Champion Magdeburg Falls to Melsungen

German champion SC Magdeburg dropped its first points in the Handball Bundesliga. In Melsungen, the team from Magdeburg found itself trailing early on and lost 34-37 (14-19). Felix Claar was the SCM’s top scorer with eleven goals.

The SCM did not start the game well, squandering too many scoring opportunities and initially failing to tighten up their defense—resulting in a four-goal deficit (1–5 at the 5-minute mark). “We need to do more of what they’re doing. They’re fighting; I want to fight too,” demanded SCM coach Bennet Wiegert during a timeout less than eleven minutes into the game. 

Magdeburg’s comeback came too late

The Green-Reds continued to struggle on offense, however, taking too few shots and even missing two penalty throws. Instead, MT pulled ahead by seven goals on a power play. Magdeburg fought hard—especially Claar—but at halftime, they trailed by five goals on the scoreboard.

Claar and Gisli Kristjansson tried to get the SCM back on track after the break. But Magdeburg’s error rate remained too high, and the deficit grew to nine goals (25:34/51.). Magdeburg went on a 6-0 run in the closing minutes. But the comeback came too late to prevent their first loss of the season.