The two top favorites THW Kiel and SG Flensburg-Handewitt started the new season of the handball Bundesliga with clear successes.
A long-term close game against HBW Balingen-Weilstetten was won by the Kiel team on Wednesday evening in front of 9000 spectators with 33:24 (13:11).
Unlike the defending champion, runner-up Flensburg solved his task very confidently from the start and easily prevailed at GWD Minden with 31:18 (14: 9).
HSV Hamburg, who returned to the Bundesliga, lost despite a strong performance in the end just under 27:28 (16:15) against Frisch Auf Göppingen.
The first exclamation mark was set by the Flensburg team, where newcomer Hans Aaron Mensing and veteran Lasse Svan were the most successful goalscorers with seven goals each.
In addition, goalkeeper Kevin Møller, who is also new to the Flensburg team, also showed a strong performance in view of almost 50 percent parried balls.
Record champions Kiel, on the other hand, found it extremely difficult and was even behind with 16:17 in the 39th minute, but then pulled away thanks to the six hits each from the best throwers Sander Sagosen and Niclas Ekberg.
The Hamburg team around ex-national goalkeeper Johannes Bitter was also on the verge of an opening success for a long time, but the outstanding Göppingen goalkeeper Daniel Rebmann prevented it.
The best thrower of the game was Göppingen's national player Marcel Schiller with eleven goals.
In an extremely low-goal game, HC Erlangen also prevailed against SC DHfK Leipzig with 19:15 (8: 8).