The die is cast in the EHF European League. SG Flensburg-Handewitt will finish second in their main round group. They lost 32:35 (19:21) at Montpellier HB on Tuesday evening. The SG's top scorers were Marko Grgić (9/4), Lasse Møller (7) and Johannes Golla (6).
At kick-off, the SG already knew about THW Kiel's 27:20 win against Irun. Only a win would keep their chances of reaching the quarter-finals alive. The squad had a slightly different look. Kevin Møller, Emil Jakobsen and Kent Robin Tønnesen did not travel to the south of France, but a total of four youngsters did. Both teams started with a high level of efficiency in front of a remarkable Tuesday evening crowd. Niclas Kirkeløkke scored his second goal to make it 4:4. He was joined by Lasse Møller and Marko Grgić at the back. Johannes Golla snapped up a rebound and squeezed the ball into the net for a 7:5 lead. The SG now had a permanent small lead and celebrated spectacular goals: Lasse Møller celebrated a turnaround, Patrick Volz a lob. Montpellier could not really be shaken off. Aleš Pajović called his first team timeout at 16:16. However, the final phase of the first half did not belong to the SG. Possession changed hands several times in the final seconds - and then the ball fizzed into the net to make it 21:19 for Montpellier.
SG could not add to its lead in the second half
The SG had the better start to the second half. Marko Grgić converted a seven-meter penalty to make it 22:22. The tempo remained high at first. Montpellier regained a two-goal lead in a flash. The home side now benefited from better goalkeeping and pulled 31:26 ahead. It felt like the atmosphere based on the sound of trumpets was getting louder and louder. After all, most of the spectators liked it. The SG's squad was very limited in terms of numbers, as Simon Pytlick was also not able to play due to a strain test. This meant that Thilo Knutzen had his time on the pitch. At times, the SG operated with just two backcourt players and two circle runners. It was not enough to win the day, but at least the visitors were able to win the head-to-head tie against Montpellier and cement second place.