Can HSG Wetzlar shatter Kiel’s title dreams?
On the 33rd matchday of the Handball Bundesliga, THW Kiel receives HSG Wetzlar. The roles could hardly be more clearly distributed, because while the hosts are on the verge of winning the championship, the guests could only narrowly escape relegation. For this reason, the bookmakers’ betting odds between THW Kiel and HSG Wetzlar are clearly in favour of a home win for the home side. With a win next Wednesday, the Kielers would already have the championship title as good as secured due to the significantly better goal difference.
With seven wins in a row, there is little to suggest that THW will slip up. Filip Jicha’s team last dropped a point against SC Magdeburg on matchday 26 with a 34:34 score and should therefore go into this decisive game with a broad chest. Nevertheless, the home side should not take this match lightly, because a defeat would not be the first surprise of the season. On matchday 22, Kiel lost at home against SC DHfK Leipzig with 31:34 and they are also only in twelfth place in the table.
The guests from Wetzlar, however, have sold themselves well recently and won four of their last nine games. Thus, Hrvoje Horvat’s team was able to free itself from the relegation zone and has meanwhile secured its place in the league. Nevertheless, the visiting team has not won a point against one of the top 6 teams this season and will therefore hardly have a chance in Kiel. Therefore, the odds of the betting companies also clearly speak against an away win between THW Kiel and HSG Wetzlar.
We recommend betting on a win for the home side between THW Kiel and HSG Wetzlar in conjunction with over 57.5 points. The hosts are the heavy favourites in this match and should dominate the game from the start, especially with their own fans behind them. With nothing at stake for the visitors, we can very well imagine a clear defeat.
THW Kiel – statistics & current form
Kiel are currently in first place in Germany’s top division and could thus take back the championship title from SC Magdeburg. Filip Jicha’s team have 55 points from 32 games and are two points ahead of FCM.
With only two games left to go, a win against Wetzlar could already clinch the title, because even if their rivals also win, the goal difference is clearly in THW’s favour. The title is therefore within reach and now it is a matter of keeping a cool head.
The strong record in the Wunderino Arena
THW are in fourth place in the home table and have picked up 27 points from 16 home games. Filip Jicha’s team won 13 games, drew once and lost only two games. Kiel have a goal difference of +93, which means that the home side win at home by an average of five points.
One of the best offensives in the league
The hosts have scored 1026 goals this season, which puts them in fourth place league-wide. Filip Jicha’s team still has some room to improve in this area and will need to strengthen in the summer.
Probably the best player in the THW Kiel offensive is Harald Reinkind. The right defender has 101 goals and 82 assists this season, making him the team’s top scorer. The 30-year-old Norwegian has already been one of Kiel’s constants for years.
The second best defence in the Bundesliga
The home side have conceded only 867 goals this season and can therefore clearly thank their defence for their current position in the table. Only MT Melsungen conceded fewer goals this season, but they were too harmless on the offensive. One of the outstanding players in Kiel’s defensive line is goalkeeper Niklas Landin. The THW goalkeeper is number one in this category with 326 saves.
Predicted line-up of THW Kiel:
Landin – Bilyk, Duvnjak, Reinkind – Landin, Wienczek, Ekberg
Injured and suspended players of THW Kiel:
No information available.
Last matches of THW Kiel:
Bundesliga
- 04/06/2023 – Bergischer HC 26 – 29 THW Kiel
- 28/05/2023 – HSV Hamburg 30 – 34 THW Kiel
- 21/05/2023 – THW Kiel 35 – 26 HC Erlangen
Champions League Final Stage
- 18/05/2023 – Paris Handball 32 – 29 THW Kiel
Bundesliga
- 14/05/2023 – TVB 1898 Stuttgart 30 – 37 THW Kiel
HSG Wetzlar – statistics & current form
Wetzlar are in 16th place in the first German handball league and thus only narrowly escaped relegation. Hrvoje Horvat’s team picked up 17 points from 32 games and is thus five points ahead of the relegation zone.
Since there is only a maximum of four points to be gained, ASV Hamm-Westfalen and TSV GWD Minden have already been relegated. Therefore, nothing is at stake for the guests on the last two match days. Nevertheless, the visiting team will not let themselves be slaughtered in Kiel and will try to annoy the league leader.
Away rather weak
The HSG picked up ten points from 16 games away from home, putting them in twelfth place in the away table. However, coach Horvat’s team only won five and lost eleven games. With a goal difference of -43, Wetzlar seem to sell themselves well most of the time and are usually not slaughtered.
The weakest offence in the league
The guests scored 833 goals in the current season and thus represent the weakest offensive line in the Bundesliga. On average, HSG Wetzlar scores only 26 goals per game, which is simply too few and is also reflected in the individual statistics of the players.
By far the most dangerous player in the visiting team is Lenny Rubin. The left defender has 149 goals and 53 assists. No other player has been able to collect 100 or more scorer points this season and that is something to work on in the summer.
One of the best defensive players in the Bundesliga
The visiting team conceded 918 goals this year, which puts them in third place league-wide. Only THW Kiel and MT Melsungen have conceded fewer goals this season. Without their good defensive work, Wetzlar would probably have been relegated and must therefore reckon with one or two defensive departures. Once again, the name Lenny Rubin comes up, who is already being linked to some top teams.
Predicted line-up of HSG Wetzlar:
Suljakovic – Rubin, Frederiksen, Cavor – Mellegard, Schmidt, Weissgeber
Injured and suspended players of HSG Wetzlar:
No information available.
Last matches of HSG Wetzlar:
Bundesliga
- 04/06/2023 – HSG Wetzlar 25 – 27 MT Melsungen
- 18/05/2023 – SC DHfK Leipzig 38 – 29 HSG Wetzlar
- 11/05/2023 – HSG Wetzlar 29 – 24 ASV Hamm-Westfalen
- 07/05/2023 – HSV Hamburg 24 – 21 HSG Wetzlar
- 04/05/2023 – HSG Wetzlar 26 – 24 TBV Lemgo
THW Kiel – HSG Wetzlar Direct comparison / H2H-balance
The direct comparison between the two teams clearly goes to the hosts. Kiel won 38 duels against Wetzlar, while two games ended in a draw and the guests could only pick up nine victories. The last meeting was clearly won by Kiel with 31:25. For this reason, our prediction between THW Kiel and HSG Wetzlar goes clearly in the direction of the home side.
THW Kiel – HSG Wetzlar Tip
Our betting tips between THW Kiel and HSG Wetzlar are over 31.5 team goals for the hosts. The home side score 33.4 goals per game at home and are therefore much more dangerous at home than away. Since Kiel already found their way into the opponent’s goal 31 times in Wetzlar, the line seems quite feasible.
Alternatively, we recommend the odds for over 4.5 goals from Lenny Rubin between THW Kiel and HSG Wetzlar.
