The Bundesliga is more open than ever. SG Flensburg-Handewitt took their last (?) chance in the hunt for the league title when they defeated MT Melsungen 35–33. Now, five teams are within four points, with a fifth team in Magdeburg having several games in hand.
Flensburg looked like they might miss their chance at the league title after recently losing to Füchse Berlin. But now, the hope for the league title seems to be alive again for the northern Germans. However, it wasn’t easy against Melsungen, who have been tough to beat all season.
Saturday’s top match wasn’t decided until the clock showed 59:14, when Emil Jakobsen scored a penalty to make it 34–32 for the home team. Before that, the biggest lead in the match had been just three goals.
What ultimately decided the match in Flensburg’s favor was that they simply played a little better than Melsungen when it mattered most. They were a bit sharper. And despite a great performance from Nebojsa Simic and, especially, Aaron Mensing (ten goals against his former club), it was Flensburg who came out on top.
The home team had a nice spread in their goal scoring, although Lasse Möller’s seven goals and four assists stood out in a positive way.
Here’s how the top of the Bundesliga standings currently looks:
1: Melsungen, 34 points
2: Hannover-Burgdorf, 32 points
3: Kiel, 32 points
4: Füchse Berlin, 31 points
5: Flensburg, 30 points
6: Magdeburg, 25 points (but only 17 matches played compared to their competitors’ 20 or 21)