Flensburg-Handewitt faces defending champions Benfica Lisbon in the round of 16 first leg of the European League. The Portuguese defeated SC Magdeburg in the final almost a year ago to lift the EHF European League trophy. However, the defending champions only managed to finish fourth in Group A this season.
Despite their poor performance in the group stage, the Benfica squad has a lot of Bundesliga experience. Right winger Ole Rahmel used to play for THW Kiel, while Petar Djordjic played a total of five seasons for SG Flensburg-Handewitt. He was even one of the last winners of the European Cup Winners’ Cup, which was then discontinued.
SG coach Maik Machulla is among those wondering about the Portuguese team’s poor performance this season. After six successive successes in the championship race, Flensburg-Handewitt has put up with a damper in the handball Bundesliga. The team drew 27:27 (14:13) at Frisch Auf Göppingen on the 23rd matchday and lost an important point.
The round of 16 first leg in the Handball European League between Benfica Lisbon and Flensburg-Handewitt will be broadcast live on the streaming service DAZN. The game will be played in Lisbon starting at 6.45 p.m.
