Kiel go for the triple

All three Champions League semi-finalists from Germany will meet again this weekend in the German Cup Final Four.

In the first semi-final on Saturday, HSV Hamburg will meet VfL Gummersbach. Afterwards THW Kiel will play again – just as in the Champions League – against Rhein Neckar Löwen.

The Lufthansa Final Four will be played in the Color Line Arena of Hamburg for the 16th time. All 13,000 seats were sold out weeks ago. In the last two years Kiel had won the German Cup and they’re going for the triple in the cup and the triple this season after winning the German championship and reaching the CL final.

“We’re the favourites in Hamburg, but we have to be aware that Rhein Neckar Löwen will be stronger than in the Champions League,” THW coach Alfred Gislasson said.

All other clubs agree that Kiel are the favourites. Even the host Hamburg coach confirms it.

“As there will be big fan clubs for all four teams here, it won’t be a typical home match for us,” HSV coach Martin Schwalb said.

Kiel will attend the Final Four (played since 1993) for the 11th time (seventh consecutive time) and won the cup five times. HSV won the title in 2006. Rhein Neckar Löwen will play the fourth time without ever winning before.

Last season HSV lost the final by 34:38 against THW. Hamburg played the finals in 2004, 2006 and 2008 and will take part in the Final Four for the fifth time. Gummersbach were German Cup Winners in 1985 the last time. The final will be played on Sunday at 2 PM.