The three major contenders seem to be doing their part at the top of the table – but the team that impressed the most this month actually came from elsewhere in northern Germany. Meanwhile, we’re all wondering what’s going on in Hannover and Leipzig. For the latter, it’s safe to say things are Free Fallin’.
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: SG Flensburg-Handewitt
Current Bundesliga standing: 1
Power rankings September: 4
Photo: Michael Erichsen / BILDBYRÅN
The Danish national team – uh, sorry, I mean Flensburg – look like a completely different side this year compared to last season. The new signings, like Marko Grgic, have settled in nicely, and Flensburg currently boast the league’s most potent attack.
All of that is great. But make no mistake: this is the Danes’ team. It’s Kevin Møller’s team, Simon Pytlick’s team, Emil Jakobsen’s team, Lasse Møller’s team, Lukas Jørgensen’s team. They’ve all been absolutely vital and decisive over the past month, and a major reason why Flensburg were the best team in the Bundesliga in October – and why they’re sitting top of the table right now.
The highlight, of course, was the derby win against Kiel. Lasse Møller was the standout performer, scoring ten goals from ten shots, while Flensburg produced a stunning second-half comeback. Four wins from four doesn’t hurt either.
2: SC Magdeburg
Current Bundesliga standing: 2
Power rankings September: 1
Photo: Avdo Bilkanovic / BILDBYRÅN
Has Omar Ingi Magnusson continued to be unstoppable? Oh yes. Fifteen goals against Hamburg, seven goals and five assists against Bergischer, and another seven goals plus seven assists versus Leipzig. The Icelander is playing at a level that perhaps only Mathias Gidsel can match right now (though to be fair, Gidsel’s in a league of his own).
As for Magdeburg as a team? They’re doing what’s expected of them. Four wins from four in October, although both Hamburg and Hannover gave them a bit of a scare along the way.
A small concern for Magdeburg, though: neither Felix Claar nor Gisli Kristjansson have come close to their best form this month. Of course, it’s a strength that Magdeburg still win regardless, but that can’t continue if they want to stay on top come spring.
3: THW Kiel
Current Bundesliga standing: 3
Power rankings September: 2
Am I being too kind to Kiel by putting them third? Perhaps. They only won one of their four matches in October, after all. On the other hand, I’ve hardly been generous to them in previous rankings, so maybe this evens things out.
The good news: their three key players – Andreas Wolff, Eric Johansson, and Elias Ellefsen á Skipagøtu (the Faroese youngster sits fourth in the scoring charts!) – keep performing. The bad news: despite that, Kiel only managed a single point at home against Löwen (and were very close to losing it entirely), and they completely collapsed in the second half of the derby against Flensburg. Against Gummersbach, it took a late equaliser from Skipagøtu to avoid yet another defeat.
In other words, not exactly the best month for Filip Jicha – who, somewhat surprisingly and somewhat unsurprisingly, signed a new contract recently – but to be fair, away games against Flensburg and Gummersbach aren’t exactly walks in the park…
4: Hamburg Handball
Current Bundesliga standing: 10
Power rankings September: 9
As hinted in the intro – Hamburg were the team that impressed me the most in October. Despite facing three of the league’s top four sides, they still collected six out of a possible eight points to start the autumn strong.
Their only defeat came at home to Magdeburg (29–30), and they even had a late chance to equalise before throwing it away. But beating both Gummersbach and Berlin by a single goal? That’s nothing short of sensational. In both games, new signing Nicolaj Jørgensen was the hero: scoring the winning penalty against Gummersbach and striking again, with 12 seconds to go, to beat Berlin. The Dane, new to the Bundesliga, is now among the league’s top scorers.
Last season, I described Hamburg as “plain and unremarkable.” Those days are over.
5: TBV Lemgo
Current Bundesliga standing: 4
Power rankings September: 6
Photo: Ludvig Thunman / BILDBYRÅN
I was this close to putting Lemgo third or fourth in the October rankings – trust me, I was tempted – but that six-goal loss to a strong Melsungen side at the end of the month knocked them down a couple of spots.
