The Bundesliga’s hierarchy is beginning to look a little less predictable. Lemgo are the team making the biggest statement, Magdeburg and Kiel continue to deliver, while Flensburg have finally suffered their first defeat. Elsewhere, Gummersbach are looking increasingly convincing, Berlin’s defensive issues are becoming a serious concern and Rhein-Neckar Löwen are in freefall. Here is how the teams stack up after another busy period in the Bundesliga.
Power Rankings is Ola Selbys monthly take on which teams are truly in form. It’s not about the league table, but about how the teams have performed during the past month.
Here are the Bundesliga Power Rankings for October!
1: SC Magdeburg
Current league standing: 2
September ranking: 2
Photo (achive): Daniel Stiller / BILDBYRÅN.
Four games, four wins. Nothing particularly spectacular, perhaps, but Magdeburg continue to look like a team that knows exactly what it is doing. Erlangen were brushed aside with a commanding first half, while Stuttgart came surprisingly close to making things uncomfortable after Magdeburg had built a six-goal advantage. A narrow win, but still a win.
The victories over Rhein-Neckar Löwen and Lemgo were more convincing in terms of control, even if the latter pushed them harder than most expected. Matej Mandic was outstanding against Löwen with 15 saves at 41 per cent, while Ómar Ingi Magnússon continues to be a reliable attacking weapon. Nine goals against Erlangen and 11 against Lemgo tell their own story. Magdeburg are not necessarily blowing everyone away, but they are collecting points with the consistency of champions.
2: THW Kiel
Current league standing: 1
September ranking: 3
Five wins from five. Kiel are not always making life easy for themselves, but the results keep coming. The victory over Gummersbach was built on a superb second half, with Andreas Wolff, Elias Ellefsen á Skipagøtu and Lukas Zerbe all making important contributions. Against Hamburg, it was the defence that stole the show, with Eric Johansson and his teammates keeping the visitors to just 19 goals.
The 37–36 thriller against Rhein-Neckar Löwen was perhaps more uncomfortable than expected, with Kiel needing a last-second penalty from Johansson to escape. Their defensive performance was hardly convincing, but they showed enough character to get over the line. The subsequent wins against Erlangen and Stuttgart were more straightforward, with the latter particularly comfortable. Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas also made his presence felt with 15 saves against Stuttgart. Kiel are winning in different ways, and that is a very encouraging sign.
3: SG Flensburg-Handewitt
Current league standing: 3
September ranking: 1
Photo: Michael Erichsen / BILDBYRÅN
Flensburg’s winning streak eventually came to an end, but not before another impressive run of performances. They handled Göppingen, dismantled Hannover and produced one of the most entertaining matches of the period against Füchse Berlin. Simon Pytlick was at the heart of almost everything, including the remarkable last-second free throw that secured the win against his future club.
That defeat against Gummersbach was always going to arrive eventually. It was a close encounter, and there is little reason to panic, particularly given how dangerous Flensburg have looked going forward. Aymeric Minne was sensational against Hannover with 12 goals and three assists, while Benjamin Buric and Simon Möller have both delivered strong performances between the posts. Emil Jakobsen also chipped in with ten goals against Balingen. There is a lot to like about this team, even if the perfect record is gone.
4: TBV Lemgo
Current league standing: 4
September ranking: 13
Photo: Vegard Wivestad Grøtt / BILDBYRÅN
Now this is getting interesting. Lemgo have gone from being a team languishing near the bottom of the rankings to one of the most impressive sides in the Bundesliga. Five consecutive victories against Hamburg, Stuttgart, Füchse Berlin, Göppingen and Hannover is an outstanding achievement. The fact that they also pushed Magdeburg all the way makes the run even more impressive.
Florian Kehrmann continues to get an extraordinary amount out of his squad. The team looks organised, confident and increasingly dangerous in attack. Niels Versteijnen has been the standout performer, delivering consecutive dominant displays against Hamburg, Stuttgart and Berlin, while Samuel Zehnder took centre stage against Göppingen with ten goals from eleven attempts. This is not just about one player, though. Lemgo are playing excellent handball as a collective, and their rise from 13th in September is thoroughly deserved. The five-game winning streak may have ended against Magdeburg, but the momentum is very much intact.
5: VfL Gummersbach
Current league standing: 8
September ranking: 6
Gummersbach are looking increasingly like a team capable of troubling anyone. They were unfortunate not to get something against Kiel, struggled to close out the game against Eisenach and then produced arguably the performance of the period by handing Flensburg their first defeat of the season. That was followed by a convincing away win against Göppingen.
Bertram Obling has been excellent in goal, making 18 saves at 41 per cent against Flensburg and another 16 against Göppingen. The attacking quality is equally encouraging. Nikola Roganovic’s absence through injury is a blow, particularly with the reported five-to-six-week lay-off, but Alex Dujshebaev is beginning to look sharper and sharper. His eight goals and four assists against Eisenach were followed by two dominant performances against Flensburg and Göppingen. Ludvig Hallbäck also made an immediate impression with five goals on his increased playing time. Gummersbach have genuine depth and quality, although the Roganovic injury will test that depth.
