The big match on Saturday in the DAIKIN HBL is getting closer and closer. First, Füchse Berlin play against THW Kiel. Then the attention of the handball scene will turn to the GP JOULE Arena, which has been sold out for weeks, where SG Flensburg-Handewitt will host SC Magdeburg. Kick-off is at 8 pm.
The "Hell North" will experience the absolute top match, although the SG camp does not feel like the front runners. "The SCM is top of the table and not us," they say. After all, Magdeburg are one point off the pace. "I don't want to overstate the importance of this game, because we have a very tough schedule with a lot of difficult tasks in the coming weeks," emphasized Aleš Pajović. Incidentally, the SG coach has an SCM past, albeit one that goes back over a decade and only lasted a season and a half. Back then, he was on the pitch together with Bennet Wiegert. Tomorrow, both will be on the touchline - as head coaches of the two opponents. "Bennet has a slightly different emotional style to me," smiled Aleš Pajović. "He's at 100 the whole game, I'm a bit calmer."
Fire, heart and level
SC Magdeburg won 27:22 against RK Zagreb in the EHF Champions League on Wednesday evening. There were not many new insights. Everyone in the SG team knows that every detail could be important this time. The two training sessions on Thursday and Friday were extremely meticulous. Goalkeeping coach Mats Olsson flew in and is in intensive contact with the SG keepers. The outfield players and coaches gathered a few ideas on how to keep the visitors' attack reasonably in check. It's a good thing that everyone is on board apart from Lasse Møller, whose comeback is not a November issue. The tension is sure to build up to the game, but so is the anticipation. "Anything is possible at home," said Aleš Pajović. "In any case, we need fire, heart and the highest level for 60 minutes." If these conditions are all met, the SG camp can perhaps feel like true frontrunners after the top match.