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Thüringer HC and HSG Blomberg-Lippe are two of the strongest teams in the German handball Bundesliga. The duel in the DHB Cup round of 16 was considered an early final due to the high quality of both teams.
After an impressive second half, the handball players from Thüringer HC reached the quarter-finals of the DHB Cup. Coach Herbert Müller's team defeated the German champions HSG Blomberg-Lippe with 34:31 (13:14) in the round of 16 in front of their home crowd. Luca Csikos became the THC's best thrower with seven goals.
The two top Bundesliga teams didn't give each other anything away right from the start and fought a fast-paced and intense duel. Because goalkeeper Laura Kuske quickly became a factor, the THC took a slight lead for the first time at 8:5 (14th minute). In the final phase of the first half, however, the hosts lost their playful line, which Blomberg punished with a 6-2 run before the break.
After the change, the Thuringians started furiously and pulled away to 20:16 (39th). Blomberg's coach Steffen Birkner reacted with a timeout, but the hosts were undeterred and continued to extend their lead. In the final phase, the Blomberg women rebelled again, but the THC no longer allowed any tension to arise.

Cristiano Ronaldo left the Portuguese national team's training camp and flew to Madrid. The 41-year-old said on Instagram that he would explain the reasons for his departure in due course. National coach Jorge Jesus had previously announced that Ronaldo would not start in the Nations League game against Denmark.

Nicolo Tresoldi scored three goals to lead the German U21 team to a 4-1 win over Malta in Attard. Despite Basil Tuma falling behind early, Tresoldi (11th, 47th, 69th) and Tom Rothe (32nd) secured the victory. Coach Antonio Di Salvo's team now needs a win against Georgia in order to reach the European Championship finals in Albania and Serbia.
National coach Jürgen Klopp has sharply criticized racist and offensive comments on social media about the German national football team. He emphasized that such statements did not matter to him and praised the diverse team as a role model for respectful coexistence.
SG Flensburg-Handewitt won their first game in the group phase of the European League 40:31 against the Spanish representative BM Granollers. In front of 3,044 spectators in Flensburg, the hosts led 20:20 at halftime, pulled away in the second half thanks to strong performances from Patrick Volz and Simon Möller and ultimately won clearly. Marcos Fis and Pablo Urdangarin each scored nine times for the guests.
During a panel discussion in Munich, Matthias Sammer expressed great expectations of Per Mertesacker as the future sports director of the DFB and emphasized the need for courage, clarity and assertiveness in German football.
Jonas Urbig from FC Bayern makes his debut in goal for the German national football team against Serbia. National coach Jürgen Klopp confirmed the 23-year-old's use before the Nations League game in Munich. Joshua Kimmich is missing from the squad due to injury, the captaincy role falls to the player with the most international matches.