“We now have the duty to step it up”

New week, new task: SCM coach Bennet Wiegert and his team will travel to HC Kriens-Luzern this week. The Swiss champions are represented in the Champions League for the first time and have been in action in the EHF European League for the last few years. In this respect, a novelty awaits the Magdeburgers: The two clubs have never played against each other before.

“I know how demanding it will be against this ambitious Swiss team. You can tell how much this team wants to play in the Champions League and how much euphoria there is,” Wiegert said looking ahead to Thursday’s match (20:45 CEST, live on Dyn). “We can expect real fireworks. We started well and now have the duty to step it up.”

The team around coach Andy Schmid made it exciting in their first appearance in the highest international competition. At Industria Kielce, Lucerne narrowly failed with 29:30. Particularly striking: goalkeeper Kristian Pilipovic (13 saves), backcourt player Jonas Schelker (7 goals) and circle runner Marin Šipić (8 goals).

“Lucerne showed against Kielce that they are not in the Champions League for nothing. It will be another challenging game for us, it’s about important points again,” warns Magdeburg’s Gisli Kristjansson. He also has a special relationship with coach Andy Schmid: “Andy Schmid was one of my role models when I was younger. As a coach, I can’t judge him, but he was simply a great player and one of the best midfielders I know.”