History repeats itself in the duel of the disappointed

For Vive Tauron Kielce, the 2015 VELUX EHF FINAL4 presents exactly the same match-ups as in their 2013 debut in Cologne. After losing the semi-final against Barcelona (28:33) on Saturday, they will again face THW Kiel for third place. Two years ago, they won the duel 31:30.

“We are highly disappointed, but we need to keep our heads free for Sunday. We don’t want to lose again like in 2013,” explained Kiel’s coach Alfred Gislason, after his team had been beaten by MKB-MVM Veszprem with a score of 27:31.

One Kielce player will be in the spotlight, as Tobias Reichmann has not only been part of the THW squad in the past, but won the VELUX EHF Champions League with them twice in 2010 and 2012. “The support of our fans reassures and motivates us for the upcoming match against my former teammates,” stated Reichmann.

Kielce coach, Talant Dujshebaev, faced Kiel the last time here in Cologne in the 2012 final when he was coach of Atletico Madrid – and lost. Now the Spaniard hopes for a successful farewell from the LANXESS Arena. “Of course we will fight for the victory.” Kielce left back Karol Bielecki shares this opinion: “It is not hard to get motivated for this match; we will give all we have for our fans.”

Overall, the teams have faced off seven times – and the results are absolutely equal. Both teams won three times each, with one match ending in a tie.

Since 2010, the only time a German team won the bronze medal match was HSV Hamburg in 2011, where they were victorious in an all-German duel against Rhein Neckar Löwen. Füchse Berlin and THW Kiel lost their matches in 2012 and 2013 respectively.