Preview semi final 2: Ciudad Real - THW Kiel

The titans clash for the seventh time

For many fans is the second semi-final game of the day between Ciudad Real and THW Kiel is the anticipated final. After all those two teams were the ones facing each other in the last two season's finals. In 2008 and 2009, Kiel won the first leg, but Ciudad Real secured the title due to the better goal difference. "We do not think back, but only look ahead," Kiel's German international Dominik Klein said. "We are going for the title hat-trick, although it is going to be very difficult to defeat Kiel on German soil," Ciudad coach Talant Dujshebaev said.

Both teams know each other more than wel, there are no tactical secrets between Kiel and Ciudad. The fundament of the teams changed slightly this season because both lost key players before the start of the season: Karabatic, the current EHF FINAL4-Ambassador Lövgren and Kavticnik left the "Zebras"; Rutenka, Stefansson, Laen, Urios, Pajovic and Zorman left Ciudad Real. Nevertheless both teams belonged to the league favorites from the very first match day again. And the Spanish champions and the German league leaders could live up to that role: Ciudad won 13 of their 14 EHF Champions League games this season, losing only the first leg Quarterfinal in Hamburg. Kiel won 12 out of 14 games - to the loss at home against Barcelona they added a draw in Kolding in the the group stage.

"We are ready," Kiel Coach Alfred Gislasson said, dreaming of his second EHF Champions League title as a coach after the 2002 success with Magdeburg.

"It's just one game, in a semi-final played with two matches our chances might have been better," Luis Miguel Lopez, manager of Ciudad Real, said.

The Spaniards showed a noble gesture on the eve before their first game: the defending champion's president Domingo de Mera handed over a silver replica of the trophy to EHF President Tor Lian, although the club is supposed to keep the "old" EHF Champions League trophy.

The semi-final that will be broadcasted live on TV in various countries all over the world guarantees high voltage - and stars. Above all, the duel of the two best goalkeepers in the world draws the attention of the masses: Arpad Sterbik (Ciudad, World Handball Player of 2005) against Thierry Omeyer (Kiel, World Handball Player 2008). But also on the court world class meets: Ciudad's Didier Dinart, best defensive player in the world, meets Kiel pivot Marcus Ahlm, in the back area the current EHF Champions League top scorer Filip Jicha (Kiel) and the experienced Frenchman Jerome Fernandez meet.

While the Spaniards enter the semi-final without injuries, Kiel misses Kim Andersson and maybe the benched Momir Ilic.

So far the two teams have battled six duels in the EHF Champions League, the victory statistic it is 3:3. Whoever wins the seventh game is taken a bit closer to the dream of the title.

TEXT: Björn Pazen