THW Kiel is about to be eliminated in the fight for a place in the final tournament of the handball Champions League. The German record champions with ÖFB legionnaire Nikola Bilyk clearly lost the quarter-final first leg at the French representative Montpellier HB on Wednesday with 30:39 (16:20).
In the second leg on May 2nd, coach Filip Jicha’s team needs a small miracle in their own hall to make it to the semi-finals. Eric Johansson was Kiel’s best thrower with eight hits. Lucas Pellas and Yanis Lenne were each successful seven times for the hosts.
Bilyk and Kiel are clearly defeated by Montpellier
At the beginning of the game, the North Germans withstood the pressure from the hosts well. But then Montpellier got stronger. The second half also determined Montpellier. At 19:26 (38th), Kiel coach Jicha took a timeout and encouraged his players. “We need some fire. Believe me, nothing is lost,” said the 42-year-old Czech. By the final whistle, the deficit had grown to nine goals. So Kiel faces an enormously difficult task in the second leg.
