Füchse are now just one step away from their first Champions League title in club history. In the all-German semifinal against league rivals SC Magdeburg, the Berliners kept their cool in a thrilling offensive spectacle and won 40-35 (1917) to avenge their defeat in last year's final.
In the final, they will face the winner of the second semifinal between record champions FC Barcelona and Aalborg Handball, featuring German playmaker Juri Knorr.
363 days after last year's final defeat (26-32) against Magdeburg, Berlin dominated the first half, but Magdeburg refused to be shaken off and fought their way back. When the score was tied at 30-30 with ten minutes to go, and a tense final phase loomed, Berlin turned up the heat. The leading goal scorers of the match were Mathias Gidsel and Omar Ingi Magnusson with nine goals each.
For Magdeburg, the mission to defend their title thus failed. The champions remain at three titles after 2002, 2023, and 2025. Only Barcelona has managed to win twice in a row (2021 and 2022).
20,122 fans in Cologne's Lanxess Arena witnessed a balanced and intense start after an opening ceremony full of show elements. As the game progressed, Fuchse became more dominant.
The first highlight came from Berlin's Danish backcourt stars, with Gidsel setting up Lasse Andersson to make it 5-4 after ten minutes. Magdeburg struggled to find answers to Füchse's versatile offense, and Berlin temporarily pulled ahead by three goals (19th minute). Gidsel, Andersson, and Tim Freihofer had each scored four times by halftime.
"We're moving the ball fantastically. We're showing that we're not just Mathias Gidsel," said Fuchse managing director Bob Hanning at halftime on Dyn. "We need one or two saves and a consistent defense."
The goalkeepers hardly played a role up to halftime. Even after the break, the end-to-end action continued at a lively pace as Freihofer extended Berlin's lead to four goals (33rd minute).
Magdeburg quickly closed the gap again despite being temporarily shorthanded. Magnus Saugstrup scored to bring them within one (35th minute), and Omar Ingi Magnusson equalized (44th minute).
When Matthias Musche gave Magdeburg their first lead since the seventh minute, the Magdeburg section erupted in cheers (48th minute). But then Berlin struck back and Magdeburg eventually crumbled.