Before that? Lemgo looked rock solid. A 34–24 win over Minden (with Versteijnen and Suton dominating), a 32–30 victory against Stuttgart (twelve goals from Suton), and a 25–22 triumph over Löwen (Versteijnen again, plus Möstl shining in goal). All genuinely impressive.
They couldn’t quite keep it up against Melsungen, but October still showed that Lemgo are here to stay near the top. And I can’t praise Tim Suton enough – fifth in the scoring charts and simply sensational. Wow.
6: MT Melsungen
Current Bundesliga standing: 9
Power rankings September: 10
Photo: Petter Arvidson / BILDBYRÅN.
Let’s be honest: September was a mess for Melsungen. Absolutely nothing went their way. But have things turned around? Oh yes. October was a clear step up – three wins from four matches, and their only defeat came away to Kiel (by just two goals).
It seems Melsungen have rediscovered their stability, and when that’s the case, they’re this good – even if Nebojsa Simic is still sorely missed between the posts. On the bright side, Florian Drosten’s scoring form has been fantastic (eight goals vs Leipzig and eleven against Kiel). The defence also looks a lot more in sync now.
My guess? Melsungen will keep climbing the table.
7: VfL Gummersbach
Current Bundesliga standing: 5
Power rankings September: 3
Make no mistake – Gummersbach are still part of the top-flight conversation. But in October, they didn’t exactly play like a top team. A top team doesn’t lose away to Eisenach and Hamburg. Granted, both defeats were by a combined four goals, which tells you how tight those games were, but still.
Four points from a possible ten isn’t exactly championship pace – not even European pace, really. Miro Schluroff rediscovered his scoring touch, though, and perhaps the most important news for Gummersbach this month came off the court: they officially secured Nikola Roganovic for next season – arguably the best player in the world for his age group.
That’s a player to build around for years to come, assuming he stays. He’s also an intriguing long-term replacement for Julian Köster (Roganovic stronger offensively, Köster defensively).
8: Füchse Berlin
Current Bundesliga standing: 6
Power rankings September: 5
Berlin already have as many losses this season as they had during their entire title-winning campaign last year. Ouch. October actually started decently in terms of results – six points from six possible against Erlangen, Minden and Stuttgart – but none of those opponents were exactly top-tier. And even in those games, it often felt like they were relying more on Mathias Gidsel’s brilliance than on the team as a whole.
Let’s face it: Berlin aren’t the same team this year. Gidsel is just as brilliant (of course he’s leading the scoring charts), but the Danish right back needs a lot more help from his teammates if Berlin are going to seriously compete for the title again.
9: Frisch auf Göppingen
Current Bundesliga standing: 8
Power rankings September: 15
Photo: Joel Marklund / BILDBYRÅN
Göppingen are also a completely different team this year – but in the opposite way compared to Berlin. Last season, they played tons of tight matches and lost most of them. This year, they’re still playing tight matches, but the difference? They’re winning them. Well, most of them.
In October, they beat Hannover 30–26 (solid team effort plus 17 saves from Kristian Sæverås), drew against Löwen (again a strong team display and 14 saves by Julian Büchele), and edged Wetzlar 28–26 (with Ludvig Hallbäck and Oskar Sunnefeldt standing out). Sure, they lost to Gummersbach – but they can probably live with that.
Overall, they look like a much more cohesive, confident team, even though the squad isn’t that different from last year. Winning a few in a row does wonders for confidence, doesn’t it?
10: Rhein-Neckar Löwen
Current Bundesliga standing: 7
Power rankings September: 7
Photo: Ludvig Thunman / BILDBYRÅN
October was a mixed bag for Löwen – a little wine, a little water. (Yes, I know, that metaphor doesn’t exactly fit in Oktoberfest-land, but let’s go with it.)
The wine: a 31–31 draw against Kiel (though they really should’ve won), and a 38–34 victory over Stuttgart.
The water: a home draw with Göppingen and a loss to Lemgo, scoring just 22 goals in that one.
Still, there’s reason to be optimistic. Haukur Thrastarson has had his proper coming-out party in the Bundesliga. Fourteen goals and six assists against Stuttgart – boom! The Icelandic playmaker now leads the league in assists. Let’s just hope he stays healthy.
