It was hard work for SC Magdeburg, but in the end they achieved their fifth win in a row in the group stage of the Champions League.
SC Magdeburg remains on the road to success. Four days after Triumph at the Club World Cup Bennet Wiegert’s team celebrated a hard-fought 35:27 (16:16) victory in the group phase of the Champions League against GOG Gudme on Thursday and pushed the Danes out of third place in Group B. Michael Damgaard was the best scorer for the SCM with seven goals. Emil Madsen even hit the mark eight times for GOG.
Magdeburg bites into the game
After the travel strains of the past few days, Magdeburg got off to a more than bumpy start. There were few clear actions on the offensive, and at the back they usually acted too slowly and inattentively. GOG, on the other hand, dominated the action with physicality and precise throws from the backcourt: Hans Aaron Mensing took a three-goal lead for the first time after eight minutes (5:2).
Wiegert saw enough early and took a break. “You have to fight,” demanded the successful coach from Magdeburg – and his protégés were slowly but surely forced to bite into the now heated exchange of blows. Led by Janus Smarason and Magnus Saugstrup, the SCM fought its way into the game. The Danes initially found the right answer and kept their lead constant at at least two goals. In the 27th minute, Saugstrup managed to equalize the game for Magdeburg (14:14), who couldn’t be shaken off until the break.
Hernandez shines – GOG is running out of steam
In the second half, both teams also delivered top-notch, fast-paced handball. However, Magdeburg acted much more firmly in the now more offensive defense and took the lead for the first time after 39 minutes (21:20) after a seven-meter penalty from Omar Ingi Magnusson. GOG continued to hold out, but now they were again and again biting their teeth against Sergey Hernandez, who had now substituted for Nikola Portner in the SCM box. Nevertheless, the Danes couldn’t really be shaken off at first, and they managed to equalize again and again, especially thanks to the brilliant Madsen.
It was only a good ten minutes before the end that the SCM increased the pace significantly and took the lead with three goals for the first time (29:26) against the guests, who now seemed less focused and tired, thanks to Smarason and Damgaard. Because Hernandez shone with more saves on the other side and Magdeburg now showed off his full class, GOG had nothing to counter in the final minutes. The Champions League winner gradually increased his lead, scored from all positions and pulled the plug on the Danes.
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