09.12.2022  2. HBL

Crunch time in the capital: leaders vs champions

Current number 1 against German champions - there is nothing more to get in the LIQUI MOLY-HBL: On Sunday (14:00 CET., live on SKY), Füchse Berlin host SC Magdeburg for the big showdown in the Max-Schmeling-Halle. Here are the most important facts and figures ahead of the landmark duel.

The history of the derby: Foxes and SCM have locked horns 36 times in league, German Cup and European Cup so far, Berlin won 19 games, Magdeburg 12, five games ended in a draw. The last five duels were all won by the SCM, the five before that by the foxes. In their 2021/22 championship season, Magdeburg won 28:27 at home and won 33:29 in the capital. A highlight of this eternally young duel was the final of the European League 2021 in Mannheim, when SCM celebrated their fifth European Cup victory with a 28:25 win. Berlin last won the EHF Cup in Magdeburg in 2018. In 2015, both opponents faced each other in the semifinal of the DHB Cup, Magdeburg won 28:27, but then lost the final against Flensburg.

By far the clearest result in a league duel was the 32:22 victory of SCM in Berlin in the 2020/21 season, Berlin's clearest success was the 31:25 in the 2010/11 season. The foxes' home record against SCM is eleven wins and six defeats. Incidentally, the first duel was in 2005 in the German Cup: Arrived as Bundesliga leaders, SCM won 35:22 at the then second division team.

The title collection: Magdeburg have a lot ahead of the foxes: ten times GDR champions, twice (2001, 2022) all-German champions, twice (1996, 2016) German cup winners. In addition, the Champions League trophy (2002), the EHF Cup three times (1999, 2001, 2007), the European League (2021) and two club world champions (2021, 2022). The foxes' only national title was winning the Cup in 2015, they also won the EHF Cup twice (2015 and 2018) and the World Club Championship twice (2015, 2016).

The season so far in the LIQUI MOLY HBL: 13 victories, a 31:31 draw in Flensburg, a surprising 27:32 defeat at GWD Minden and 27:3 points - Berlin are currently the measure of all things in the LIQUI MOLY-HBL and since the eighth round also leaders of the table. The 34:26 win against record champions THW Kiel was the icing on the cake of the season so far. At home, Berlin have won all seven games of the season - and have also defied numerous injuries, above all the long-term absence of their top new signing Mattias Gidsel (hand injury).

SC Magdeburg has played two less league games and is fourth with 21:5 points. Bennet Wiegert's team won ten games, lost twice (in Flensburg and against Kiel) and drew against Löwen.

Both teams scored an average of 32 goals per game, Berlin conceded slightly fewer goals (an average of 27.6) than the SCM (28.2). After Flensburg and Kiel, the foxes have the third best attack in the league.

The top scorers: With 92 goals (including 48 penalties) in 15 games, the Dane Hans Lindberg is the best foxes shooter and is in third ranked in the overall statistics. Icelander Omar Ingi Magnusson has scored 83 times in 12 games for Magdeburg, including 38 penalties.

The remaining matches until the World Championshop break: After the top game, the foxes travel to Gummersbach and face Leipzig, Magdeburg still has the two home matches against Erlangen and Göppingen ahead, the two catch-up games against Bergischer HC and Hannover-Burgdorf are not yet scheduled.

The German Cup: For the foxes, the second round was the end of the line in the cup. They lost the top match at SG Flensburg-Handewitt 32:34. SC Magdeburg, on the other hand, are in the round of 16 after winning 35:30 at Eulen Ludwigshafen and will meet Bergischer HC at home on 21 December.

The international season: SC Magdeburg's title defence at the Club World Championship in Saudi Arabia outshines all previous international results of German clubs. As in the last year, SCM prevailed in the final against Champions League record winners FC Barcelona. After a 17-year absence, Magdeburg are back in the Champions League this season - and after eight rounds with ten points they are in third place in Group B. On Thursday, Magdeburg will face Danish side GOG on home, against whom they unfortunately lost the first leg 32:33. The foxes have won all international games, are ranked first in group D of the European League before the top game against the Danish representative Skandeborg-Aarhus, who also have no losses and 8:0 points - and are the only team from the LIQUI MOLY-HBL to still have a clean record on the international stage.

Photo: Popova