The German handball record champion THW Kiel has good prospects of participating in the Final Four in the Champions League, while SG Flensburg-Handewitt is on the verge of being eliminated. In the first leg of the quarter-finals, Kiel came to a 30:30 (16:14) win at Paris St. Germain, Flensburg lost 29:33 (13:18) at home to FC Barcelona.
Superstar Sander Sagosen was the best thrower at Kiel with six goals, winner of 2020. Nedim Remili scored eight times for the French subscription champion, who had destroyed all hopes of a successful title defense of THW in the quarterfinals last season. The second leg will take place next Thursday (8.45 p.m.) in Kiel. “We have to be ready to deliver an incredible fighting performance in Kiel next week,” said THW trainer Filip Jicha on DAZN.
The game had started a quarter of an hour late due to a medical emergency in the hall. The guests got off to a better start, but quickly gambled away their 5:1 lead. A balanced game developed with slight advantages for Kiel.
The three-time German champions Flensburg had previously lost to the defending champions Barcelona over long stretches. Coach Maik Machulla’s team must improve significantly in the second leg next Thursday (6.45 p.m.) in Barcelona in order to make it into the finals for the first time since triumphing in 2014.
In the early stages, the record title holder took Flensburg by surprise: After less than two turns of the hand, the score was 0:3, eight minutes later the deficit was already seven goals. After that, the favorite had the game under control.
The Final Four traditionally takes place at the end of the season in Cologne’s Lanxess Arena (June 18/19). Record champion Kiel hopes to win his fifth title there.
Source: SID / Photo: Imago/Holsteinoffice