"BHC stands as an external force, with the support primarily stemming from enthusiastic followers"
In their first match of the season, the Handball Club Bremen (BHC) faced a tough challenge against the reigning German champions, Füchse Berlin. Despite a commendable performance, the team suffered a 27:39 loss.
The opening 43 minutes saw BHC creating numerous chances and displaying a patient positional attack, much to the satisfaction of the team's coach, Markus Pütz, and the fans. However, when the scoreline started to slip away, BHC found themselves rushing their shots, a mistake that Berlin's defence capitalised on severely.
The absence of captain Tomas Babak due to back problems was felt keenly. In his place, Christopher Rudeck was deployed, while Søren Servos was called up to the squad as a precautionary measure. The team is hopeful that Babak will recover in time for the upcoming games against TVB Stuttgart.
Pütz and the BHC coaching staff are understandably concerned about Babak's condition, as his presence is crucial for the team's cohesion and composure. Meanwhile, the team is preparing for the shooting power of Antonio Metzner in their upcoming games.
Lukas Becher, a promising young talent who grew up at BHC and previously played in the Bundesliga, is set to step in on the left wing position for the BHC's first home match. Andri Runarsson is another new addition to the team, adding strength to the squad.
Unfortunately, the team will be without Belal Massoud due to a muscle fiber tear in their first home match.
The HCE, BHC's rivals in the upcoming game, put up a strong performance in their opener against THW Kiel, only to lose 29:31. Viggo Kristjansson was one of the decisive players in the relegation battle a few months ago.
BHC coach Arnor Gunnarsson believes the team has a better chance of getting the first points of the season against Erlangen than against Füchse Berlin. However, they will face a robust defence in the form of Maciej Gebala, Florian Scheerer, and Christoph Steinert.
As the season progresses, the BHC will need to learn from their mistakes, keep their composure, and capitalise on their promising performances to secure their place in the league.
