31.
19:55
Start of 2nd half
30.
19:44
Half-time conclusion:
In Monday’s HBL game there was a 15:15 draw between Gummersbach and Leipzig at halftime. The guests from Saxony got off to a better start, with a very robust defense they posed challenges to the home team and were quickly able to gain three goals. The main reason for this was keeper Domenico Ebner’s saves; the SC DHfK goalkeeper recorded eight saves. But the Gummersbach team struggled into this game and, with quick duel movements, got numerous time penalties, so that the lead changed hands. From then on, neither team was able to break away, and open throws rarely occurred in positional play. The last minutes of the first half were a completely different story: the hosts only managed one goal in the last eight minutes, and Leipzig also had a five-minute goal drought. The best thrower so far was VfL newcomer Oskarsson with four goals. In keeping with performance, we go into the dressing room with a draw, which should still provide a lot of excitement for the second round. See you soon!
30.
19:40
End of 1st half
30.
19:40
Both goalkeepers put the finishing touches, both Ebner and Ivanišević defended another ball.
30.
19:38
Goal for VfL Gummersbach, 15:15 by Miro Schluroff
Compensation can be achieved via detours! In the meantime, both teams made a bad pass, then the half-left man asserted himself in the duel and netted from the half-left position.
29.
19:38
A minute and a half before the locker room, coach Guðjón Valur Sigurðsson also takes his first team timeout! The next equalizer is on the agenda; we have to get the ball past Domenico Ebner, who has already made seven saves.
28.
19:37
It’s an entertaining first half that offers many special aspects. Leipzig starts with a fast pace, but cannot break away decisively. The Gummersbachers have a majority in the game, but they don’t get any stability in the game either.
27.
19:36
But the Gummersbachers are also increasingly stabilizing their defense and are once again pushing the guests to make a technical error. But from the second wave, winger Miloš Vujović clearly pulls the ball past the box.
26.
19:33
Goal for SC DHfK Leipzig, 14:15 by Franz Semper
Change of leadership! With a lot of patience and powerful crossings, the Leipzig team get their back shooter into position, from nine meters the half-right pushes the ball into the bottom left corner.
25.
19:32
A good five minutes before halftime, coach Rúnar Sigtryggsson takes his first timeout! The coach should be happy with the defense, so the next moves are given.
24.
19:30
Goal for SC DHfK Leipzig, 14:14 by Lukas Binder
24.
19:30
It feels like Leipzig are the better team, are more compact in defense and find better solutions in positional play. The counter-attack goals in particular are a testament to the good defense. Nevertheless, the Gummersbachers are in the lead because they can capitalize a lot, especially in outnumbered situations.
23.
19:27
Goal for VfL Gummersbach, 14:13 by Arnór Óskarsson
With his fourth goal of the day, the half-right puts his colors in the front. When in the majority, coach Sigurðsson’s men shift to the left, and the Icelander can easily jump through the defense with momentum.
22.
19:27
Goal for VfL Gummersbach, 13:13 by Ole Pregel
The U-21 world champion directs Mappes and fuels his way through the center. This puts the home team back on a draw.
21.
19:26
2 minutes for Maciej Gębala (SC DHfK Leipzig)
And the guests continue to pay a high toll on their physical style of play: once again Ole Pregel’s face is slapped.
21.
19:24
Goal for SC DHfK Leipzig, 12:13 by Lukas Binder
What a hit! The angle wasn’t good, the captain caught the ball while still moving backwards. With one step he jumped into the space and pulled the ball into the far corner. Even the newly substituted Tibor Ivanišević cannot fend off the ball.
20.
19:23
Goal for VfL Gummersbach, 12:12 by Kristjan Horžen
Great pass, great hit! With a strong pass, Óskarsson plays the ball to the circle, Horžen finishes with a spin.
19.
19:23
Goal for SC DHfK Leipzig, 11:12 by Viggó Kristjánsson
19.
19:22
Goal for VfL Gummersbach, 11:11 by Arnór Óskarsson
There’s the compensation for VfL! Óskarsson is allowed to bounce unchallenged to the middle and then rises up to nine meters. The ball hits the bottom right powerfully, and Ebner has no chance between the posts.
18.
19:21
2 minutes for Štěpán Zeman (VfL Gummersbach)
The hosts also have to record the first departure from the plate. Once again the referees had no other choice; the hit in the face was undisputed.
17.
19:20
Goal for VfL Gummersbach, 10:11 by Tom Kiesler
Connection hit! The defensive specialist hits the empty goal across half the field.
16.
19:19
Goal for VfL Gummersbach, 9:11 by Lukas Blohme
The game with one more man on the field is going well for the home team. The Gummersbachers find good solutions, play right up to the last level and clear through their right winger.
16.
19:18
2 minutes for Marko Mamić (SC DHfK Leipzig)
Completely the right decision, but a big burden for the defense chief! It’s the second suspension, and again the hand lands heavily in Köster’s face.
15.
19:17
Goal for SC DHfK Leipzig, 8:11 by Viggó Kristjánsson
But the defense also seems to have an effect! It’s another counter-attack with which the guests can further extend their lead.
15.
19:16
Yellow card for Viggó Kristjánsson (SC DHfK Leipzig)
The referees unpack the first yellow box! The Leipzig team continues to get down to business, and Kristjánsson also takes the hard approach against Köster.
14.
19:16
Goal for SC DHfK Leipzig, 8:10 by Viggó Kristjánsson
13.
