SC Magdeburg has ended its losing streak and claimed an important victory in the Champions League. The team from the Elbe city won 28:23 (14:13) against defending champions FC Barcelona in front of 6,600 spectators. Magdeburg's top scorer was Omar Ingi Magnusson with eight goals. Magdeburg are eight points behind leaders Barcelona in fifth place in Group B, which would be enough to progress. Coach Bennet Wiegert's team had previously lost five of their eight games in the Champions League.
Without captain Christian O'Sullivan, but with the injured Magnus Saugstrup and Mikael Damgaard in the squad, SCM went into the highlight game against Barcelona. Magdeburg had problems running back and the defensive players were not always in their usual positions. Barcelona took an early two-goal lead, partly because a header against SCM goalkeeper Sergey Hernandez went unpunished (3:5/9th). The visitors initially pulled away. Technical mistakes and the visitors' quick-footed defense made life difficult for the club from the city on the Elbe, but Magdeburg fought its way into the game and took a somewhat surprising lead at the break.
Magdeburg increased its lead to two goals, but was not able to pull further ahead. Instead, the visitors turned the game around (17:18/38) and both teams were now on an equal footing. Both sides played out their attacks for a long time, with pace rarely coming into play. Barcelona no longer looked as agile in defense, Magdeburg turned the game around and inflicted the first defeat on the Spaniards.
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