11: ThSV Eisenach
Current Bundesliga standing: 12
Power rankings September: 12
Eisenach continue to be up and down. They still look a bit shaky at times without Marko Grgic, but more players are stepping up to take responsibility in his absence.
One player I’ve really liked is Felix Aellen. The Swiss playmaker has been directing the attack with great maturity – not only smart in his distribution, but also sharp when going for goal himself. A very promising centre back for the future.
12: TVB Stuttgart
Current Bundesliga standing: 16
Power rankings September: 11
Photo: Petter Arvidson / BILDBYRÅN
This isn’t supposed to turn into another Kai Häfner column – which it usually does when I write about Stuttgart. Or maybe that’s exactly what this is going to be…
Because as long as the experienced right back keeps performing like this, it’s hard to ignore him. Häfner is second in the scoring charts, and it’s not surprising when you see him dropping twelve goals on Löwen and nine on Berlin.
Unfortunately for Häfner, all that effort didn’t translate into any points in October. Still, I’m ranking Stuttgart this high because they’ve held their own really well against tough opponents. Losses to Melsungen, Lemgo, Berlin, and Löwen – but only by a combined 14 goals across those four matches. That’s respectable for a team nobody expects much from.
13: HC Erlangen
Current Bundesliga standing: 11
Power rankings September: 8
Photo: Michael Erichsen / BILDBYRÅN
Let’s start with the positives: Erlangen are a better team than they were last season, and all signs point to them staying clear of the relegation battle this time. More positives? Sure – one more. It’s about Iceland, and it’s about a certain right back.
Viggo Kristjansson knows how to score goals. He’s been carrying Erlangen on his broad, goal-hungry shoulders – seven against Berlin, seven against Flensburg, and ten against Wetzlar. Bang!
As a month, though, October wasn’t great. Just two points – and those came against struggling Wetzlar.
14: GWD Minden
Current Bundesliga standing: 15
Power rankings September: 16
Minden were completely outclassed by Lemgo and Berlin. Against Eisenach they hung in there for a half, but faded badly after the break and ended up losing by five.
The bright spot of the month? Beating Hannover. For a newly promoted side to take down a club that “should” be miles ahead (Hannover are playing in Europe, after all) is a huge feather in their cap – even if Hannover clearly aren’t the same team this year.
Those are the kind of wins that could end up keeping Minden in the Bundesliga.
15: TSV Hannover-Burgdorf
Current Bundesliga standing: 13
Power rankings September: 13
Is there a sense of direction in Hannover right now? From the outside, it doesn’t really look like it. Some matches it’s the defence that collapses, other times the attack, and the team just can’t seem to win.
Losing to both Göppingen and Minden in the same month is a long way from where Hannover want to be. Sure, they’ve been close in most of their defeats – but they should be.
How bad is this season going to get for them? Hard to say, but right now there aren’t many positives. Except for Justus Fischer, who’s been really good at just about everything.
16: Bergischer HC
Current Bundesliga standing: 17
Power rankings September: 18
Three points from eight possible isn’t bad at all for Bergischer, considering their only real goal this season is to stay in the Bundesliga. Keep this up and they might just manage that – even if they haven’t been particularly impressive doing so.
The 35–28 win over Wetzlar was genuinely solid though. Beyer and Maldonado both scored eight, and Bergischer simply looked the better team. The draw against Leipzig can also be considered a good result – although that was one of those games where it really felt like nobody won.
17: HSG Wetzlar
Current Bundesliga standing: 14
Power rankings September: 14
What’s happening in Wetzlar? From looking decent in September to completely falling apart in October. Three games, three defeats, and they were never really in any of them.
A seven-goal loss to Flensburg – oh wait, no, that was Bergischer. A ten-goal loss to Kiel – or was it Hamburg? Right, Hamburg. And a seven-goal loss to Magdeburg – or rather, Erlangen.
What on earth is going on in Wetzlar?!
18: SC DHFK Leipzig
Current Bundesliga standing: 18
Power rankings September: 17
Leipzig’s season reminds me of that old Tom Petty tune: Free Fallin’. Because that’s exactly what it feels like. Honestly, I can’t even bring myself to write much more about them. Improvement needed – from Leipzig, and probably from the author of this column too…