Before the last home game: “I’m a bit wistful”

With VfL Gummersbach and SC Magdeburg, the two clubs with the longest handball tradition in the Handball Bundesliga will meet this week. The joint history of the two clubs is correspondingly long – with numerous memorable duels. SCM won the first leg of this season 32-31 after a dramatic final phase. The Magdeburgers achieved something remarkable: They were the only team in the league to take points from the current fourth in the table in their own hall. Now their own home series is to be continued in the second leg. Because in the Daikin Handball Bundesliga, no guest team was able to win in the GETEC Arena this season.

“We have another very difficult home game ahead of us. Gummersbach is playing an outstanding season and is showing a strong development. For them, it’s still about third place – it’s going to be a tough one. But we want to keep up our winning streak,” said right winger Tim Hornke ahead of Wednesday’s game (20:00 CEST, Dyn).

After the final whistle, SCM will then be presented with the championship trophy by the HBL. For Hornke, it is the next sporting highlight: He has won the title with Magdeburg for the third time. But the evening has another, very personal meaning. Because the 35-year-old, who will end his career after this season, will play in front of his home crowd for the last time in the green and red jersey. “I’m a bit wistful. I make no secret of it. It feels strange to know that it’s my last game here. It’s going to be very emotional.”

More information about the last home game can be found here.