It's spring. A time of year that feels like it only brings "finals" in handball. On the 28th matchday of the DAIKIN HBL, the SG Flensburg-Handewitt must face the Rhein-Neckar Löwen. It's all about defending second place on Saturday at 7 pm.
The SG reached the quarter-finals of the EHF European League on Tuesday. They would like to compete in the EHF Champions League next season. As it is not entirely clear whether the European Handball Federation will give third place in the DAIKIN HBL a higher value than a possible victory in the EHF European League, the situation is a little fuzzy. Second place is therefore considered a safe haven. Behind league leaders SC Magdeburg, SG currently have the best cards with eleven points. However, Füchse Berlin (12) and VfL Gummersbach (13) are also well in contention. THW Kiel already have 17 minus points to their name. One thing is certain: a win at the Rhein-Neckar Löwen would be desirable. It has already worked out twice this season. The SG won the first leg 33:29 and in the DHB Cup they won 38:32 away in Heidelberg. "We want to be as focused as we were in Hanover, where we really stepped on the gas," explained SG coach Aleš Pajović.
With a drive for two points?
The SG must expect compact defending and intelligent moves in Mannheim. One of the masterminds there: Dani Baijens. The Dutchman played his first Bundesliga games in an SG jersey in the late summer of 2018 and ended up at the Rhein-Neckar Löwen this season after several spells with the club. Together with Maik Machulla, who had several roles at the SG from 2012 to 2023 and won the German championship twice as a coach. "He always comes up with ideas and also reacts during a game," says Aleš Pajović. The SG coach plans to work with Simon Pytlick. "He's currently mixing training and physiotherapy and isn't at 100 percent," said Aleš Pajović. "Hopefully he'll come along and can help us." The team will travel by train from Hamburg and enjoy the short distances in Mannheim. They will return by bus on Sunday night - hopefully with two points.