Roller coaster season for national handball champions

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In his fourth Bundesliga season, Lucas Meister gets to know a new handball world. After three years in Minden, which were dominated by the relegation battle, he now suddenly plays with the German champions SC Magdeburg for the really big trophies.

“You are almost obsessed with defending the title here,” says Meister about the traditional club, which was able to celebrate the championship for the first time since 2001 in the year before Meister’s arrival. To achieve the goal of defending the title, Magdeburg’s coach Bennet Wiegert hardly relies on the second guard, but mainly relies on his regular formation. At the start of the season, the national champion circle runner is only a few minutes behind his position colleague, the Danish world champion Magnus Saugstrup.

Bad luck with injuries at the SCM

This timetable for the club is still valid until February. But then Saugstrup seriously injured his knee in the first game after the World Cup. Although champions have the confidence of coach Wiegert, another national player, the Swede Oscar Bergendahl, has been recruited in the short term. The Swiss only has the back-up role again – until mid-April in the cup semi-final, Bergendahl was also injured.

Since then, Meister has been indispensable in attack and defense and played 60 minutes. “I feel very comfortable in this role,” says the 26-year-old. Magdeburg has not lost a point in the league since his “promotion”. Nevertheless, it should be tight with the title defense. The leader from Kiel should probably fail twice in the last five games of the season, so that champions and co still have a chance.

Fortunately, Magdeburg has a second iron in the fire with the Champions League. There on Wednesday (6.45 pm, DAZN) in the quarterfinal second leg against the Poles from Wisla Plock (first leg 10.22 pm) for the first participation in the Final Four. “We certainly have good cards there, especially in our own room,” says Meister.

In general, Meister feels very comfortable in the team. He would not be averse to extending his contract, which expires in 2024, even though his colleagues Saugstrup and Bergendahl have made long-term commitments to the club. (cmu)

Source : Blick