On December 26, 2023, Füchse Berlin secured a decisive 29:22 victory over VfL Gummersbach before 19,500 enthusiastic fans at the iconic Lanxess Arena. The win marked the end of the first half of the Bundesliga season for the Füchse, who are positioned firmly as strong contenders with this important win.
The match started energetically, with Füchse Berlin taking the lead early on with 3:1 within just two minutes. The players, traveling effortlessly from Berlin, combined good teamwork with high spirits, setting the tone for what would become a powerful performance. "Vor so einer tollen Kulisse spielen zu dürfen, da wird ein Kindheitstraum wahr. Heute haben wir es über die Abwehr gelöst," remarked Füchse's Nils Lichtlein, reflecting on the electrifying atmosphere.
Meanwhile, VfL Gummersbach had mixed reactions throughout the match, evidenced by their intermittent ability to stay close on the scoreboard. Despite the return of star player Kentin Mahé, whose earlier absence due to injury had been concerning, Gummersbach found themselves struggling. They tied the game briefly but continually fell behind as errors mounted. Mahé, who managed to score the first point at 1:1 after his comeback, shared, "Es war eine Wette gegen die Zeit, die ich gewonnen habe," emphasizing the emotional weight of rejoining the game. Despite somehow making valuable contributions, the team couldn't capitalize on their potential and led to persistent frustrations.
By the half-time whistle, Füchse led 15:12, showing superiority primarily due to fewer mistakes. Gummersbach faltered, impacted by their inability to convert opportunities against Füchse's defensive strategies. The Füchse, backed by their solid goalkeeper Dejan Milosavljev, leveraged the errors made by Gummersbach, allowing them to preserve their lead and maintain tactical control of the game.
After intermission, Füchse increased their lead to 17:12. Gummersbach fought back, attempting to reclaim the initiative. Julian Köster, having been somewhat silent offensively earlier, began to find his footing but still struggled to make impactful plays consistently. He lamented, "Leider hat sich unser Kampf nicht ausgezahlt. Berlin hat verdient gewonnen. Hinten raus war es vielleicht etwas zu deutlich, eine Krise haben wir nicht," expressing disappointment but also hope for the future.
Füchse did not relinquish control, and the game maintained its intensity. While Gummersbach pressed on attempting to cut the lead down to one or two goals, they faltered during key moments, allowing Füchse Berlin to capitalize decisively. Jaron Siewert, Füchse's coach, lauded the experience saying, "Wir sind megahappy vor dieser atemberaubenden Kulisse bestanden zu haben," attributing their win to many factors including their ability to weather Gummersbach's attempts to take the game back.
With four minutes remaining, Füchse led 26:21, sealing the match as they closed out their opponents with tactical flair and maximized scoring opportunities. The final score of 29:22 showcased not just the skill but also the depth of the Füchse team against the struggling side of Gummersbach, who finished the year with five consecutive losses.
Füchse Berlin’s victory serves as both closure for the first half of the Bundesliga season and as motivation as they eye the second half. Gummersbach, on the other hand, will regroup, aiming to address the issues highlighted during the match as they prepare for the challenges to come. The festive atmosphere of handball, combined with fierce competition, left both teams with much to reflect on moving forward.
