SC Magdeburg clinched their first IHF Men’s Super Globe title on Saturday night in Jeddah, as they overthrew Barça and ended the Spanish side’s hold on the trophy after the current Champions League title holders won the competition three straight times from 2017 to 2019. 

The German team put on a powerful display, earning a three-goal advantage in the first half and leaving Barça with no answer as they only increased their lead in the second period. 

FINAL
SC Magdeburg (GER) vs Barça (ESP) 33:28 (19:16)

As the title holders in the Champions League as well as the three-time back-to-back Super Globe winners, Barça were the favourites ahead of the encounter. SC Magdeburg are the current title holders in Europe’s second-tier competition, the European League, and celebrated their second international trophy in five months at the buzzer after a well-earned victory. 

After Magdeburg grabbed the lead in the opening half, their victory was clear long before the final buzzer, as they had the advantage at 33:25 with five minutes on the clock. At 29:25 at the 50-minute mark, Barça still had the chance for a comeback, but that opportunity decreased quickly as the final whistle approached. 

In a fast-paced opening from both sides, only two saves were made in the first 15 minutes while the figures on the scoreboard climbed rapidly. 18 goals were scored in the opening 10 minutes and the match stood level at 9:9. 

The start to the game was headlined by Barça’s young stars, with right back Dika Mem and right wing Aleix Gomez combining for seven of the Spanish side’s goals in the first 10 minutes. The pair finished the first half with five goals apiece, as did Magdeburg’s Philipp Weber.  

With the departures of comparatively older back court players such as Aron Palmarsson, Jure Dolenec and Raul Entrerrios over the summer, 24-year-old Mem and 21-year-old Slovenian centre back Domen Makuc have stepped up to take more responsibility so far for Barça in the 2021/22 European season. And their role was clear on court in Jeddah on Saturday night as well. 

It may have been Magdeburg’s experience that helped them grab the momentum after Barça momentarily pulled away to lead by two goals – the latest at 13:11 in the 17th minute. Five goals in a row saw Magdeburg turn the tide and create a three-goal advantage they would retain at half-time. 

Barça coach Antonio Carlos Ortega used almost his entire squad in the first 30 minutes, and continued with extensive rotation in the second period, but even with the world-class depth in the Spanish side, Magdeburg kept the upper hand. With 15 minutes remaining, the German team were in front 28:24. 

After a slow start in both goals, the impressive saves came with increasing frequency, with Jannick Green key in Magdeburg’s goal and Gonzalo Perez de Vargas in equally top form for Barça. But none of Barça’s efforts paid off, and Magdeburg had a commanding advantage when Ortega called a time-out with seven minutes to go at 32:25 for the German team, at which point the outcome was all but decided.  

The 2021 edition was Magdeburg’s second Super Globe participation, after they took the silver medal almost 20 years ago, in 2002. It is their first time raising the trophy and also the first time Barça have reached the Super Globe final and been defeated in the ultimate match. 

Overall, it is the fourth Super Globe title for a German club, while Spain hold the record with nine trophies won by their clubs in the competition started in 1997.