The SG Flensburg-Handewitt must flip the switch again. They face TBV Lemgo-Lippe in the DAIKIN HBL on Thursday at 7 pm. The Westphalians are stronger than they have been for a decade and a half.
There are no breaks. Last Tuesday evening, the SG handball players were still celebrating their clean slate in the EHF European League, but just half a day later they were already boarding the team bus. The destination: Lemgo in East Westphalia. There was no real training on the agenda, just regeneration, analysis and tactical discussions. "We want to get the boys fresh so that they have enough strength to be able to step on the gas in Lemgo," announced SG coach Aleš Pajović. Emil Jakobsen and Luka Jørgensen were completely rested against Irun and watched the game from the entrance tunnel - along with Lasse Møller, who is working on his comeback. The upcoming opponent has a completely different situation: TBV Lemgo Lippe is not challenged internationally and only plays the DAIKIN HBL. "They have less stress and more time to prepare well," says Aleš Pajović, who believes the Lippe side is even stronger than in the last series: "They've become even cleverer and more patient."
Challenge against a well-coordinated team
TBV Lemgo Lippe landed a real coup on Sunday: a 34:33 away win at champions Füchse Berlin. Johannes Golla saw something of this game. "Lemgo calmly played their game, they have a lot of self-confidence," observed the SG captain. For backcourt ace Simon Pytlick, the West Germans are a sure candidate for the top six of the DAIKIN HBL. "They have a well-coordinated and good team in which everyone knows their role very well," says the Dane. "They can also build on their home atmosphere." The Phoenix Contact Arena is sold out and has not been a good place for the SG recently. They have only picked up one point from their last four away games. This time, despite the difficult conditions, it should be better.