The new Opel Handball‑Bundesliga season is just around the corner – and for Füchse Berlin, it starts where they feel most at home: in the Max‑Schmeling‑Halle. On Thursday 27 August, the capital club will be playing host to MT Melsungen to kick off the 2026/27 season. The match begins at 8 p.m.
An opponent with a tailwind – and Champions League ambitions
The season opener will be a difficult one. Melsungen are heading to Berlin as the current EHF European League champions and are playing in the Champions League for the first time this season. They are an opponent brimming with confidence – and some familiar faces. Dainis Kristopans, who once played for Füchse, is one of the away team’s key players.
For Füchse, it also represents a return to their usual indoor routine. 82 days after their final match of last season, captain Max Darj will be leading his team back onto the court at the Max‑Schmeling‑Halle. Anticipation levels are high, even if last weekend’s Rexel Super Cup match against Magdeburg did not offer the start they were looking for.
A special evening for Simak and Palicka
For Frederik Simak, the season opener will be a historic moment. Six years after moving to Lemgo, the 28‑year‑old is back in Berlin – no longer as an opponent, but rather back with Füchse. They have recently chalked up four consecutive home wins against Melsungen, including last season’s 30:24 victory. This result offers cause for optimism.
Andreas Palicka will also be playing his first official match in front of a Berlin crowd. The Swedish goalkeeper, alongside Lasse Ludwig, represents the new partnership between the goalposts and offers the team experience, communication and presence.
Juniors and returning players – a squad with new roles
Coach Nicolej Krickau continues to view developing young Berlin players as hugely important. Julian Kusche is a new addition to the squad and is hoping to chalk up his first Bundesliga match time. Matthes Langhoff and Nils Lichtlein are also expected to take on even more prominent roles this season.
At Melsungen, national player Johannes Golla is celebrating his return to the club – a clash that holds special significance for both sides.
Krickau on the opener: a multifaceted challenge
Coach Nicolej Krickau is looking to the first match of the season with clear expectations:
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Our aim against Melsungen is to score lots of goals and defend six on seven. MT have played a range of lineups throughout their preparations. This means that we might not have a complete picture of them and they remain an unknown, but we are still well prepared.
He added:
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Their biggest changes are the arrival of new signings Johannes Golla and Luca Sigrist. Aaron Mensing and Dainis Kristopans’s shooting skill will make things difficult. Overall, we are facing a major challenge, but we also know that the first home game of the season involves more than just tactics. Plus we want to impose our pace on the court.
One season – five competitions, a gigantic schedule
The 2026/27 season will once again bring lots of play and a high workload for Füchse. There could be up to 62 matches – split across the Bundesliga, DHB Cup, Champions League, IHF Club World Championship and Rexel Super Cup.
As the reigning champions, the Berlin team will enter the DHB Cup in the last sixteen. The Champions League will be played in a new format with a group stage (in groups of four) before the main round begins. On an international level, there are also the Club World Championships in Egypt, where Füchse are competing for the first time since 2023.
The squad has also undergone some staffing changes. Two experienced players have arrived in Palicka and Simak, whilst Milosavljev, Andersson, Herburger, Cehte and Chrintz have all left the club. This marks Krickau’s first full season as head coach – and the team are likely to grow further, bolstered by some home-grown players as well as talent from their collaboration with 1. VfL Potsdam and Füchse’s own third-division reserve team. After their opener against Melsungen, Füchse will be heading straight into some other challenging tasks. The second day of play sees them away against SC Magdeburg, followed by their first away game against HC Erlangen a week later.
An evening that could set the tone
The season opener against Melsungen represents more than just the first match: it is a moment that will show how well Füchse are finding their feet in the new season, how new arrivals are settling in, and how the team are making the most of their home atmosphere. The Max‑Schmeling‑Halle will be packed, their new green home strip will have its first outing – and Füchse will be seeking to secure their first points of the season.
We are looking forward to the season opener in the Max‑Schmeling‑Halle and wish Füchse a great start to the new season.
