SC Magdeburg unleashes a missile during the Club World Cup
SC Magdeburg, the champion German handball squad, commences their quest for an unprecedented fourth consecutive Club World Championship title in Egypt with a thrashing of the US team, California Eagles, 57-21 (28-14). Star player Lukas Mertens leads the charge with 16 goals. Such dominant performances are nothing new for SC Magdeburg, as evidenced by last year's 57-14 demolition of the New Zealand team, University of Queensland, in the inaugural event. Their most significant Bundesliga win came against Wilhelmshavener HV, with a score of 45-22.
The German team has triumphed in the last three editions of the Club World Championship (2021, 2022, 2023), formerly known as the IHF Super Globe. They face a tough challenge from FC Barcelona, the only other squad to have achieved a hat-trick of titles (2017 to 2019). An additional triumph would be the first of its kind. Their victory last year was a nail-biter against Füchse Berlin in the final, 34-32 after extra time.
Their next test comes against Khaleej Club from Saudi Arabia on Sunday (14:00), following a 48-25 victory over the US team in their debut match. Europe's heavyweights, Champions League winners FC Barcelona and wildcard holders Veszprém, are the main contenders for the record title and the €400,000 prize.
The 2023 Club World Championship is in its 18th edition, taking place in the Egyptian administrative capital, which remains unnamed and is situated about 50 kilometers from Cairo. Nine teams are vying for the coveted title, with the final set for Thursday (19:00).
SC Magdeburg aims to set a new record by winning the Record title for a fourth consecutive time in the Club World Championship. Their outstanding performance against California Eagles, scoring 57-21, is a strong indication of their title defense.
