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Cologne (dpa) - Before the showdown for Europe's handball crown against FC Barcelona, a lot of carbohydrates and the ice bin were in demand at THW Kiel.
The German record champions only had 22 hours to regenerate after the thriller in the semifinals against Telekom Veszprem.
Despite the enormous effort at 36:35 after extra time, the players of the German record champions were confident before the final against Spain's series champions in Cologne.
“Of course we have ten minutes more on our legs.
But I don't think that will be the decisive factor, ”said international Steffen Weinhold.
And Norway's superstar Sander Sagosen confirmed: “We're playing a Champions League final.
The strength won't be a problem.
We are ready."
The happy ending in the crime thriller against Veszprem should even push the Kielers in addition.
Denmark's world champion goalkeeper Niklas Landin summed up the atmosphere in the team before the 300th Champions League game in the club's history: “It's always nice to play a final.
We can enjoy it, ”he said.
And coach Filip Jicha, who played as a player in the two Champions League triumphs in Kiel in 2010 and 2012, was also looking forward to the duel with Barcelona: “We fought like lions.
I am very confident that we will call everything up again. "
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The record, however, speaks slightly for the Spaniards, who have won 14 of the 27 games so far and only lost eleven.
Barcelona also won the two most recent duels in the group stage of the current Champions League season with 32:26 and 29:25.
The last victory in Kiel dates from the spring of 2017. «The Spaniards may think it will be an easy walk for them.
But my boys are hot and a long way from full, ”said Jicha.
"They want to write their own story."
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201229-99-836926 / 2