Birthday boy Mathias Gidsel (m.) led the Füchse to victory against Flensburg with Blaz Blagotinsek (r.) and Johannes Golla.
Photo: imago/Contrast
The guests almost ruined Paul Drux’s birthday. “Everything was actually good until the 59th minute,” said the Füchse Berlin captain. While the handball players from the capital had always led by at least two goals against SG Flensburg-Handewitt, the Füchse finally managed to win 32:31 in an exciting final phase on Thursday evening. And so Drux was able to send a self-confident greeting to Magdeburg one day after his 30th anniversary with the “important victory”. The SCM sent a signal on his birthday in Kiel: “We noticed it.”
The Bundesliga started with two top games after the European Championship in Germany. After SC Magdeburg’s clear 33:26 defeat of champions THW on Wednesday and the success of the Füchse, the title fight is now just a duel, the third-placed Flensburg team are now six points behind the leading duo with the same number of points.
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On Thursday, someone other than Drux was serenaded by the 8,500 spectators in Berlin’s Max Schmeling Hall before kick-off: Mathias Gidsel. “It was an incredibly good 25th birthday with two points,” the Dane said happily later. Even more euphoric than his captain, he immediately proclaimed “the championship” as his goal and a challenge to the club world champions SCM. Gidsel’s self-confidence is no coincidence, after all, the European runner-up returned to the Füchsen as the tournament’s top scorer and, with 147 goals, is on the verge of winning this title in the Bundesliga as well. Together with Drux, he could play a leading role in the race with Magdeburg for the championship, as the game against Flensburg also showed.
“It’s like a test match,” wondered a Berlin fan at halftime. The Foxes were leading 18:6 – and Gidsel wasn’t really in the game yet: a few missed throws and only one goal. Flensburg’s coach Nicolej Krickau later offered special praise for the fact that others had thrown away the lead. Jaron Siewert gets the best out of all players. The Berlin coach thanked him and in turn praised his own team: “Speed, attack and defense – our first half was outstanding.”
In the second half, Gidsel turned things up – with five goals, against Flensburg, who were now defending better, from difficult positions and when the opponent was in a hurry. He was supported by his captain. Paul Drux was missing from the Foxes for a long time due to an injury. The fact that the national player only made his fourth appearance of the season on Thursday could be an advantage. While many top players who play in leagues, cups, international competitions and their national teams complain about excessive stress, the strength and power of the backcourt player could become crucial as the season progresses. Slowly but surely Drux is finding his way back to his old strength; against Flensburg, like Gidsel, he helped his team in tight phases thanks to his experience, especially with clever passes that led to goals.
“I look forward to every game,” Gidsel said later. He finds long breaks boring. This attitude helps, but the Dane’s efforts are also noticeable, especially after the European Championships. This and the fact that the win against Flensburg was still in danger in the second half despite a temporary lead of seven goals, caused those responsible in Berlin to show restraint. Sports director Stefan Kretzschmar warned that no matter how good a team in the Bundesliga, it could lose anywhere. “Except for Magdeburg,” he added with a wink. Coach Siewert would find qualifying for the Champions League “great.” To do this, the Berliners would have to defend second place in the remaining 14 games.
In the duel with Magdeburg for the first championship title in the club’s history, the offensive gives the Foxes hope. They have so far scored more goals than the Champions League winners. However, defense wins championships. And that speaks clearly for the SCM: so far they have conceded 41 fewer goals than the Berliners. The pursuers Flensburg, Melsungen and Kiel also defend better.
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