Mature test for the German champions
There is no rest for the top teams in international handball at the moment. For the third week in a row, a matchday in the Champions League is on the agenda. German champion SC Magdeburg is still in the middle of it all and will have to deal with a very big name on Wednesday. The handball players from Paris Saint-Germain will be guests in the Getec Arena.
In the table, things are looking very good for the SCM after two completed games, although it must be said that the previous opponents Dinamo Bucharest and PPD Zagreb are rather the outsiders in the group of eight. Nevertheless, Bennet Wiegert’s team is at the top of the standings with 4-0 points. In the third match, it will be a question of remaining without a loss and perhaps even defending the lead in the standings.
For Paris Saint-Germain, the start was not quite optimal. After a defeat in Veszprem and a home win against Wisla Plock, the score is 2:2. That is enough for fourth place before the third matchday. Perhaps this situation also indicates that the first prediction in the duel between SC Magdeburg and PSG Handball is for a home win.
The German champions have not yet shown what they excelled at throughout last season, but overall the Anhalt team’s form has to be considered very good.
SC Magdeburg – Statistics & current form
Last season, SC Magdeburg were the measure of all things in German handball. After the defeat in the season opener in the Supercup against the cup winner THW Kiel, it seemed to get much harder this season. In the meantime, however, Bennet Wiegert’s team has found its feet and it currently looks as if the SCM has caught a wave of success that it can ride at the moment.
Winning streak of the German champions
In the Bundesliga, Magdeburg are still without a losing point after five games and are naturally in the top group. In the Champions League, there were two wins in two games, so that the SCM has currently won seven games in a row. Therefore, before the match between Magdeburg and PSG Handball, you should definitely keep an eye on the odds for a home win.
Despite the good results, Magdeburg have also had big problems this season and have sometimes only defeated their opponents in the final minutes. That was different last weekend. Of course, GWD Minden, a relegation candidate in the Bundesliga, was a guest in the Getec Arena. Nevertheless, it was a mature performance by the German champions.
Especially the keepers Mike Jensen and Nikola Portner showed a strong performance and only conceded 25 goals. In the end, SC Magdeburg won clearly with 39:25. Perhaps Bennet Wiegert’s team has now found its ease again. In any case, after a strong winning streak, the German champions can now face the French title holders with a large portion of self-confidence.
Predicted line-up of SC Magdeburg:
Jensen, Portner – Bezjak, Chrapkowski, Damgaard, Hornke, Kristjansson, Magnusson, Meister, Mertens, Musche, O’Sullivan, Pettersson, Saugstrup, Smits, Weber – Coach: Wiegert
Last matches played by SC Magdeburg:
Bundesliga
25/09/2022 – SC Magdeburg 39 – 25 GWD Minden
Champions League Grp. A
23/09/2022 – SC Magdeburg 35 – 25 RK Zagreb
Bundesliga
18/09/2022 – FA Göppingen 26 – 31 SC Magdeburg
Champions League Grp. A
15/09/2022 – Dinamo Bucuresti 28 – 30 SC Magdeburg
Bundesliga
11/09/2022 – SC Magdeburg 32 – 28 HSG Wetzlar
PSG Handball – Statistics & current form
The joy for Jannick Green will be enormous. The Danish world champion and Olympic gold medallist was in the SC Magdeburg shell from 2014 to 2022 and is looking for a new challenge in the French capital this season. He knows the throwing qualities of Magdeburg very well and could become a very important factor for Paris Saint-Germain on his return on Wednesday.
Not yet in the swing of things
One goalkeeper alone won’t be enough to succeed at the Getec Arena, though. Overall, Paris may not have the level of the last few years. With Mikkel Hansen, the absolute superstar of the French has returned to his Danish homeland. In addition, the departures of Nedim Remili and Benoit Kounkoud weigh heavily.
Even though the French champions have tried to find adequate replacements, things are not going as smoothly as they are used to this season. PSG blew the French Super Cup against Nantes. In the Champions League, there has already been a defeat and Raul Gonzalez’s team is also suffering a tough defeat in the championship. Paris is currently only in fifth place with 4:2 points.
In total, there have been three defeats in seven competitive matches this season. Raul Gonzalez’s team is not used to that in this form and therefore we can imagine sticking with the prediction of a home win in the duel Magdeburg vs. PSG Handball, especially since the French have a tough 27:35 from the guest game in Toulouse in their luggage.
Predicted line-up of PSG Handball:
Green, Palicka – Balaguer, Gibelin, Grebille, L. Karabatic, N. Karabatic, Keita, Kristopans, Ntanzi, Prandi, Sole, Steins, Syprzak, Toft Hansen – Coach: Gonzalez
Last matches played by PSG Handball:
1st Division
25/09/2022 – Fenix Toulouse Handball 35 – 27 Paris Handball
Champions League Grp. A
22/09/2022 – Paris Handball 37 – 33 Orlen Wisla Plock
1st Division
17/09/2022 – Paris Handball 36 – 23 Selestat Handball
Champions League Grp. A
15/09/2022 – Veszprem 36 – 34 Paris Handball
1st Division
11/09/2022 – USAM Nimes 28 – 33 Paris Handball
SC Magdeburg – PSG Handball Direct comparison / H2H balance
Paris Saint-Germain is the serial champion in France and even if things are not going completely smoothly at the moment, the best French team. Accordingly, PSG is also a regular in the Champions League and is not satisfied with lower-class international competitions. Magdeburg, however, have had to wait almost 20 years for a return to the top flight and therefore both clubs will actually face each other for the first time ever on Wednesday.
SC Magdeburg – PSG Handball Tip
Magdeburg can improve on their start to the season with a third win in their third game in the top flight on Wednesday. With seven wins in a row, Bennet Wiegert’s side can go into this encounter with great confidence. The German champions are seen as favourites in this match by the bookmakers, especially as the Getec Arena will turn into a witch’s cauldron for this clash.
The French have a great team with many top stars, but they have also reached an age where they can no longer perform in every game.
In the Champions League, the level is naturally extremely high. Almost anyone can beat anyone in this competition and that’s why we would keep our hands off betting on a handicap in this match. On balance, however, we think SCM will prevail and that is why we have decided to play the odds on an easy home win between Magdeburg and PSG Handball
