SG Flensburg-Handewitt just missed a big exclamation mark in the Champions League. Coach Maik Machulla’s team, who had not lost a single point in the Bundesliga after twelve games, lost 28-29 (15-12) to the unbeaten leader Paris Saint-Germain in Group B of the premier league, despite a strong performance over long periods.
Ten seconds before the end of the game, Uwe Gensheimer, captain of the national team with a strong streak, ensured the seventh Paris victory of the season in the Champions League. The 32-year-old left-winger scored a total of eight goals, with Flensburg’s Simon Jeppsson, who scored nine, the best thrower in the match.
In the run-up to the match against the top French club, Machulla had spoken of the “simplest game of the season”. And his team obviously felt comfortable in the outsider role: From the beginning of the game the guests had PSG well under control, Flensburg acted extremely effectively and went with three goals ahead into the break.
After the change of sides, the North Germans continued their highly concentrated performance for the time being. But little by little the Paris Star offensive got going better, while Flensburg revealed weaknesses on the other side. 6:59 minutes before the end of the match, the French took the lead for the first time (26:25) through a seven-meter gap to Gensheimers after a four-goal deficit and proved their better nerves in the end.
Despite their fourth defeat in the seventh game, the Flensburgers still have good prospects of reaching the knockout round. On Wednesday, the SG will welcome the Parisian star ensemble to the return match in the Flens Arena.