Füchse Berlin without Gidsel in the Champions League final against Magdeburg!

Füchse Berlin without Gidsel in the Champions League final against Magdeburg!

It is June 15, 2025 and the handball world is watching Cologne with a spell. The Füchse Berlin played their way into the final of the EHF Champions League with a confident 34:24 win against HBC Nantes. But the Berliners' joy at reaching the final was overshadowed by an unpleasant episode: Mathias Gidsel, who is considered perhaps the best handball player in the world, received a red card in the semi-final and had to watch the game from the stands. “Just do it without me,” Gidsel wrote as a message to the bench after he had to leave the field early. Despite his loss, the Foxes showed strength, with Nils Lichtlein and Lasse Andersson leading the team, as well as goalkeeper Dejan Milosavljev, who impressively saved 15 shots. SC Magdeburg is now waiting in the final, having moved into the big showdown with a narrow 31:30 victory over FC Barcelona. Coach Bennet Wiegert expressed his enthusiasm that everyone who loves German handball should have their hearts warming. It is a meeting that screams out to be a pure German handball story, as German teams last met in the final in 2014.

The Foxes travel to Cologne as newly crowned German champions and therefore bring a good deal of self-confidence with them. Manager Bob Hanning had already confirmed his belief in winning the Champions League title two months ago. Gidsel, who contributed significantly to the team's success, will be missing as a key player, but this does not detract from the Foxes' ultimate goal. In his place, Fabian Wiede played in Gidsel's position and was able to distinguish himself as a mistake-free player. This makes it understandable why the Foxes can play so consistently in this intense phase of the season.

A thrilling finale awaits

The final takes place on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. SC Magdeburg will do everything it can to win the title after a difficult season marked by injuries and the shock of an attack at the Christmas market. Matthias Musche, a key player for the Magdeburg team, has already expressed his confidence about his club's chances. It also remains to be seen whether Gisli Thorgeir Kristjansson will be fit in time to play in the final. Coach Wiegert has already announced that he is initially planning to play without Kristjansson in the hope that his team will show the necessary strength to prevail against the Foxes.

Historical significance of the Champions League

Wherever the journey may lead, the upcoming final not only has great significance for the two teams, but also represents an important moment in the history of the Champions League. SC Magdeburg is one of the few clubs that triumphed in the 1970s and has firmly established itself in the list of title holders. From a German perspective, the nations ranking is particularly remarkable: Germany leads with a total of 21 title wins, while Spain has 18 successes. The Füchse Berlin and SC Magdeburg not only have their own rivalry, but also a piece of German handball tradition.

The excitement before the big match could hardly be higher. It remains to be seen whether the Foxes can survive without Gidsel and despite difficult opponents. Fans, players and coaches are optimistic that it will be an unforgettable game. After the thrilling semi-finals, the cards have been reshuffled and a German champion will be crowned in the heart of the Rhine, while the handball community in Cologne gets its money's worth again.

For more information on the historical background of the Champions League, visit Handball World. Current match reports can be found at ZDF Today and detailed analyses FAZ.