It was a good trip for the SG Flensburg-Handewitt. The SG won the game at Balingen 28-25 (16-11) and still has the opportunity to finish the season in fifth place. More importantly, after Göppingen won the EHF Cup, the SG will definitely play in the European competition next season, either in the EHF Cup or the Cup Winner´s Cup.

"It was important to qualify for a European competition," SG coach Ljubomir Vranjes said. "My players want to finish the season in style with a win in the final home game against Göppingen. Looking forward to next season, however, I´m not going to risk anything and I will rest players with injuries."

The SG had a good start behind two quick goals by Patrik Fahlgren and Michael Knudsen. The home team tried to keep the SG in check with an offensive defence formation and Austrian Roland Schlinger tied the game at 8-8 after fifteen minutes. After that, though, the SG scored five unanswered goals to gain a decisive edge.

After the break, Balingen was able to cut the lead to three goals but the SG was never in danger of giving up too many goals. "We played a good defence and Sören Rasmussen had a really good game," Vranjes analysed after the final whistle. "Overall, it was a pretty solid team effort."

HBW Balingen-Weilstetten – SG Flensburg-Handewitt 25-28 (11-16)
HBW Balingen-Weilstetten: Marinovic, Ziemer – Herth (1), Sauer (2), Wilke (2/1), Ettwein (2), Strobel (5), Temelkov (7/5), Bürkle, Boisedu (1), Lobedank, Wessig, König, Schlinger (5)
SG Flensburg-Handewitt: Beutler, Rasmussen – Karlsson, Eggert (11/5), Fahlgren (3), Mogensen, Heinl (1), Szilagyi (5), Boesen (4), Knudsen (3), Bastian (1)
Referees: Harms/Mahlich (Magdeburg/Stendal); Suspensions: 8:12 Minutes (Sauer 4, Lobedank 2, Wesig 2 – Karlsson 4, Mogensen 4, Heinl 2, Bastian 2); Penalty throws: 9/6:6/5 (Rasmussen saves against Herth, Wilke and Temelkov – Eggert throws wide); Attendance: 2350
Timeline: 0:2 (4.), 2:3 (6.), 3:4 (6.), 3:6 (9.), 5:6 (11.), 6:8 (15.), 8:8 (16.), 8:13 (22.), 10:14 (26.), 11:15 (29.) – 11:17 (31.), 12:18 (32.), 14:18 (34.), 15:20 (42.), 18:21 (47.), 18:23 (48.), 20:23 (49.), 21:24 (52.), 22:26 (56.), 23:27 (59.), 24:28 (60.)