As of: April 13, 2026 10:14 a.m
Handball Bundesliga team THW Kiel won the northern duel at HSV Hamburg and is still aiming for the Champions League places. The “Zebras” won on Sunday with 34:27 (19:14).
After the draw against Eisenach, the guests were more concentrated in defense and more consistent in their finishing. The record champions remain fifth in the table after the success. HSVH, however, was unable to build on their victory in Minden and fell back to eleventh place in the table behind TSV Hannover-Burgdorf, who recently defeated Eisenach.
Balanced start to the game
The guests were without their playmaker Elias Ellefsen á Skipagötu, who is suffering from a shoulder injury. For the hosts, pivot Andreas Magaard was back in the starting lineup for the first time since his knee operation.
The hosts got off to a better start in the game, with Nicolaj Jörgensen taking the lead 3-1 after five minutes. The THW shook briefly, but Eric Johansson equalized just two minutes later. It was a game of equals that went back and forth. Sometimes the HSVH led, sometimes the Kiel team – the spectators were thoroughly entertained.
THW pulls away
After a time penalty against Hamburg’s Niklas Weller, the “Zebras” were able to pull ahead by three goals in the game for the first time (12:9, 18th minute). The hosts maintained their distance for a while, but shortly before halftime they didn’t score for over four minutes. The THW took advantage of the weak phase with a four-goal run, the THW goalkeeper Gonzalo Perez de Vargas crowned it with his second Bundesliga goal. At halftime the guests led 19:14.
Red card for Kiels Zerbe
After the break it remained the same as usual, Johansson scored the first goal of the second half and put the record champions in the lead with six goals. In the 36th minute, however, the referee team interrupted the guests’ run and showed Lukas Zerbe the red card. A tough decision that played into Hamburg’s hands. Frederik Bo Andersen brought HSVH within 20:23 in the 41st minute.
However, the Hamburg team failed to catch up. Perez de Vargas made the hosts despair at times with his eleven saves, and ten minutes before the end the THW had pulled back within five goals. Another four-goal run, including three goals scored in quick succession by Nikola Bylik, ensured the decision in Kiel’s favor.
In the end, the cup winners deservedly won 34:27. The best thrower for the guests was Johansson with eight goals, Jörgensen was the most successful for Hamburg with nine goals.
