Magdeburg against Berlin: A handball final of superlatives!

Magdeburg against Berlin: A handball final of superlatives!

On June 15, 2025 the time has finally come: the final of the Handball Bundesliga is on the program and there will be an all-German duel between SC Magdeburg and Füchse Berlin. This constellation is particularly remarkable because it is the third time in the 32-year history of the Handball Champions League that two German teams have met in the final. Similar confrontations previously occurred in 2007 and 2014, when the teams THW Kiel and SG Flensburg-Handewitt dominated the field of the best, as MDR reports.

SC Magdeburg secured its place in the final thanks to an exciting semi-final against FC Barcelona that ended 31:30. After an even 18:18 at halftime, Magdeburg showed fighting spirit, even though the team was down by up to four goals at one point. Omar Ingi Magnusson was the hero of the day with an impressive eleven goals. In the final phase, Tim Hornke took responsibility and secured the victory with the decisive goal in the last second, according to the report South German newspaper.

A holiday for German handball

SC Magdeburg's coach Bennet Wiegert sees this final as a “holiday for German handball”. He is also calling for an increase in the number of German starting places in the Champions League, as competition in the Bundesliga has increased significantly and it is extremely difficult to qualify for international competitions. This problem became particularly clear this season, which was characterized by head-to-head races and exciting encounters for the clubs, reports MDR.

In addition to Magdeburg, the Füchse Berlin also caused a sensation in the semi-finals. They sent a clear signal with a clear 34:24 victory over HBC Nantes. Even though Mathias Gidsel had to leave the field for a moment with a red card, he remained an important part of the team until the end. Dejan Milosavljev was a rock in goal, while Lasse Andersson contributed significantly to the success with his seven goals.

The history of the handball Bundesliga

The Handball Bundesliga (HBL) has developed into one of the strongest leagues in Europe since its introduction in the 1966/67 season. It initially started in two regional sections before being converted into a one-tier league in 1977, which today includes 18 clubs. Changes in sponsorship have brought a breath of fresh air for the current season; The new main sponsor Daikin has renamed the league the Daikin Handball Bundesliga. The league plays a total of 34 game days, without playoffs or finals, which underlines the importance of the regular season Wikipedia.

With this exciting starting point, both the fans in Cologne and the handball community across Germany can look forward to a thrilling finale. It remains to be seen which team will ultimately emerge victorious and secure the coveted Champions League title.