The inaugural EHF Finals Men are set to take place this weekend in Mannheim, with three German teams – SC Magdeburg, Füchse Berlin and hosts Rhein-Neckar Löwen – facing the challenge of Polish side Orlen Wisla Plock for the big prize.

The second-tier men’s European competition, which replaced the Men’s EHF Cup this season, has been won by a German side 15 of the last 16 seasons, with THW Kiel being the reigning champions, after defeating Füchse Berlin 26:22 in the final two seasons ago.

The odds are stacked against Orlen Wisla Plock, the only non-German side still alive in the competition, a team who have yet to win European silverware.

Plock are facing a sturdy challenge from SC Magdeburg in the first game of the semi-finals in the SAP Arena on Saturday, as the German side have lost only one of their 14 games on their way to the EHF Finals Men 2021.

Magdeburg, who are boasting the best attack in the competition, scoring 451 goals, are fighting for their 10th international trophy, with experienced players in the roster, like Danish goalkeeper Jannick Green, right wing Daniel Pettersson and centre back Christian O’Sullivan. 24-year-old Icelandic right back Omar Ingi Magnusson is Magdeburg’s top scorer in the competition, with 81 goals.

“Above all, Plock has a very strong defence and a really good goalkeeper in Adam Morawski. The team has been together for a long time and have good chemistry. I was able to give some tips to our coach, because I know Polish handball well, but he always prepares the games well,” said Piotr Chrapkowski, Magdeburg’s Polish back, who played for Plock between 2010 and 2013, to the team’s official website.

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The other semi-final is a 100% German affair, between Füchse Berlin and hosts Rhein-Neckar Löwen. 

Löwen are coming into the final weekend with an underwhelming form, losing three games on the trot in the German Bundesliga, including a 24:27 loss against their opponents, Berlin, on 6 May.

However, the hosts have had a better season than their opponents in the domestic league, sitting in third place after 31 games, with 42 points – eight more than sixth-placed Füchse.

Four of the last five encounters between the two sides have been won by Füchse Berlin, yet Löwen are trying to bounce back and win the second-tier European competition for the second time, after clinching the Men’s EHF Cup in 2012/13.

“We will be ready – just like Füchse will be ready. In this type of games, it is all down to the mental part of the game,”said Löwen’s playmaker Andy Schmid to the team website.

Füchse will also rely on two world champions at Egypt 2021, backs Lasse Andersson and Jacob Holm, while Löwen’s experience is next to none, with key assets like Schmid, line player Jesper Nielsen or wing Jerry Tollbring spearheading their challenge.

The winners of the two semi-finals will face off on Sunday, 23 May, with the 3/4 Placement Match being played before the grand final.

For more information, visit the EHF European League website.

Photos (clockwise): Franzi Gora, Orlen Wisla Plock, RNL / Sörli Binder, Michael Hundt / mhu pictures