Top game on top game

One top game follows the next. The SG Flensburg-Handewitt will once again have two points at stake against the Rhein-Neckar Löwen, which are necessary for a place at the top of the DAIKIN HBL. Kick-off in the GP JOULE Arena is at 7 p.m. on Sunday.

A turning point rarely comes alone. The Rhein-Neckar Löwen had just started their preparations after a bloodletting of many players and the departure of the previous coaching team when Patrick Groetzki announced that he would end his career after this season. After 19 years with the Löwen, the right winger is to move to "a responsible position in management". "At some point, this moment comes for every professional athlete," said the 36-year-old. His coach in his farewell season is a very well-known figure in the far north: Maik Machulla. He won the German championship twice with SG Flensburg-Handewitt in 2018 and 2019.

Goals and squad of the Rhein-Neckar Löwen
Maik Machulla is more reserved when it comes to his current club. "It could be sixth place, but it could also be tenth," he said in the summer. "Seven of our eight new signings are completely new to the Bundesliga." The only new signing with German first division experience was Dani Baijens. The Dutch playmaker once played for the SG, Lemgo and Hamburg before returning from Paris to follow in the big footsteps of Juri Knorr, who famously moved to Aalborg, together with the Icelander Haukur Thrastarson. Also noteworthy was a double swap with Veszprém KC: The Rhein-Neckar Löwen let left-hander Ivan Martinovic and goalkeeper Mikael Appelgren move to Hungary. In return, they received the Swedish left-hander Lukas Sandell and the Danish goalkeeper Mike Jensen. David Späth, the German number two, has become a regular starter. Jannik Kohlbacher is currently the top scorer. The pivot has been in North Baden since 2018. He got off to a good start with the Rhein-Neckar Löwen before moving into midfield. Defensive strategist Robert Timmermeister recently suffered a knee injury and will be out for longer. Maik Machulla had to change his defense.

Tickets. There are still very few seat and standing tickets available in the SG online ticket store at www.sg-tickets.com

Opening times and kick-off. The doors of the GP JOULE Arena open at 5.30 pm. Kick-off is at 19:00.

SG-BUS shuttle service Flensburg-Exe. A bus will shuttle from the Exe to the GP JOULE Arena from 5.30 pm. Until 45 minutes after the game, the bus will shuttle back between the GP JOULE Arena and the Exe.

SG-BUS shuttle service Flensburg-Fördepark. A bus will run from the Fördepark parking lot (bus stop line 14) to the GP JOULE Arena from 5.30 pm. The buses will run between the GP JOULE Arena and Fördepark until 45 minutes after the game.

SG-BUS shuttle service Handewitt. An articulated bus will leave Handewitt at 18:00 from the Wikinghalle to Flensburg. A bus will return to Handewitt 30 minutes after the end of the match.

Television. DYN broadcasts "live" from 18:45.

Live ticker.Click here for the DAIKIN HBL live ticker

Press conference. The post-match press conference will be broadcast "live" on the SG YouTube channel and on Facebook.

Referee. Frederic Linker (Recklinghausen) and Sascha Schmidt (Bochum).

Referee. Jörg Michalzik (timekeeper) and Marcus Hohlwein (secretary).

Statistics. The SG has won 30 of the 53 matches so far. The Rhein-Neckar Löwen have come out on top 20 times. Three games ended in a draw. The goal difference is 1532:1474.

Created by ki