Summary: Füchse book Last 16 spot
The EHF European League Men 2021/22 returned from its two-month break with a rescheduled match from round 6 on Tuesday, when Pfadi Winterthur hosted group A leaders Füchse Berlin.
Unfortunately, we lost our second goalkeeper Fredrik Genz at very short notice before the game because of a stomach bug. We were prepared and knew that if it came to that, Hans Lindberg would go in goal. What many may not know is that Hans is an outstanding beach handball goalie. The sand was missing, but he still made a save.
20:18
RESULT: Pfadi Winterthur 27:30 Füchse Berlin
And with that Füchse Berlin have stamped their name on a Last 16 spot thanks to the win tonight and their perfect six wins from six games! Congrats to the foxes!
20:15
The foxes were able to weather that storm and showed some real maturity to not let that slip away from them when things were looking chaotic. Lindberg was key - not only for his save - but also for settling the ship in attack, he netted four key goals to give the Berlin side the lead once again.
20:00
Total chaos here in Switzerland. With only one keeper in their ranks Hans Lindberg had to step up and take on the role of goalkeeper in the Berlin goal due to a two-minute suspension of Milosavljev.
And now Pfadi take a one goal lead!
19:48
It is a time-out for Füchse Berlin and Pfaid just don't go away. They are fighting tooth-and-nail for every goal. Some really nice one vs one play from Hadj Sadok saw him net two important goals. Lagerquist on the line for the hosts too has been very solid (5/6).
19:21
Pfadi will be glad of that half-time whistle as the foxes from Berlin were really starting to hit their stride during the last 10 minutes. And Berlin will be kicking themselves having missed three of their last chances, the gap could have been a lot bigger.
19:17
He just missed an open goal shot that could have put the foxes six up, but we will forgive him with his seven saves! Dejan Milosavljev, as always, like a brick wall!
19:07
It's a time-out for Pfadi as a hattrick from EHF EURO 2022 All-star Milos Vujovic sees Berlin go 11:8 up. "We need more structure in attack" was the main message for the Swiss side during the time out...
19:02
And we have a game! 8:8! Pfadi have tightened up their defence and scored some nice goals on the break to bring it back level. Freivogel, Tynowski and Lagerquist have netted the last three for the hosts...
18:55
Entertaining start here in Switzerland with fans being gifted 10 goals in the opening 7 minutes. It is Berlin who have the slight edge so far with them boasting a 6:7 lead. Paul Drux and Lasse Andersson fresh off the EHF EURO 2022, look best from the Füchse backcourt - they have five goals between them. While it is Georgia international and ex-Montpellier backcourt shooter Giorgi Tskhovrebadze who looks sharpest with his 2/3.
18:15
Another man who will be celebrating their birthday from home is GOG star Mathias Gidsel. The Danish all-star right back from the EHF EURO 2022 injured himself in the bronze medal match and will likely miss the rest of the season. His next likely club game will be for his new club and tonight's travelling side Füchse Berlin.
17:00
If Füchse win, they secure their Last 16 spot tonight...
... which, of course, is a formality: the multiple EHF Cup winners and last season's EHF Finals contenders will for sure finish in the top four of group A no matter today's result in Switzerland. But to book that Last 16 ticket with four matches to spare is a pretty special feat.
And Pfadi? That is a different story. The 10-time Swiss champions are ranked fifth and it looks like they are going to battle with three other teams for two Last 16 spots: Fenix Toulouse Handball, Bidasoa Irun, and Tatran Presov.
16:22
Füchse are the only team in the competition yet to drop a single point. No wonder their visit to Winterthur marks a major occasion for Pfadi:
Our whole club has looked forward to the home game against Füchse Berlin. It is the highlight for us. We are looking forward to compete against the best team in our group and one of the best teams in the EHF European League. It is a big challenge for us and will help us grow at the biggest stage.
15:47
It is only just over a week ago since Valter Chrintz won the Men's EHF EURO 2022 with Sweden. And that Lasse Andersson, Jacob Holm and Hans Lindberg earned the bronze medal with Denmark.
Unfortunately, two of those Füchse stars have stayed in Berlin and will not play in Winterthur tonight: Chrintz is suffering from a cold and Holm has contracted the coronavirus, according to Füchse's official website.
The group A leaders will also be without Germany international Fabian Wiede (who turns 28 today, congrats!) and long-term injured players Marian Michalczik and Nils Lichtlein. Füchse coach Jaron Siewert has called up Moritz Sauter, Max Beneke and Francisco Perreira from the club's B team as replacements.
15:15
Good afternoon and welcome to the live blog for the first match in men's European club handball in 2022!
Tonight we visit Switzerland where Pfadi Winterthur and Füchse Berlin will contest a rescheduled match from round 6 in the EHF European League Men 2021/22. The match was postponed on its initial playing date in December following positive Covid-19 tests.
Read our preview to get quickly up to date on this match:
