Zebras with personnel worries
In football, you can be lucky to avoid the big hitters in the group stage when the Champions League draw is made. In handball, however, there are only two groups and therefore the preliminary round is a real showdown. On Thursday, THW Kiel will face a very difficult task in the Wunderino Arena with the Hungarian champion Pick Szeged.
Two match days have been played in the premier league and THW Kiel are in third place in the group of eight with 2:2 points after one win and one defeat. After the conclusion of the preliminary round, however, first or second place is the target.
The guests from Hungary have made a false start in the Champions League. In the first two games, Juan Carlos Pastor’s team conceded two defeats. At the moment, that means seventh place. If we take the results so far as a basis, then the forecast in the match between THW Kiel and Pick Szeged should go to a home win.
The Magyars, however, are a very dangerous team that includes some top stars of international handball. Therefore, the Zebras will have their work cut out for them. But if you have set high goals, then you should win at home against the Hungarian champions and we also tend to place a tip on a success of the Schleswig-Holstein team between THW Kiel and Pick Szeged.
THW Kiel – Statistics & current form
The Kielers are running on fumes at the moment in terms of personnel, and that so early after the start of the season. At the moment, Filip Jicha has to look game by game at who is actually available to him. Even if there are players with injuries in the line-up, it doesn’t mean that they will be able to get more playing time.
Wins after feats of strength
But for that, things continue to look very good for THW Kiel this season. Overall, the results are right. The Zebras have won seven of eight games this season. In the Bundesliga, the team from Schleswig-Holstein with 10:0 points belongs to a three-team top group that is still without a losing point. With this in mind, we look at the odds in the match between THW Kiel and Pick Szeged that have something to do with a home win.
Last week, however, there was the defeat in Celje in the premier league and also at the weekend THW had a hard time in the Bundesliga at TSV Hannover-Burgdorf. In the middle of the second half, the record champions were four goals behind. Thanks to an outstanding final phase by keeper Tomas Mrkva, however, it was still enough for a 29:27 away win in the end.
With Sander Sagosen and Hendrik Pekeler, two absolute world-class players are still missing long-term. Sven Ehrig, who tore his cruciate ligament in training, has also joined them in the meantime. Steffen Weinhold and Miha Zarabec complain of persistent back problems. At least Domagoj Duvnjak has rejoined the team after the birth of his son.
Predicted line-up of THW Kiel:
N. Landin, Mrkva – Bilyk, Ekberg, Dahmke, Duvnjak, M. Landin, Johansson, Överby, Pabst, Reinkind, Schwormstede, Wallinius, Weinhold, Wiencek, Zarabec – coach: Jicha
Last matches played by THW Kiel:
Bundesliga
25/09/2022 – TSV Hannover-Burgdorf 27 – 29 THW Kiel
Champions League Grp. B
21/09/2022 – Celje Pivovarna Lasko 38 – 36 THW Kiel
Bundesliga
18/09/2022 – GWD Minden 18 – 34 THW Kiel
Champions League Grp. B
14/09/2022 – THW Kiel 36 – 26 Elverum
Bundesliga
11/09/2022 – THW Kiel 35 – 29 Bergischer HC
Pick Szeged – statistics & current form
When you leave behind you Telekom Veszprem in the Hungarian league, a team that belongs to the best that European handball has to offer, then that says a lot about Pick Szeged. Juan Carlos Pastor’s team is filled with world-class players at almost every position, and almost always in double figures.
National Top, International Flop
Therefore, it will be a very tough match for the Zebras on Thursday. But if the Hungarians had problems, it was in the top division. In the Hungarian league, Juan Carlos Pastor’s team has 8-0 points after four games and has a goal difference of +49. But that could be exactly where the problem lies.
When it’s not Veszprem in the league, the opponents are usually handpicked. The Hungarian champions have not yet managed to switch to the Champions League this season. They lost 28:35 against defending champions Barcelona and 30:35 in Nantes. In any case, these results also indicate that one can predict more than 60.5 goals in the duel between THW Kiel and Pick Szeged.
Last weekend, the champions once again had a game with manageable requirements. Pick Szeged were guests at Dabas, but at the break the game was still open at 17:17. In the second period, however, Juan Carlos Pastor’s seven turned up the heat and ended up winning by an eleven-goal difference at 37:26.
Predicted line-up of Pick Szeged:
Alilovic, Mikler – Banhidi, Blonz, Bodo, Bombac, Frimmel, Gaber, Garciandia, Radivojevic, Rosta, Soares, Sostaric, Szita, Tönnesen – Coach: Pastor
Last matches of Pick Szeged:
NB I
24/09/2022 – Dabas 26 – 37 Pick Szeged
Champions League Grp. B
22/09/2022 – HBC Nantes 35 – 30 Pick Szeged
NB I
17/09/2022 – Pick Szeged 37 – 28 Balatonfüredi KSE
Champions League Grp. B
14/09/2022 – Pick Szeged 28 – 35 Barcelona
NB I
08/09/2022 – Pick Szeged 39 – 25 Cegledi
THW Kiel – Pick Szeged Direct comparison / H2H balance
Till today there have been twelve matches between THW Kiel and Pick Szeged. All of these duels were played in the Champions League, including several knockout games, in which the Zebras always prevailed. In the direct comparison, the German record champions are ahead with 7:4 wins and one draw. It is exciting that the Hungarians have never won in Kiel.
In their own arena, there have been five home victories for THW and one draw. However, it is also fair to say that the Zebras have not won against the Hungarians in their last two games. Last season, there was first a 32:32 draw in the group phase in the Wunderino Arena. The Hungarians won the return match in Szeged 30:26 in mid-December.
THW Kiel – Pick Szeged Tip
It is most certainly a groundbreaking game that awaits THW Kiel on Thursday. If they want to secure one of the first two places and move directly into the quarter-finals, they should win in their own hall against Pick Szeged. Kiel should definitely be able to do that, even if the Zebras’ personnel situation is anything but comfortable at the moment.
Nevertheless, Filip Jicha’s team has won seven of the first eight games of the season. The Schleswig-Holstein side therefore have enough quality to be able to prevail even in this difficult phase.
The Magyars have never won at the Förde, but nevertheless the Hungarian champions have an outstanding line-up and are always capable of winning games even at this level. In the top flight, however, there were two defeats this year. Nevertheless, we leave our hands off betting on a handicap win for the Zebras and have decided to play the betting odds on a simple home win in the match THW Kiel vs Pick Szeged.
