Next Sunday, the Erlangen Bundesliga handball players will meet the two-time German champion Rhein-Neckar Löwen in the ARENA NÜRNBERGER Versicherung. Due to the increased number of infections in Nuremberg and the region, the home game against the top team from Mannheim must be played without spectators. SKY SPORT 5 HD will broadcast the game live. Kick-off is at 4 p.m.
After winning the point in Göppingen, the next difficult task is already waiting for HC Erlangen. The two-time German champion and DHB Cup winner from Mannheim in 2018, travels to the metropolitan region of Nuremberg with a selection of world-class players. Currently the lions, led by the five-time MVP of the handball Bundesliga, Andy Schmid, are sixth in the table with 6: 2 points. Against Stuttgart, the owls and the TuSEM Essen, the people of Baden-Württemberg were happy about their victories. Most recently, coach Martin Schwalb’s team suffered a 23:28 home defeat against the strong SC DhfK Leipzig. If you look at the direct comparison of the two teams, it quickly becomes clear: The Lions are once again the clear favorite on Sunday. Both teams met ten times. The Mannheimers went off the field as winners six times. However, if you take a closer look, you can see that the Rhein-Neckar Löwen have often stumbled at HC Erlangen in the recent past. In October 2019, the HCE fought a 29:29 draw and in the season 18/19 the Lions also left a point in the ARENA NÜRNBERGER Versicherung.
Good defense is important
The key to success will again be strong defensive work on Sunday, HCE trainer Michael Haaß knows and adds: “On Sunday one of the top teams in the league will come to us in the ARENA. The Lions have strengthened themselves again for the new season and have already shown in their games how well they can play handball. But we have already proven what we are made of when we call up our performance. Even if we don’t go into the game as favorites, we’ve managed to trip the Lions on one occasion or another in the past. We would like to try that again on Sunday. “
A reunion with “cat”
The Franconian defense ranks have to be prepared for hard work on the 5th matchday of the still young Bundesliga season. In addition to Albin Lagergren (SC Magdeburg), the Mannheimers have strengthened themselves with Mait Patrail (TSV Hannover-Burgdorf), Lukas Nilsson (THW Kiel) and Rafael Baena. There will also be a reunion with Nikolas “cat” Katsigiannis, who recently moved to the Rhein-Neckar Löwen due to the injury of Mikael Appelgren and will be standing between the guests’ posts together with the Swedish national goalkeeper Andreas Palicka. Defensive boss Petter Overby is confident despite the tough opponent: “We will do everything in defense to present Andy Schmid and his team with problems. We have to avoid simple goals and focus on our strengths. We have shown that we can play good attacking handball and we want to prove it again on Sunday ”.
Due to the increased number of infections in Nuremberg and the region, the game on the 5th match day must take place without a spectator. Managing director René Selke commented on this decision at the press conference before the game as follows: “Of course it’s a shame that after the sensational home premiere against Melsungen we now have to play in front of empty ranks. However, we understand this decision and are still in close contact with the responsible authorities. So far, this decision only applies to the next home game. We are confident that we will play with spectators in the arena again in the future ”.
Live stream from 3 p.m.
So that the “ARENA feeling” can still be transported into the Franconian living room, HC Erlangen is offering its fans for the first time an interactive match day magazine on its Facebook page before kick-off. Hall spokesman Axel Fischer will be reporting live from 3 p.m. on the event and will provide all HC fans with hot information about the game in a live stream. The two referees Ramesh and Suresh Thiyagarajah will whistle the game at 4 p.m. SKY SPORT 5 HD will broadcast the game live as usual. The agency partner, hl-studios from Erlangen, is there again with photo and press work on site. The advertising agency has been involved in Erlangen’s handball sport for many years and is the sponsor of playmakers Nico Büdel and Daniel Mosindi.
Further information: http://www.hc-erlangen.de
–
