Just three days after winning the bronze medal in the European League, Borussia Dortmund’s handball ladies are already facing another challenge, as HSG Blomberg-Lippe come to town on Wednesday evening (19:30 CET). At stake are all-important points in the fight for third place in the Bundesliga – something that would see the Black and Yellows once again in European competition next season.

After the great success in the European League, the message from Henk Groener’s team was clear: BVB want to play in Europe again next season. In the battle to finish third in the league, a victory against the side from Blomberg is almost a must. In recent months, HSG have fought to get to within two points of BVB, and have been putting in some strong performances in recent weeks.

“Blomberg are a very well-oiled machine with a defence that makes things very awkward,” says the coach. “Their attack is very agile, and they can also call on players like Laetitia Quist, who have always made life difficult for us.” His team’s task will be to be as impressive at the back as they were last weekend. “As always, we want to play with a lot of pace going forward, create good chances and not act too hastily,” he adds.

It will also be crucial to keep concentration levels high after the intense weekend. “I think that we need to refocus after the games in Graz, but we will take the intensity, the experience and, of course, the sense of success with us. That will definitely help us,” says the BVB coach.

After two matches in the space of less than 24 hours, there are question marks over how much the BVB ladies have left in the tank, especially since the side from Blomberg have had ten days of rest and have been able to prepare well for the game. “We have to accept it the way it so – we can’t change it. In the match against the Thüringer HC on Sunday, however, we were also able to rotate a lot and spread the load. Everyone got a breather. I also believe that the euphoria of these games will do us good,” stresses Groener, who gave his players a day off on Monday.

For more information on the game, have a look at the digital programme. Throw-off in the Sporthalle Wellinghofen is at 19:30 CET. Tickets are available via the BVB online ticket shop and at the box office. The match will also be shown free of charge on the Sportdeutschland.TV portal [Germany].