah Larsen, Gottfridsson (2 each) for Flensburg. – Viewers: 4184