Füchse Berlin Stumble in Bundesliga Title Race
Berlin, Germany – SC Füchse Berlin’s hopes of securing the Handball-Bundesliga title suffered a setback on Sunday as they were held to a 25:25 draw by TBV Lemgo Lippe. The result sees the Füchse slip to third place in the standings.
Leading the way for the Füchse were Mathias Gidsel with nine goals and Fabian Wiede with four. However, the absence of injured pivots Max Darj and Lukas Herburger was keenly felt.
Strong Start, Mid-Game Woes
The Füchse made a bright start to the match, establishing a 4:1 lead after seven minutes. Goalkeeper Dejan Milosavljev played a key role, saving two penalty shots.
However, Lemgo responded with patient attacks, finding holes in the Füchse defense. Technical errors and missed shots from the Berliners added to their woes. The once-lethal backcourt of Danish world champions Lasse Andersson and Gidsel struggled to make an impact.
Gidsel’s Resilience
As the match entered the second half, the contest remained close. The Füchse fell behind 16:17 after 37 minutes, but Gidsel stepped up for the visitors. With nine minutes remaining, Berlin had edged ahead 23:20 thanks to a 4:0 run.
Late Drama
However, Lemgo refused to capitulate and eventually drew level. As time wound down, the Füchse had to settle for the draw when Lemgo’s final shot missed the target.
Coach Siewert’s Assessment
Coach Jaron Siewert acknowledged that the absence of Darj and Herburger had an impact on the Füchse’s performance. He said, "We lacked presence in the circle today, which made life difficult for our backcourt players."
Missed Opportunities
Siewert pointed to missed chances as a crucial factor in the draw. "We created good opportunities, but we didn’t capitalize on them consistently enough. We have to be more clinical if we want to compete for the title."
Title Race Heating Up
The draw leaves the Bundesliga title race wide open. SC Magdeburg remains at the summit with 31 points, followed by MT Melsungen (30) and the Füchse (29). Both Melsungen and Berlin have a game in hand over Magdeburg.
The Füchse will hope to bounce back next weekend when they host HSG Wetzlar, while Melsungen takes on SC DHfK Leipzig. Magdeburg will face a stern test against THW Kiel.
Conclusion
The Füchse Berlin’s title hopes have taken a hit, but the race for the Bundesliga crown remains fiercely contested. The Füchse will need to rediscover their best form and capitalize on their chances if they want to challenge for the top spot in the coming weeks.