19:15
Goal for VfL Gummersbach, 8:9 by Arnór Óskarsson
The home team certainly exploits the majority, so the new left-hander makes a breakthrough on the right side.
12.
19:14
Goal for SC DHfK Leipzig, 7:9 by Luca Witzke
Strong action! When outnumbered, the guests play out the attack for a long time, then the playmaker pulls the ball dry from his forearm into the short corner.
11.
19:14
Goal for VfL Gummersbach, 7:8 by Kristjan Horžen
11.
19:13
2 minutes for Marko Mamić (SC DHfK Leipzig)
Next it hits the defense chief. Against the second wave, the defensive chicken is too robust, his hand slips into his face, so the men from the East are once again outnumbered.
11.
19:12
Goal for SC DHfK Leipzig, 6:8 by Franz Semper
10.
19:12
Goal for VfL Gummersbach, 6:7 by Dominik Mappes
10.
19:12
Goal for SC DHfK Leipzig, 5:7 by Andri Rúnarsson
10.
19:12
After a somewhat quieter start, a lively exchange of blows is visibly developing. The Leipzigers have not noticed the long break up to this point, the Gummersbachers, on the other hand, seem a bit unimaginative in their positional attack and are increasingly failing because of the well-disposed goalkeeper Domenico Ebner.
9.
19:10
Goal for VfL Gummersbach, 5:6 by Dominik Mappes
9.
19:10
Goal for SC DHfK Leipzig, 4:6 by Matěj Klíma
8.
19:10
Goal for VfL Gummersbach, 4:5 by Dominik Mappes
8.
19:09
2 minutes for Luca Witzke (SC DHfK Leipzig)
He actually had already caught Köster in a duel, but then he pulled him to the ground, that didn’t have to be the case. This earns him the first suspension of the evening.
8.
19:08
Goal for VfL Gummersbach, 3:5 by Arnór Óskarsson
6.
19:07
Goal for SC DHfK Leipzig, 2:5 by Staffan Peter
Once again, keeper Ebner is the starting point with his saves, this time the counterattack runs down the right side. There the Leipzig home-grown wine ends humorlessly.
6.
19:07
Goal for SC DHfK Leipzig, 2:4 by Matěj Klíma
6.
19:07
Now the knot seems to be broken: The Saxons don’t need any teething problems here and are getting into the match well. They keep the home team in check, especially in positional play, and easily score goals with counter-attacks from the left side.
5.
19:06
Goal for SC DHfK Leipzig, 2:3 by Franz Semper
5.
19:06
Goal for VfL Gummersbach, 2:2 by Julian Köster
5.
19:05
Goal for SC DHfK Leipzig, 1:2 by Lukas Binder
4.
19:05
Goal for SC DHfK Leipzig, 1:1 by Marko Mamić
The guests also arrived in the game after almost four minutes. After winning the ball easily, we move forward quickly and the tempo game is successful.
3.
19:04
On the other hand, keeper Daniel Rebmann can record his first save; Franz Semper’s jump shot from the backcourt was too harmless. The goalkeeper is quickly down in the corner, but Leipzig goalkeeper Ebner also quickly records his first ball blocked.
1.
19:01
Goal for VfL Gummersbach, 1-0 by Julian Köster
The national player opens the scoring, and on the left side the backcourt shooter fuels his way to the first goal.
1.
19:01
Here we go, the duel between VfL Gummersbach and SC DHfK Leipzig has begun!
1.
19:00
Game start
18:55
The referees for the game are Philipp Dinges and Fabian Baumgart, and Jutta Ehrmann-Wolf is in charge of the game. Almost everything has been said, the hall is boiling, the teams are arriving – kick-off is about to happen!
18:50
A look at the statistics reveals that the last encounters were definitely lively duels. The first half of the season was in Leipzig before Christmas, and the Gummersbachers were able to win it 35:32 in their favor. The VfL men also took the points from Saxony in the previous season, while there was a fast-paced 36:36 draw in their own four walls. If the Gummersbachers continue to gain momentum, an international starting place could potentially emerge at the end of the season. Leipzig, on the other hand, are only two points away from relegation, so all alarm bells should be ringing here. Both teams need the important points, but the Gummersbachers are likely to be the favorites today.
18:40
But the Saxons are an unpleasant opponent who has also managed to hold their own away from home. Today is the first appearance after the European Championships, not an easy situation. There could be problems, especially in the gameplay, after such a long break. But SC DHfK’s record before Christmas isn’t particularly commendable either: four defeats in a row currently leave the guests in 14th place in the table. The defeat in Eisenach with 24:25 was probably painful, but so was the 27:30 defeat against their table rivals from Wetzlar. The Leipzig team should therefore be hoping for an upward trend, but the task for the Gummersbach team seems quite tricky.
18:30
After returning to the upper house, a strong upward trend can be seen at the traditional club, also thanks to the good work of coach Guðjón Valur Sigurðsson. After 20 games, VfL has a balanced points account and is in a strong seventh place in the table. Led by national player Julian Köster, the home team shows good performances week after week and usually wins the close games. After the exhausting European Championship, the cup was eliminated in the quarter-finals at the Füchse Berlin, plus a three-goal defeat in Hanover. A good week ago, something countable could finally be recorded again, with the hosts taking two very important points from the newly promoted team from Eisenach with a score of 26:24. Of course, we want to continue this today at the first home game of the new calendar year.
18:20
Hello and welcome to the 22nd matchday of the Handball Bundesliga! VfL Gummersbach welcomes SC DHfK Leipzig, kick-off is at 7 p.m. in the Schwalbe Arena!