Matchday 26: The top clash overshadows everything – including the crucial eastern clash

Thursday, 26 March:

• With two wins from their last three matches – against Hannover and Melsungen – HSV Hamburg have consolidated 11th place, with 21:29 points.
• While Hamburg are likely no longer involved in the relegation battle, Bergischer HC, in 15th place with 12:38 points, are only two points above the first relegation spot. Most recently, BHC suffered defeats against Magdeburg and Rhein-Neckar Löwen.
• Hamburg’s Dane Nicolaj Jørgensen has scored 152 goals this season, making him the sixth best scorer in the league. BHC’s top scorer is Noah Beyer with 136 goals, who will join Hamburg next season.
• BHC won the reverse fixture 35:32 – as well as the two previous home matches against Hamburg. Their last away win in Hamburg came in 2021; overall, BHC lead the head-to-head 7–6.

Friday, 27 March:

• MT Melsungen have won just one of their last four matches – the Hesse derby against Wetzlar. Most recently, they lost 24:31 to VfL Gummersbach. With 28:22 points, Roberto Parrondo’s side sit eighth.
• Fourth-placed THW Kiel are already ten points behind leaders Magdeburg and currently have 36:14 points following their derby win against Flensburg.• Top scorers are Dainis Krištopāns (MT, 102 goals) and Elias Ellefsen á Skipagøtu (THW, 142 goals).
• Both teams have reached the knockout stage of the European League. Kiel, as group winners, are already in the quarter-finals, while Melsungen face Fredericia in the play-offs.
• Before Kiel’s 31:29 win in the reverse fixture, Melsungen had been unbeaten in four matches (three wins, one draw). Overall, Kiel lead the record with 32 wins to Melsungen’s seven.

• After a 33:37 derby defeat to THW Kiel, Flensburg have slipped to third place with 39:11 points, seven behind Magdeburg.
• GWD Minden have drawn three of their last seven matches but have not won since 10 December. Most recently, they lost 31:33 to Wetzlar and sit 16th with 12:38 points, just two points above the relegation zone.
• Flensburg’s top scorers Emil Jakobsen (145 goals) and Simon Pytlick (142) are close, while Ian Weber (GWD) needs six more goals to reach 100.
• In goalkeeping, Malte Semisch (GWD, 204 saves) leads ahead of Flensburg’s Benjamin Buric (175).
• Minden’s last win over Flensburg came on 17 May 2008 (29:28 away). Since then, Flensburg have won 24 times, plus one draw. Overall record: 46 wins for Flensburg to five for Minden.

Saturday, 28 March:

• First vs second – and perhaps an early title decider. Before Magdeburg’s 39:32 win in the reverse fixture, Berlin had made headlines by parting ways with Jaron Siewert and Stefan Kretzschmar.
• With 22 wins, two draws and one defeat, Magdeburg lead the table comfortably with 46:4 points. Most recently, they edged a 27:25 win at Bergischer HC.
• Füchse are on a nine-game winning streak – currently the longest in the league – most recently winning 45:29 against Erlangen. Still, they trail Magdeburg by six points.
• The league’s best attack (Berlin, 899 goals) faces the best defence (Magdeburg, 668 conceded).
• The league’s top scorer Matthias Gidsel (227 goals for Berlin) faces third-placed Omar Ingi Magnusson (183 for Magdeburg).
• In goal, Magdeburg have the edge with Sergey Hernandez (254 saves) over Dejan Milosavljev (194). Both will leave their clubs after the season.
• Both teams have qualified directly for the Champions League quarter-finals and will compete in the Lidl Final4 for the DHB Cup.
• Last season, Berlin won in Magdeburg, while the reverse fixture ended 31:31. Out of 37 Bundesliga meetings, Berlin have won 20 and Magdeburg 12.

• Rhein-Neckar Löwen have taken seven points from their last five matches, most recently drawing 29:29 in Eisenach. They are seventh with 29:21 points.
• Wetzlar secured an important 33:31 win over Minden in the relegation battle but remain second from bottom with 10:40 points.
• Jannik Kohlbacher leads Löwen scoring with 153 goals; former Löwe Philipp Ahouansou tops Wetzlar with 122.
• Overall record: 32 wins for Löwen, eight for Wetzlar. In Mannheim, Wetzlar have won just twice in 21 attempts. Löwen won the reverse fixture 30:23.

• VfL Gummersbach are the team of the moment with seven consecutive wins, including a 31:24 victory in Melsungen. With a game in hand, they are fifth with 35:13 points.
• Hannover-Burgdorf have lost their last four matches, most recently 35:37 to Hamburg. They are ninth with 22:28 points.
• Gummersbach’s internal scoring duel sees Miro Schluroff (116) narrowly ahead of Julian Köster (115). August Pedersen leads Hannover with 148 goals.
• Gummersbach have won the last three duels, including 29:26 in the reverse fixture. Overall, Hannover lead the head-to-head 13–9.

Sunday, 29 March:

• The hosts are under particular pressure. Leipzig have taken four of their nine points in the last five matches but remain bottom, one point behind Wetzlar and three from safety. They do, however, have a game in hand.
• Eisenach are still waiting for their first away point of the season. With 17:33 points, they sit 14th, seven points clear of relegation.
• Felix Aellen (134 goals) leads Eisenach scoring; Leipzig’s Franz Semper has 111 strikes to his name.
• Eisenach are unbeaten in five matches against Leipzig (four wins, one draw). Leipzig’s last win came in 2016.

• Stuttgart are the form team in the bottom half, unbeaten in four matches (two wins, two draws). They sit 12th, nine points clear of relegation.
• Lemgo have won just one of their last four matches and are sixth with 34:16 points.
• Kai Häfner (202 goals) faces Niels Versteijnen (153) in a clash of top scorers.
• Stuttgart’s five wins over Lemgo have all come at home, but Lemgo have won the last three duels. Overall record: 12–5 in Lemgo’s favour.

• Göppingen (10th, 22:28) and Erlangen (13th, 17:33) are separated by three places and five points.
• Göppingen have won their last three matches, including a 30:27 victory in Lemgo.
• Erlangen recorded a draw, a win, and most recently a heavy 29:45 defeat to Berlin.
• Viggó Kristjánsson has scored 134 goals for Erlangen, Marcel Schiller 120 for Göppingen.
• Göppingen won the reverse fixture 29:28 and lead the overall record 12–7.