Flensburg-Handewitt from Germany wins the European Cup final
Berlin is unable to retain their European League title as SG Flensburg-Handewitt takes home the win. 18 out of the last 20 title holders have been German teams.
The most recent triumph of Flensburg-Handewitt in the European League is their first time taking home the coveted trophy. They defeated last year's champion, Füchse Berlin, in the final held in Hamburg with a score of 36:31 (15:14). Since their Champions League victory a decade ago, it marks their first international title.
Notably, in the past two decades, 18 out of 20 European League titles have been won by German teams. Berlin, however, failed to win their fourth title in the former EHF Cup after losses in 2015, 2018, and 2023.
Two Red Cards
Emil Jakobsen, SG's top scorer, scored seven goals for them. Goalkeeper Kevin Möller also shone in his performance. For Füchse Berlin, Jerry Tollbring also scored seven goals.
Mijajlo Marsenic, Berlin's defensive leader, was given a red card due to a foul. Flensburg's playmaker Jim Gottfridsson was shown a red card five minutes later for a similar infringement. Both decisions were confirmed following video review. Rhein-Neckar Löwen secured their spot as the third-placed team at the Final Four due to a 32:31 (18:15) victory against Bukarest on Sunday.
The match, which lasted over 60 minutes, was an even contest. Berlin had initially dominated with their nimble defense. With a 6:3 lead after 13 minutes, Berlin seemed poised to continue their winning streak. But Flensburg's growing confidence lead to them finding their footing and upping their game.
The goalkeeper, Möller, became more confident as the match progressed, while their wider bench began to make a difference. Johannes Golla, captain and national team player, scored twice to give Flensburg their first lead of the game at 17:14 (34'). With a solid lead of three goals, Flensburg refused to relinquish their advantage and eventually secured victory.
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Flensburg-Handewitt's triumph in the European Cup final solidified their dominance in handball, as they became one of the few teams to win the prestigious title multiple times in recent years. Despite their strong performance, the match against Füchse Berlin was not without controversies, with two crucial red cards given to key players from both teams.
Source: www.ntv.de
