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Mathias Gidsel and Füchse Berlin secure first Bundesliga title in club history

Mathias Gidsel Füchse Berlin and Juri Knorr Rhein-Neckar Löwen, battle for the ball
Mathias Gidsel Füchse Berlin and Juri Knorr Rhein-Neckar Löwen, battle for the ballČTK / imago sportfotodienst / Sebastian Räppold/Matthias Koch
On the final matchday of the Handball Bundesliga, Füchse Berlin won the championship title for the first time in their history thanks to an energetic performance. A 38-33 away win at Rhein-Neckar Löwen was enough for the capital city team to hold on to a one-point lead over SC Magdeburg, who also won.

The favourites from Berlin, however, struggled mightily right from the start in Mannheim as the hosts did everything they could to spoil the Foxes' chances.

Rhein-Neckar Löwen constantly led by no less than three goals until the middle of the second half when last year's runners-up gradually dug themselves into the game

Led by key players Mathias Gidsel and Tim Freihöfer, Füchse fought back, took the lead and did not allow the historic victory to be taken away from them in the final game of the season.

It was not only historic for the club, but also for the coach: Jaron Siewert, who was recently voted best coach of the season, has now set a new record: At 31, he is the youngest coach ever to lead a team to the Bundesliga championship.

To the match centre: Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs. Füchse Berlin

Magdeburg, on the other hand, already knew before the game that even if they won, their chances of becoming champions would depend on their rivals slipping up. The defending champions did their homework in style with a 35-25 away win against Bietigheim, but in the end it was only enough for second place. 

However, just like their rivals from the capital, Bennet Wiegert 's team still have a chance of winning the Champions League: Magdeburg will face FC Barcelona in the Final Four semi-final next Saturday, with Berlin aiming to seal their place in the final against Nantes three hours earlier.

To the match centre: SG BBM Bietigheim vs. SC Magdeburg