The German handball record champion THW Kiel overcame a nine-goal deficit in the Champions League quarter-finals and qualified for the Final Four tournament in Cologne at the beginning of June. The four-time title winner beat HB Montpellier 31:21 (17:12) in the second leg, making up for the 30:39 defeat in the first leg in France. The best thrower with eight hits was Eric Johansson. “We were focused on this one opportunity all week and took advantage of it. That tops everything,” said Kiel’s Swedish right winger Niclas Ekberg.
With Kiel’s comeback among the four best teams on the continent after a one-year break, the Bundesliga is represented by two clubs in the final tournament of the most important club competition for the first time in ten years. Defending champions SC Magdeburg qualified for the final tournament on Wednesday: Cup winners and Bundesliga leaders Magdeburg can therefore continue to hope for three titles.
After the early cup knockout and the wasted championship chances, Kiel can now bring their rather mediocre season to a good end on the European stage. The last time THW was without a title was in the 2017/18 season. Against Montpellier, the team played as if unleashed from the middle of the first half: a temporary 4:5 deficit was converted into a promising five-goal lead by the break. After the break, coach Filip Jicha’s team continued to put the guests from France under pressure and for the first time achieved a level that was hardly thought possible at 30:21 in the 56th minute. After a total of twelve saves by THW keeper Tomas Mrkva, the outstanding Swede Eric Johansson made it into the semi-finals with his eighth goal.
In addition to Kiel and Magdeburg, the Danish club Aalborg BK has also been confirmed as a finalist. The last place in the tournament in Cologne was secured by FC Barcelona on Thursday evening, who beat Paris Saint-Germain 32:31 in their own hall after the 30:22 first leg win.