“It’s a special situation. Nevertheless, we’re kind of used to it and we’ve planned the travel organization in such a way that the strain is as little as possible,” said THW Managing Director Viktor Szilagyi before the game, which started at 6.45 p.m .
In the preliminary round group A of the European premier class, the Kielers are currently fourth – three points behind Montpellier, one behind Aalborg and Szeged. This quartet fights for the first two places, which guarantee direct entry into the quarter-finals and allow skipping the round of 16.
10,000 fans expected in Lillehammer
Elverum is already five points behind the North Germans, but is looking forward to a big event. For the game against THW with its two Norwegian stars Sander Sagosen and Harald Reinkind, the club moved to Lillehammer in the huge Hakon Hall and expects 10,000 spectators.
“It’s going to be a great atmosphere,” believes Elverum captain Thomas Solstad. “Fortunately, we got permission from the authorities to open and fill the hall.” In Norway, practically all restrictions of the corona pandemic have been lifted.
Continue without Jicha and Pekeler
In September, both teams delivered a shooting match, which the Kielers successfully designed with 41:36. However, the victory did not bring great satisfaction. “Unfortunately, our defense didn’t work the way I had imagined,” said Filip Jicha at the time.
This time the coach is absent due to a corona infection and will be represented by his assistant Christian Sprenger. The people of Kiel also have to do without circle runner Hendrik Pekeler because of a positive Covid 19 test. Goalkeeper Niklas Landin, on the other hand, has already been released from isolation and played again at the weekend at 26:24 at Bergisches HC.
THW interested in Elverums Johansson?
One actor on the opposite side seems particularly interesting for the THW: According to the Norwegian media, the half-left Eric Johansson is about to make the leap to Kiel. In the first leg, the 21-year-old Swedish European champion scored seven times.