Final defeat in Cologne – but a historic season
Füchse Berlin lost their TruckScout24 EHF Champions League final match against SC Magdeburg 26:32 (12:16). Although the newly crowned German champions were unable to perform at their best this evening, one thing remains certain: this has been the most successful Champions League season in the club’s history – topped off by an exceptional team performance, a historic final appearance and unforgettable emotions in Cologne.
The all-German final in a sold-out LANXESS arena promised to be a handball spectacle – which, to Füchse’s chagrin, was primarily supplied by SCM with an outstanding Sergey Hernandez Ferrer who shone in goal. The Spanish keeper repeatedly frustrated the Berlin team with 18 saves (a rate of nearly 43%). Mathias Gidsel and Hakun West Av Teigum (seven goals each) put up a good fight for Berlin, but it was ultimately not enough.
An epic route to the final
The sold-out LANXESS arena, with more than 20,000 spectators, played host to this year’s Machineseeker EHF Champions League final tournament – a handball event with an international impact. This was Füchse‘s first appearance at the EHF Champions League final tournament in Cologne, and they took advantage of it to stand out in impressive form on the elite European stage.
Füchse had already made their mark with an impressive semi-final defeat of HBC Nantes on Saturday (34:24). Despite going a man down early on with a red card for Gidsel, Jaron Siewert’s team dominated play – with passion, focus and precision. The team’s qualification for the prestigious final was not only a historic moment, but also demonstrated incredible maturity and team cohesion. Reaching the TruckScout24 EHF final four was a milestone in itself.
The final: everything that makes this sport great
The match against Magdeburg was a genuine battle for the European crown. Both teams tackled the task with huge intensity. Füchse had a decent start and were put in the lead by Nils Lichtlein, retaining this well in the early stages with some strong moves by players such as Hakun West Av Teigum and Mathias Gidsel. However, SC Magdeburg increasingly took control as the first half went on. By half-time, SCM were 12:16 ahead – especially thanks to their strong defence and Hernandez’s exceptional performance in goal.
In the second half, Berlin tried everything to close the gap: strong saves by Lasse Ludwig (12 in total), an aggressive final phase and some beautifully developed goals kept Füchse in the running for a long time. Imagine the scene: a magical pass from Lichtlein to Gidsel – and hopes were briefly lifted. However, ultimately luck was not on Berlin’s side. Magdeburg recovered, extended their lead, and ultimately celebrated the club’s third Champions League title.
A team to be proud of
World-class handball player Mathias Gidsel was named EHF Champions League top scorer for the 2024/25 season after the match – an exceptional individual performance with a total of 135 goals, representing a team that has shone for months.
Füchse‘s coach Jaron Siewert was realistic but congratulatory:
Congratulations to Magdeburg, they deserved to win today. I think that Sergey Hernandez Ferrer was a big factor. We did not hit our flow or get our pace up and we let too many opportunities pass us by. But we do not need to be dejected, we can be proud of our season.
Captain Max Darj also had positive things to say about what they had achieved, despite the final result:
Magdeburg deserved it today, they were better than us. But we can be incredibly proud. We had a fantastic season. It is hard right now, but we will bounce back.
Although the crown remains out of reach (for now), Berlin have made an impression on the European handball map. Füchse have delighted Europe – with determination, emotion and top performances.
This season will not be forgotten. German champions. Champions League runners up.
Congratulations on an exceptional season – we cannot wait to see what comes next.