A highlight of the handball year: The Final Four in Cologne is about the title in the DHB Cup. Here are the most important facts and information.
What is the Final Four in the DHB Cup?
At the Final Four in Cologne, four teams will contest the semi-finals, the match for third place and the final of the DHB cup competition. The tournament will take place in Cologne for the first time on April 15th and 16th. 20,000 fans are expected in the arena there.
The Final Four event has been around since 1993. After the first edition in Frankfurt, Hamburg was the venue from 1994 and 2022. Now the Final Four will take place at least five times in Cologne.
Which teams are there?
SG Flensburg-Handewitt has to deal with the Rhein-Neckar Löwen in the first semi-final, champion SC Magdeburg meets TBV Lemgo Lippe.
What’s the schedule?
The first semi-final between Flensburg and Rhein Neckar Löwen will take place on Saturday, April 15 at 4:10 p.m. The second semi-final between Magdeburg and Lemgo follows at 7 p.m.
On Sunday, third place will be played at 12.45 p.m., with the final starting at 3.40 p.m.
Who broadcasts the games?
The first broadcasts the semifinals between Flensburg and the Rhein Neckar Löwen as well as the final on free TV and in the live stream. The semi-final between Magdeburg and Lemgo will be shown on pay TV on Sky. The game for third place is broadcast live on sportschau.de and in the ARD media library.
In addition, sportschau.de reports on all games via live ticker.
| Spiel | Datum | transmission |
|---|---|---|
SG Flensburg-Handewitt – Rhein Neckar Lowen | Saturday, April 15 (4:10 p.m.) | ARD and Sky |
SC Magdeburg – TBV Lemgo Lippe | Saturday, April 15 (7:00 p.m.) | Sky |
Match for third place | Sunday, April 16 (12:45 p.m.) | Sportschau.de |
Finale | Sunday, April 16 (3:40 p.m.) | ARD and Sky |
What do clubs say?
“We are happy to be there in Cologne. We are proud to be able to take part and are in good spirits”, said Magdeburg’s manager Marc-Henrik Schmedt, who can dream of the third cup triumph after 1996 and 2016 with the SCM. The Magdeburg ticket contingent will “be gone after a day”.
Lemgo takes part in the final tournament of the best for the third time in a row. With the cup winner of 2020, the cup has “great importance”, said TBV managing director Jörg Zereike. In the Cologne hall, which will be the venue for the first time in 29 years in Hamburg, he expects one “great atmosphere“.
Flensburgs Glandorf: “There are no easy opponents”
Flensburg are looking forward to their return to the arena where they won the Champions League in 2014. According to SG managing director Holger Glandorf, the semi-final opponent Rhein-Neckar Löwen does not play a role. “There are no easy opponents. It doesn’t really matter who you play against.”
Defending champion THW Kiel failed in the quarter-finals at Magdeburg, Bundesliga leaders Füchse Berlin in the second round at Flensburg.