6: HC Erlangen
Current league standing: 6
September ranking: 10
Photo: Nick Berger
Erlangen continue to be one of the more interesting teams in the league. They have shown an ability to win games they are expected to win, but also to take points in situations where few would necessarily back them. The last-second winner against Melsungen, scored by Marek Nissen, was a particularly impressive example of their resilience.
They were outclassed by Magdeburg and could not quite find a way past Kiel, but those are hardly unexpected defeats. The wins against Wetzlar and Bietigheim were important, with Christopher Bissel contributing eight goals and four assists in the latter. Nissen has also established himself as an important attacking option, scoring eight against Kiel and nine against Magdeburg. Erlangen are not necessarily a spectacular team, but they are becoming a difficult opponent to deal with. That is a pretty good foundation.
7: MT Melsungen
Current league standing: 5
September ranking: 5
Photo: Käsler/MT
Three wins from four is a decent return, even if the defeat against Erlangen will leave a bitter taste. Having a chance to secure at least a point taken away by a last-second goal is frustrating, but Melsungen should also be asking themselves why they allowed the game to become so tight in the first place.
The performances against Hannover, Bergischer and Balingen were encouraging. Nebojša Simić was outstanding against Hannover with 15 saves at 45 percent, while the defence looked solid throughout. Reynir Thor Stefánsson is also becoming an interesting option, showing his usefulness with six goals and two assists against Bergischer. Luca Sigrist took advantage of his opportunity in that match as well. Melsungen have enough quality to be a top team, but the Erlangen defeat was a reminder that they still need to be more ruthless when games are there to be won.
8: Füchse Berlin
Current league standing: 7
September ranking: 4
Photo: Petter Arvidson / BILDBYRÅN
Two wins and two defeats, but the results are only part of the story. Berlin are no longer looking like a strong defensive team. The 37–36 defeat against Lemgo was particularly revealing. They conceded far too much space, struggled to control the opposition’s attack and ultimately paid the price, despite Mathias Gidsel scoring ten goals and Tim Freihöfer adding 14.
The narrow defeat against Flensburg was another painful one, with Berlin conceding in the final second. Gidsel scored 11 goals and provided two assists, but he looked increasingly isolated as the match progressed. Andreas Palicka did his part with 12 saves at 40 percent, but the defensive problems were still evident. There were better signs against Wetzlar, and the win over Bietigheim was important, but Berlin need to find their defensive identity again. They cannot expect Gidsel to bail them out every single time.
9: TVB Stuttgart
Current league standing: 10
September ranking: 9
Photo: Petter Arvidson / BILDBYRÅN
Stuttgart have had a fairly productive run, with three wins and three defeats, although the results have been somewhat uneven. The wins against Eisenach and Wetzlar were important, while the performance against Bietigheim was particularly impressive. A 23–14 second half tells you everything about how thoroughly Stuttgart took control of that game.
Kai Häfner has been in excellent form, scoring eight goals and providing three assists against Eisenach before delivering ten goals from eleven attempts against Wetzlar. Mohamed Amine Darmoul has also been a reliable contributor. Stuttgart gave Magdeburg a real scare, particularly after the break, and showed enough quality to suggest that they belong in the upper half of the table. The heavy defeat against Kiel was a reality check, though. They were never really in that game, and even Häfner struggled to make an impact.
10: TSV Hannover-Burgdorf
Current league standing: 9
September ranking: 7
Hannover have had a difficult period, with just one win in their five matches. The defeats against Melsungen and Flensburg were perhaps understandable, but the home loss against Lemgo will have hurt. Hannover led by three goals but completely lost control after the break, scoring just 11 goals in the second half.
The draw against Balingen was another missed opportunity, although Jonathan Edvardsson’s late equaliser at least prevented an even worse outcome. August Pedersen continues to deliver with impressive consistency, but Hannover need more from the rest of their attacking players. Against Melsungen, nobody scored more than three goals from open play. That is simply not enough against a well-organised defence. The win over Bergischer was welcome, but Hannover need to show more consistency if they are to climb back towards the top of the rankings.
11: ThSV Eisenach
Current league standing: 14
September ranking: 14
Photo: Petter Arvidson / BILDBYRÅN
Eisenach are slowly finding their feet, and there are some encouraging signs. The victory over Rhein-Neckar Löwen was particularly satisfying, with Felix Aellen scoring seven goals and providing four assists. David Moré also had a strong performance against his former club, converting all four of his attempts. The seven goals against Stuttgart were another reminder of his growing importance.
The draw against Gummersbach was a good result, especially after Stephan Seitz equalised with just ten seconds remaining. The defeat against Göppingen was less encouraging, with Eisenach never really getting close. Aellen was once again the main positive, scoring all eleven of his attempts, including five penalties. There is still work to do, but Eisenach are showing enough fight to suggest that they will not be an easy opponent for anyone.
12: HBW Balingen-Weilstetten
Current league standing: 15
September ranking: 12
Balingen are picking up points, but the feeling remains that they could have had even more. They lost narrowly to Bergischer after leading 17–14 at half-time, then had to settle for a draw against Hannover despite Mex Raguse seemingly having secured the winner late in the game. The subsequent one-goal defeat against Melsungen was another frustrating result.
