They are the back-to-back IHF Super Globe champions and in 2023 SC Magdeburg arrived in Saudi Arabia to defend their trophy as holders of Europe’s most coveted club title as well: the EHF Champions League. Their duel title status undoubtedly makes Magdeburg the team to beat in Dammam, and also one of the top favourites to clinch the trophy at this edition of the Super Globe. 

At the end of the 2022/23 season in Europe, Magdeburg defeated fellow Super Globe contenders Kielce by one goal in an extra-time Champions League final in Cologne. Magdeburg had reached the final by beating another Super Globe side, Barça, in the semi-final, which was decided after extra time and penalties. It was a thrilling path to reclaim the trophy the club had won three times before — although long before, in 2002, and in the previous format of the competition, 1981 and 1978.

The Champions League title is the latest in a string of trophies won by Magdeburg in recent years, starting in 2021 with the EHF European League — Europe’s second-tier international club competition — and the Super Globe later that year, then in 2022 the Bundesliga and a second Super Globe. So has the success of the past years changed anything for the team?  

“We know that we can win against every opponent and that’s in our mindset — that we want to win every match and that’s the most important,” said Magdeburg wing Matthias Musche.

Magdeburg have enjoyed a strong start to their Super Globe campaign in Dammam, defeating local side Khaleej 29:20 in the Group C opener on Tuesday night. 

“No match is perfect, but I’m really proud,” said Musche, who was named hummel Player of the Match after scoring 10 goals. “We didn’t have a lot of video of the opponents, so that’s why I'm really proud that we won. And we won with nearly 10 goals so that was good for our self-confidence.”

After a five-goal lead at half-time, Magdeburg opened a nine-goal gap 10 minutes into the second period and were clear on track for the win. Yet, in a mark of the goal-focused team they are, their game was polished to the end. 

“When we lead with eight goals or something like that, you have to be focused and go on playing. When you make 99%, they will come back. I know that, everyone knows that — that’s why we have to play a good 60 minutes,” said Musche.  

Magdeburg’s next and final group match will be against University of Queensland, who are on their debut at the Super Globe. The powerful Magdeburg side, which includes representatives from eight different national strong European national teams, will expect a victory against the small club from Australia. 

“Now we want to go on and make the next win against Queensland,” concluded Musche.