Füchse Berlin have regained the lead in the Handball Bundesliga. The capital club came to a 38:33 (22:16) against VfL Gummersbach and benefited from the simultaneous 29:37 (13:19) defeat of the Rhein-Neckar Löwen at the favorite club SC DHfK Leipzig. The Saxons had previously defeated record champions THW Kiel and defending champions SC Magdeburg.
The master also made a mistake. Coach Bennet Wiegert’s team lost 31:34 (14:17) at TSV Hannover-Burgdorf and suffered another setback in the title race. Berlin now leads the table with 39:7 points ahead of the Löwen (37:9) and Kiel (34:8). Magdeburg (33:9) and SG Flensburg-Handewitt (32:10) can also still hope for the championship.
“It will be an exciting fight to the end,” predicted Foxes trainer Jaron Siewert on pay TV channel Sky. While the Berliners did not show any weakness against the promoted team from Gummersbach, their rivals suffered bitter bankruptcies. “Of course it’s nice for us if the others lose points,” said Siewert.
Lions in Leipzig without a chance
Magdeburg were five goals down in Hannover midway through the second half and equalized within five minutes with a 6-1 run. But in the final phase, the SCM could no longer increase. “I’m not at all happy with the first half. We missed a lot there,” complained Wiegert. “The impact is tough. If you want to achieve the big goals, you should avoid defeats like that. It hurts.”
The Rhein-Neckar Löwen, who had no chance in Leipzig, were hit even harder. Even eleven goals by director Juri Knorr were not enough to avert the clear defeat. “Leipzig was superior to us in every respect,” admitted international Patrick Groetzki.