There are positives, though. Raguse continues to be an important attacking weapon, and Balingen showed decent defensive discipline against Flensburg, restricting one of the league’s most dangerous attacks to 31 goals. They were never likely to win that particular game, but keeping the score respectable was a positive. Balingen are competitive, but they need to start turning these narrow defeats into points.
13: Handball Club Hamburg
Current league standing: 12
September ranking: 16
Hamburg have managed two important victories, but the overall picture remains inconsistent. The wins against Bietigheim and Rhein-Neckar Löwen were exactly what they needed, particularly the latter. Robin Paulsen Haug was excellent with 16 saves, while Nicolaj Jørgensen continues to be one of the team’s most valuable players. His seven goals and nine assists against Bietigheim were a reminder of just how much quality he brings.
The defeats against Lemgo and Kiel were less surprising, but the loss against Bergischer was another example of Hamburg struggling to deliver when the opportunity is there. Jørgensen’s five goals and eight assists against Lemgo were not enough to change the outcome. Hamburg have enough individual quality to be better than their current position suggests, but they need to find a way to turn that quality into more consistent performances.
14: Bergischer HC
Current league standing: 16
September ranking: 17
Bergischer are still fighting, and the victory over Hamburg could prove to be an important one in the battle at the bottom. It was a tight game, decided by small details, but Bergischer did enough to get over the line. Their earlier win against Balingen was another valuable result, with Fynn Hangstein delivering ten goals and two assists.
There are still some obvious limitations. The defeat against Melsungen was never really in doubt, and the team struggled to make an impact against Hannover. Hangstein and Sören Steinhaus can produce moments of individual quality, but Bergischer need more from the team as a whole. Kristian van der Merwe’s excellent performance against Balingen, with 15 saves at 45 percent in just 40 minutes, showed that they have players capable of making a difference. The challenge is getting enough of them to perform together.
15: Rhein-Neckar Löwen
Current league standing: 13
September ranking: 11
One draw and four defeats. That is not a run of form that a club with Löwen’s ambitions can accept. The problems are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, particularly defensively. The central defence looks sluggish, and too many of the players expected to lead the team are failing to deliver consistently.
The defeat against Eisenach was especially concerning, with Löwen trailing 13–18 at half-time and never really looking capable of turning things around. There were some better signs against Kiel, with the attack producing 36 goals and Teitur Einarsson contributing seven goals and five assists, but the defensive performance was nowhere near good enough. Even David Späth’s 15 saves could not prevent the defeat. The loss against Magdeburg was more one-sided, and the subsequent defeat against Hamburg only added to the concerns. Löwen need answers, and they need them quickly.
16: Frisch auf Göppingen
Current league standing: 11
September ranking: 8
September’s ranking of eighth already feels like a distant memory. Göppingen have managed just one victory in five games, and the overall performances have been worrying. The defeat against Flensburg was understandable, but losing at home to Bietigheim was a much bigger disappointment. Scoring just 25 goals in that match tells its own story.
The win against Eisenach was an important confidence boost, but it was followed by another poor performance against Gummersbach. The squad has been stretched by injuries and absences, which certainly does not help, but the attacking problems remain evident. Elias Newel has been one of the few consistent bright spots, scoring nine against Flensburg and seven goals with two assists against Lemgo. Erik Persson also contributed six goals and five assists against Gummersbach. Still, Göppingen need considerably more from the collective.
17: SG BBM Bietigheim
Current league standing: 17
September ranking: 15
Bietigheim have shown that they can compete, but they have also demonstrated just how difficult it is to maintain that level over an entire month. The narrow defeat against Berlin was a strong performance, and the away victory against Göppingen was arguably their best result of the period. Alexander Pfeifer was flawless from the penalty line against Berlin, converting all nine attempts.
However, the defeats against Hamburg, Stuttgart and Erlangen exposed some familiar problems. The second half against Stuttgart was particularly concerning, with 23 goals conceded in just 30 minutes. That is simply not good enough. The one-goal defeat against Erlangen was another painful result, especially after showing enough quality to stay in the game. Bietigheim are capable of competing with plenty of Bundesliga teams, but they need to find a way to turn competitive performances into points.
18: HSG Wetzlar
Current league standing: 18
September ranking: 18
Wetzlar remain at the bottom, and there is little in this run of results to suggest that a dramatic turnaround is around the corner. The draw against Rhein-Neckar Löwen was a positive result, particularly considering that Wetzlar had to fight back from a three-goal deficit. Bart Ravensbergen was outstanding with 17 saves, while Niklas Theiß contributed nine goals and two assists.
Since then, however, defeats against Stuttgart, Erlangen and Berlin have followed. Theiß continued to produce individually against Erlangen, but there was little else to get excited about. Wetzlar are struggling to find the consistency and attacking quality required to compete over 60 minutes. The draw against Löwen showed that there is still some fight in this team, but they need more than occasional flashes of resilience. Time is not on their side.