Shey German handball teams against FC Barcelona are a rarity. SG Flensburg in the semi-finals of the 2014 Champions League, THW Kiel six years later in the final of the competition – otherwise the Spaniards were usually ahead when something was really at stake. SC Magdeburg has now become the feared opponent of the successful Catalans. On Sunday evening, coach Bennet Wiegert’s team won a gripping final 41:39 after extra time against Barcelona and can call themselves club world champions for another year.
Wiegert’s seven had already distanced the Spanish favorites at 33:28 in 2021 and, like now, was happy about a bonus of 400,000 dollars (equivalent to 406,000 euros). A pleasant side effect is that the Magdeburgers have already qualified for next autumn’s edition by defending their title.
A crisp tournament
Every year the club world championship of the handball world association IHF called Super Globe is controversial in this country. In the middle of the Bundesliga season with preliminary round opponents of dubious quality, this time again in Saudi Arabia, a country without handball history – does that have to be, or is it just sports washing?
In Magdeburg you see things a little differently. Last year with a wild card, this time as the current title holder, Magdeburg sees the prestige and prize money of the tough tournament with four games on six days. And who wanted to discuss the sporting value of a final win against FC Barcelona?
In the semifinals on Saturday, SCM had defeated the Egyptians Al-Ahly SC 36:28, Barcelona clearly defeated Kielce. Last year’s final victory against the favorites was the starting signal for a season that was crowned with the German championship. Confidence and cohesion grew enormously in Jeddah and it stands to reason that another big win against Barcelona will give Bennet Wiegert’s side the impetus to come.
It was a memorable game in the port city of Dammam in front of around 3000 spectators. The SCM had already scored 21 goals at the break, and thanks to the famous Omar Ingi Magnusson, Magdeburg even increased the four-goal lead from the first half to six in the middle of the second half.
At the back, new goalkeeper Nikola Portner was a great help, although he was unable to do much against many goals in this high-speed game. But Barcelona, currently Europe’s best team, came back thanks to their broad squad and many individual talents like Dika Mem and equalized again seconds before the end of the 60 minutes. Philipp Weber’s shot with the final whistle hit the post. Renewal.
That’s how it is in handball
Wiegert’s team remained full of energy. Christian O’Sullivan and Magnus Saugstrup in defence, Gisli Kristjansson and Omar Ingi Magnusson in attack (altogether 18 goals), plus goalkeeper Portner, who fended off the seven-metre throw from former Flensburg player Hampus Wanne at 40:39: these were the guarantors of a surprising victory in Saudi Arabia, which was appropriately acclaimed. It was the second title defense of a German team at the IHF Super Globe.
There isn’t much time to be happy. Already on Thursday the SCM plays in the Champions League at Telekom Veszprem. That’s how it is in handball.
