THW Kiel isn’t even fifth, Flensburg-Handewitt loses in Berlin

AUDIO: THW Kiel suffers defeat against Lemgo (1 min)

Only sixth place in the table with 42:26 points – that is the sporting balance for the German record champions THW Kiel after the 34th matchday. As of now, the “Zebras” will not be playing in the European Cup next season – for the first time in 33 years. Since the EHF is also reforming the European League, there are only three starting places for the Bundesliga, which would go to Flensburg-Handewitt, VfL Gummersbach and cup finalist Bergischer HC.

The THW may still be able to hope for a wildcard. There will probably only be final certainty when the EHF publishes the seeding lists for the next season at the end of June.

SG Flensburg-Handewitt (51:17) leaves the season in third place, Hamburg (31:37) in tenth and Hannover-Burgdorf (29:39) in eleventh.

Zerbe will stay until 2029 – THW is running out of steam against Lemgo

An important personnel decision was announced before kick-off in Kiel: The THW has agreed on an early extension of the contract with right winger Lukas Zerbe until June 30, 2029. He will form the duo with Jarnes Faust in the position. The 21-year-old returns to THW from opponent TBV Lemgo Lippe and replaces Hungarian Bence Imre (Veszprem HC).

Results, table standings and match days at a glance.

After being 15:16 behind at the break, it quickly became 15:19 after a botched restart. But after a 7:2 run, to which top talent Rasmus Ankermann contributed three goals, Kiel was suddenly ahead 22:21. However, since the North Germans repeatedly failed due to the strong TBV goalkeeper Constantin Möstl and made too many mistakes overall, the hoped-for success in the last game of the season failed to materialize.

Imre, Nikola Bilyk, Magnus Landin, Petter Överby, Mohab Abelhak and the two youngsters Leon Nowottny and Jesse Dahmke were said goodbye during the game.

Flensburg-Handewitt loses Tor Festival in Berlin

Flensburg-Handewitt got off to a lively start in the game, which was unimportant in terms of sport, against the team second in the table. In the eleventh minute, Simon Pytlick, who will move to Füchse Berlin in the summer of 2027 at the latest, gave the team a 10-5 lead. But the Berliners came closer goal by goal – and passed. Flensburg-Handewitt was behind 20:22 at the break. Outstanding player in the first half: Berlin’s Mathias Gidsel, who scored 13 goals from 14 shots (93 percent).

After the break the goal festival continued. Flensburg equalized to 34:34 (49th) through its captain Johannes Golla, for whom it was the last game for the SG, but the Berliners had the greater reserves in the end. The most successful Flensburg player was Pytlick with eleven goals. His Danish compatriot and best friend Gidsel ended up with a fantastic 18 goals in his personal statistics.

HSV Hamburg turns up the heat in Eisenach after the break

HSVH coach Torsten Jansen’s team only managed one goal in a good seven minutes in the first half, and so a 4:5 (7th) became 5:10 (14th). At the break the North Germans were behind 15:18.

A good eight minutes after the restart, however, a completely different picture appeared on the scoreboard: the guests, who were much better in defense at the beginning of the second half and took advantage of their chances at the front, were now leading 24:20. When Elias Kofler made it 33:25 (50th), there were many signs that Hamburg would achieve their seventh away win of the season. And that’s how it happened.

TSV Hannover-Burgdorf missed the victory

With a strong August Pedersen in the team, TSV Hannover-Burgdorf gained a 16:15 lead at the break against European League winners MT Melsungen. The Norwegian Pedersen put six of his eight throws into the North Hesse goal.

After the restart, the “Recken”‘s offensive game ran a lot around the circle. National player Justus Fischer has now finished successfully several times. Lower Saxony took the lead 32:31 through Jonathan Edvardsson 24 seconds before the end, but Dimitri Ignatow equalized for Melsungen.

Handball

The German record champions from Kiel will probably not play internationally for the first time in 33 years. There is also frustration in Flensburg after third place in the European League.