Defending champion SC Magdeburg celebrated a dramatic prestige victory in the fight for a direct place in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Coach Bennet Wiegert’s team defeated record winners FC Barcelona after a great fight in front of their own crowd 29:28 (13:14) and gained a good starting position for the last matchday. Iceland’s Gisli Kristjansson scored the winning goal against the Catalans just before the final siren.
For the second-placed team in the Handball Bundesliga, a draw in the final preliminary round game against Telekom Veszprem next Thursday (6.45 p.m./DAZN) in a foreign hall is enough to qualify directly for the round of the top eight. If the SCM slips from second place to third place in Group B, the team would have to take the detour via a play-off round.
Nielsen is often in the spotlight
“Belief was crucial. We were three or more goals behind. Then we had the chance to take the game back,” said Wiegert and added: “In the end, I’m really happy for my team.”
Against Barca, who Magdeburg had eliminated last year on the way to their surprising triumph in the semi-finals, Wiegert’s team initially lagged behind a lot. The Danish goalkeeper Emil Nielsen defused numerous balls, his goalkeeper colleague Gonzalo Perez de Vargas even saved three seven-meter shots from Magdeburg.
But the SCM did not allow itself to be disturbed by minor setbacks. Despite a temporary four-goal deficit (17:21/40th) after the break, the game ended. Led by Nikola Portner in goal and the wild backcourt player Kristjansson, Magdeburg turned the game around in crunch time – Kristjansson set the final point with a brilliant throw from the backcourt.
THW Kiel is already in the quarterfinals
The SCM inflicted Barca’s first away defeat in the premier class since November 2021; it was Magdeburg’s fourth win in the last five duels with the Spaniards. In addition, the 2022 German champions successfully took revenge for the clear defeat 20:32 in the first leg last September.
The second German representative, THW Kiel, had booked their quarter-final ticket early on Wednesday. The record champions prevailed 28:27 (16:14) at Pick Szeged. The quarterfinals will take place on April 24th and May 1st. As usual, the title will be awarded at the Final Four in Cologne (June 8th and 9th).