1.
8:47 p.m
Let’s go, the duel between Wisla Plock and SC Magdeburg is on!
8:40 p.m
The referees for the game are from France and are called Karim and Raouf Gasmi, and the EHF delegate Jiri Konecny from the Czech Republic is in charge of the game. That’s almost all said, the hall is well filled, the teams arrive – kick-off is about to happen.
8:35 p.m
Both teams know each other well from the previous season, so they already played against each other in the quarter-finals. But Bennet Wiegert’s team found out firsthand that the Poles can be unpleasant opponents, especially at home. They couldn’t get past a 22:22 draw in the first leg, so the Bördestadt team should be warned. For coach Javier Sabaté’s team, the path should lead to the knockout rounds again this season, but so far Plock is in the penultimate group place with no points on the credit side. On the first matchday, the Poles lost 24:23 at FC Porto, followed by a 26:30 defeat against GOG Gudme. Most recently, the Wisla team lost once again by a narrow margin 30:28 away in Montpellier. Even though they haven’t been able to score any points yet, the Polish representative has continued to shine with good performances against strong opponents.
8:25 p.m
Although trainer Bennet Wiegert has almost everything he can do, he still has to do without Cologne MVP Gisli Kristjansson and Magnus Saugstrup. All other players are available, but he will need them too, as the SCM was challenged in the domestic league last Thursday. In a thrilling but also exhausting game against FrischAuf! Göppingen, the SCM struggled in the last second to a 26:27 away win. But the sequence of games is tough, it’s tightly timed. The Bördestädters usually have to deliver every three days, but the next difficult challenge in the league should already be in the back of their minds. On Sunday the warriors from Hanover will be playing in the GETEC Arena for the top game, so it’s important to distribute the forces well today and still take the two important points from Poland.
8:15 p.m
What a great coup the SCM achieved in June! Winning the Champions League was a sensation, but as defending champions, Magdeburg unintentionally also takes a burden with them into the new season. The expectations are high and we should be able to make it to the Final Four again this year. But the opening program for the people of Bördestadt was anything but pleasant. With Veszprem and Barcelona, two heavyweights from Group B were waiting at the start. At home, coach Bennet Wiegert’s team lost 28:33 against the Hungarians, before record winners Barcelona beat them 32:20 in Spain last Thursday. This sealed the false start to the new season in the premier class, but then came the liberating blow at home against Celje. With a 39:23 win, the Bördestadt team gave up the red lantern and at least moved up to fifth place.
8:05 p.m
Hello and welcome to the 4th matchday in the group phase of the Handball Champions League! In Group B, the reigning defending champions SC Magdeburg are visiting the Polish representatives Wisla Plock, kick-off is in Plock, Poland at 8:45 p.m.!