And within about a week, a trio in the bottom of the table went separate ways with their coaches shortly before the end of the season. Bergischer HC last week - before the all-or-nothing game against Balingen-Weilstetten – sacked Jamal Naji. Arnor Thor Gunnarsson took over until the end of the season - and the change of coach had an effect: BHC won 25:21 at Balingen, their first win since four month.

And after this defeat, HBW reacted and parted ways with coach Jens Bürkle. The club had already announced in November that they would be parting ways with Bürkle after six years. Matthias Flohr from Dormagen, who was previously a player and assistant coach in Balingen, is coming as his successor for the new season. In the last five games of the current season, the previous assistant coach Tobias Hotz will look after the “Gaulians from the Alb” - and try to make the impossible possible.

The third coaching change within a week followed on Tuesday: Hartmut Mayerhoffer, who was only hired at the start of the season, is no longer the coach of HC Erlangen. Before the bottom-line duel against Bergischer HC and after only nine wins in 29 games, Erlangen fired Mayerhoffer. The new head coach is also the previous assistant: the former national player and 2016 European champion Johannes Sellin. In the worst-case scenario for HBW Balingen-Weilstetten: without playing in the next round, their direct relegation to the 2nd HBL could already be sealed next weekend when Erlangen (at BHC), Eisenach (against Lemgo) and TVB Stuttgart (against Hamburg) win their games.

Therefore, the duel in Wuppertal on Sunday is definitely crucial: If BHC win for the second time in a row, they would only be two points clear of Erlangen; if HCE wins, it would be six points with four games left.

When looking at the remaining program of the relegation candidates, it is noticeable that TVB Stuttgart (20:38) in particular have their fate in their hands: because the Swabians still play against Balingen and in Erlangen. Eisenach could reach safer ground with a double blow in the next two weeks - it's all about points at home against Lemgo and then in Balingen. In the following games against Flensburg, Hamburg and the Füchse, they are the underdogs.

In addition to the games at BHC and against Stuttgart, Erlangen also have strong competitors in front of them: Melsungen, Magdeburg and, finally, Hannover. BHC also face Flensburg, Füchse and Hamburg - as well as TBV Lemgo, who can tip the scales in the relegation battle in the games against Balingen and Stuttgart.

Photo: Schips