The starting position is clear: a draw is enough for SC Magdeburg against Veszprem to secure a direct place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. However, the memories of the first leg should be warning enough.
The 28:33 from Magdeburg’s point of view at the start of the group phase in September last year was ultimately a clear result in favor of the top Hungarian club. Six months later, however, the signs are different. After the narrow success against group leaders Barcelona – the eleventh in the Champions League in a row – the SCM is in pole position for direct entry into the quarter-finals.
Group victory also possible
Only the first two teams in each group qualify directly for the knockout rounds. Magdeburg is currently in second place behind Barcelona, with Veszprem following in third. Accordingly, Bennet Wiegert’s team had enough on Thursday evening (6:45 p.m. in the audio stream and live ticker in the SpiO app and on sport-im-osten.de) a draw for progression. If they lose, the defending champions would have to take the detour via the playoffs. Winning the group is still possible, provided Barcelona fails against Montpellier.
Champions League, Group B: Results & Table Arrow right Live ticker: Veszprém HC – SC Magdeburg Arrow right
Wiegert warns: “One of the best teams in Europe”
However, Wiegert is unlikely to get involved in such calculation games. Why? The recent performances against Barcelona and Gummersbach were too consistent, making us forget the slip-up in the league against Hannover-Burgdorf. Magdeburg knows its strengths – especially when it counts. In recent years, the SCM has regularly managed to go one step further, especially in key games.
“I know that we have our opportunities in every handball game,” Wiegert explained in advance Sports picture. Nevertheless, we remain “realistic”. After all, Veszprem is “one of the best teams in Europe, in one of the hottest halls in Europe”.
Veszprem and the long wait
In fact, the Hungarian record champions are currently in brilliant form, which is impressively underlined by 17 wins from 17 league games. The goal is also to finally achieve a big success in the Champions League, after failing in the final four times – in 2002, by the way, against the SCM.
In any case, Veszprem’s coach Momir Ilic expects another top game. “I think if you ask someone close to handball, you can confidently say that this match could even pass as a Champions League final.” Magdeburg is “a team that strives for victory in every situation and everywhere in the world.”
Foxes Berlin in the back of my mind
This also applies to the SCM in the league, where the second game-changing game awaits immediately afterwards. The top game against Füchse Berlin is already on Sunday (4 p.m. on MDR TELEVISION and live stream in the SpiO app) at. If there is another defeat like in the first leg, the title will likely become a long way off. If he wins, the race would be open again. It could be the second exclamation mark within a few days – assuming the away trip to Veszprem goes according to plan.
jsc
Click here to go to the SPORTS HOMEPAGE arrow right
