2023-04-23 15:43:02
Status: 04/23/2023 2:00 p.m
THW Kiel and SG Flensburg-Handewitt meet in the 108th state derby. The conditions under which the two teams go into the duel in the Handball Bundesliga have rarely been more opposite.
While the guests from Flensburg have to digest the recent negative experiences such as the semifinals in the DHB Cup and the missed Final Four “to Hus” in the European League, the THW was able to calmly look forward to the classic (2:05 p.m., live on TV and here at NDR.de).
The “zebras” have been embattled since Draw once morest SC Magdeburg on Easter Sunday without a game. The Final Four for the DHB Cup took place without the defending champion, in the Bundesliga and in the Champions League no games were scheduled.
Explosive table constellation
A good opportunity to take a break for a few days, to focus on topics other than handball and to work on athletics, before the derby has increasingly come into focus since Tuesday. “A win is important. When it comes to the championship, we want to keep everything in our own hands,” explained THW Managing Director Viktor Szilagyi to NDR. “We want to get these two extremely important points in order to be further up the field,” emphasized keeper Thomas Mrkva.
“Form curve or table situation never play a role in a derby.”
THW Managing Director Viktor Szilagyi
Kiel leads the Bundesliga with 41:9 points – closely followed by Füchsen Berlin (41:9), SC Magdeburg (41:11) and SG Flensburg-Handewitt (39:11). A constellation that promises a lot of excitement – and can change significantly with the state derby.
THW wants to make forget the debacle in the first half of the season
“You will see what the two most recent defeats have done to the SG,” said Szilagyi and warned: “In the Bundesliga, they have created this situation with great performances, not only for the Champions League places, but also for to play for the championship.” The Flensburg team were outstanding not least in the first half of the season, when they swept Kiel out of the hall with a 36:23 thrashing.
The THW wants to make people forget this bankruptcy. “We still have a score to settle and now we really want to get two points,” said Mrkva, who is experiencing his first home derby. Niklas Landin is in the THW case once morest Flensburg for the last time. “It’s regarding much more than just revenge,” said the world-class goalkeeper, who will move to Denmark’s Aalborg in the summer.
Flensburg euphoria vanished
The Flensburg Derby ceremony on the fourth Sunday in Advent last year was the initial spark for a successful series of 21 games without defeat across all competitions. A few weeks ago, SG trainer Maik Machulla said: “It can be a bit sad at the end of April or there can be even more euphoria.”
VIDEO: Crisis at SG Flensburg-Handewitt (3 min)
The euphoria is gone, Flensburg threw away two chances for the title. And what regarding the championship? “We actually still have good chances, but following a game like that once morest Granollers we shouldn’t think regarding it,” said Machulla rather pessimistically. After being knocked out in Europe, the 46-year-old tried to rebuild his players in one-to-one talks: “The good thing is that we still have a goal.” In the event of a defeat in Kiel, Flensburg’s third dream of winning the title would have been shattered.
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SG coach Machulla: “Uncomfortable days”
The coaching chair should then shake, even if Machulla has a contract until 2026 and the far north is not known for hasty personnel decisions. “You have to evaluate such things in peace,” said SG Managing Director Holger Glandorf to the “Flensburger Tageblatt”. The championship race is far from decided: “We can see how much music there is in the league. We will do our best and fight to the end,” emphasized Glandorf in the NDR interview: “A derby win can release a lot of self-confidence.”
“This is the game of games that handball Europe envies us for.”
SG-Trainer Mike Machulla
Goalkeeper Kevin Möller summed up the team spirit: “We stand together in good times and bad, it’s no coincidence that we speak of the SG family.”
Will the SG make a comeback like in 2018?
Some may remember a no less tricky derby preparation five years ago. At the end of April 2018, the Flensburg team had to deal with a 18:29 bankruptcy in Montpellier, but then surprisingly won 29:25 in Kiel and started a catch-up race that was crowned with the championship.
At the time, however, there were eleven days between the crash and the comeback, now the Flensburg team have just five days to get their heads up once more. The people of Kiel, who have won 64 of the 107 derbies so far, certainly do not want to be the helpful neighbors in this endeavor.
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