Will THW Kiel win the Super Cup?
Clear the curtain for the DHB Super Cup! Wednesday night, THW Kiel and Rhein-Neckar Löwen are the first two HBL teams to start the new must-win season. Cup winner RNL challenges the Zebras from Kiel. As expected, Rhein-Neckar is the underdog in the Super Cup against record title holder THW.
The best bookmakers offer betting odds of 1.65 for a tip on the handballers from Kiel in the showdown between THW Kiel vs. Rhein-Neckar Löwen.
Last season, the German record champions prevailed over Rhein-Neckar in the first and second legs of the 2022/23 HBL season. In both encounters, the Zebras celebrated a victory with a lead of three goals or more. A THW Kiel vs. Rhein-Neckar Löwen prediction on this one is by no means far-fetched either.
Since 2019, the Super Cup title has already gone to the Kiel handball team three times in a row. Last year, THW beat SC Magdeburg 36:33 in the Super Cup. It was the twelfth DHB Super Cup title overall – a good omen before the showdown with the RNL?
THW Kiel – statistics & current form
THW Kiel goes into the first competitive match of the new season with a lack of replacements. After the summer break star players such as Landin and Sagosen were said goodbye, is now aggravated by the fact that at the beginning of the season three key players are missing due to injury. In addition to goalkeeper Gerard, Weinhold and Gurbindo are currently on break.
Before the showdown with the Rhein-Neckar Löwen, Kiel suffered a bitter 23:24 defeat in a mini-tournament test match against Hamburg. It was the first test match defeat during the summer break. In the three test matches before, THW Kiel successfully prevailed and flexed its offensive muscles, especially against opponents like Krems and Gorenje.
As record holders of the DHB Super Cup, there is a chance for the first title win this season on Wednesday evening. Opponent Rhein-Neckar comes – at least after the recent H2H – quite convenient in this regard.
Will Kiel extend their winning streak against Rhein-Neckar?
Since June 2021, Kiel has won each of the last five must-win games against the Löwen. Last season, there was a win against RNL in both the first and second legs. In both encounters, Kiel prevailed by a margin of three or more goals, and also broke the 30-goal mark. A high-scoring duel is also obvious this time.
Enough offensive power is available on both sides. Last season, Kiel scored a total of 1098 goals in 34 Bundesliga games – an average of 32.29 goals per game. It’s quite possible that the Kiel handball team will be able to repeat this performance this season. Despite personnel problems, the Zebras can be expected to score 30 goals in the Super Cup.
Rhein-Neckar Löwen – statistics & current form
For the Rhein-Neckar Löwen, last season’s cup title was a consolation prize after a poor season in the Handball Bundesliga. At least the Löwen finished the season in fifth place at the league level. This was surprising, as Rhein-Neckar had realistic chances of winning the championship at one point.
By winning the DHB Cup, the Löwen also won a title at national level for the first time since 2018. Now the RNL are aiming for the next coup, this time in the Super Cup. So far, Rhein-Neckar has already won the Super Cup three times. The last time was in 2018, when the Lions started the season as defending Handball Bundesliga champions.
If the Löwen win the Super Cup this time as well, THW Kiel vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen odds of 2.80 will be paid out for a tip on the 2023 Cup winner.
Do the Löwen take advantage?
The Rhein-Neckar Löwen are difficult to assess this season. The team structure remained largely stable in the summer. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen whether the Löwen can build on the statistics from the season before. After all, one of the big success factors was the Löwen’s concentrated offensive power.
Rhein-Neckar scored a total of 1133 goals in 34 match days in the 2023/24 Handball Bundesliga and, as fifth in the table, had the best offense in the league. In return, however, they conceded 1025 goals and thus even more than HSG Wetzlar, which is 16th in the table. Against the Zebras from Kiel, the RNL are therefore already doomed to failure, so to speak.
THW Kiel – Rhein-Neckar Löwen Direct comparison / H2H balance
THW Kiel and Rhein-Neckar meet for the 54th time in total. So far, the Zebras from Kiel lead the H2H against RNL with a record of 36-3-14. The Löwen have not won against the Kiel handball team since November 2019. THW Kiel has a record of 7-1-0 since then. Quite possibly, the eighth victory now beckons.
THW Kiel – Rhein-Neckar Löwen tip
THW Kiel blew the dress rehearsal before the showdown with Rhein-Neckar Löwen. Weakened by substitutes, Kiel failed to beat Hamburg and lost 23:24 in the mini-tournament, the so-called Orlen Star Cup. Nevertheless, the Zebras will approach the match against Rhein-Neckar during the week as favorites.
The Kiel handballers are aiming for the 13th Super Cup title in the club’s history. Already in the three years before the trophy went to the Zebras. It is therefore not at all surprising that THW Kiel is the favorite in the DHB Super Cup despite its personnel problems.
We see THW Kiel as favorites just like the bookmakers, but we find betting on the 1X2 market risky due to the Zebras’ current personnel worries. Instead, we place our THW Kiel vs. Rhein-Neckar Löwen betting odds of 1.78 on Over 63.5 goals in the match.
