After FC Barcelona Intersport eliminated debutants KS Vive Targi Kielce in the semi-final on Saturday (1 June), now the Catalans face the VELUX EHF Champions League final first-timers HSV Hamburg. As Barcelona fight for their eighth title in the most important club competition in their tenth final participation, Hamburg is finalist for the first time not even one of their players have ever been part of a Men's EHF Champions League final and the teams have never met before in any competition.
VELUX EHF Champions League Final
FC Barcelona Intersport (ESP) vs. HSV Hamburg (GER)
LANXESS arena, Cologne, Germany
Sunday 2 June - 18:15 (local time)
Barcelona play their 53rd match against a German opponent in all international competitions and their records read - won 26, lost 24 and tied twice. For the third time in history Barcelona face a German team in the Men's EHF Champions League final. In 2000 they had beaten Kiel, in 2010 they were defeated by THW.
Five sections of the FC Barcelona sporting club made it to their respective semi-finals of their European Cup competitions this season. But as football, futsal, basketball and rollerhockey lost their Champions League semi-finals, their handball team are the only ones to reach a final.
Hamburg are the first team in the history of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 to make it from the qualification to the final. They nearly were eliminated in the final of the Wild Card tournament by host St. Raphael, but finally won after extra-time to qualify for the Group Phase.
The only international title Hamburg won by now was after a final success against a Spanish team, in 2007 the EHF Cup Winner’s Cup after beating Ademar Leon in aggregate. Four players, who won this trophy six years ago, are still in the team: Torsten Jansen, Pascal Hens, Matthias Flohr and Stefan Schröder.
The final is also the last opportunity for the 'Golden Ball' for the overall top scorer of the VELUX EHF Champions League. Current leader Hans Lindberg has 95 goals on his tally after his seven strikes against Kiel in the semi-final. Second ranked Siarhei Rutenka has 87 goals on his account after scoring eight times against Kielce.
The Belarussian semi-final match-winner can win his sixth EHF Champions League trophy in his career after 2004 (RK Celje), 2006, 2008, 2009 (all Ciudad Real) and 2011 with current club Barcelona. Goalkeeper Arpad Sterbik hasthree titles on his tally (all with Ciudad Real), while Barca team captain Victor Tomas can make history as the only player, who was in both 2005 and 2011 winners’ teams of Barcelona.
Never before have both finalists met in any competition, but both had duels with teams from the respective leagues this season: Hamburg beat Spanish side Ademar Leon twice in the Group Phase, as Barcelona had each one victory and defeat against Füchse Berlin.