Leipzig stops the losing streak: 30:29 win against Erlangen

SC DHfK Leipzig has sent an important sign of life in the relegation battle. On Thursday evening, the team coached by Frank Carstens won 30:29 (17:13) against HC Erlangen in front of 4,510 spectators, thus ending a series of nine winless games. It was also the first home win of the year.

The success had immediate consequences in the standings: Leipzig temporarily gave up the "red lantern" – the symbol for the current bottom of the table – and is now in second-to-last place with 13:47 points. For a team that had recently often fallen behind early, it was less about a single highlight and more about the way they turned the game around and controlled it for long stretches.

Leipzig starts boldly – and initially gets no grip defensively

Leipzig started with pace, but initially failed to get a stable grip in defense. Especially against Erlangen's backcourt actions, the hosts acted too passively, and the guests consistently exploited the spaces. Midway through the first half, SC DHfK was therefore trailing 9:11.

Only then did the picture shift: goalkeeper Tomas Mrkva improved, and at the same time Leipzig became more compact in defense and forced Erlangen's shots into less favorable zones. In a game that had so far lived mainly from changes in rhythm, it was this stabilization in the center that enabled Leipzig to play out their own attacks more calmly.

The 6:1 run before halftime gives Leipzig control

The decisive phase of the first half followed shortly before the break. With a 6:1 run, Leipzig turned the deficit into a 15:12 lead (25th minute). What had been an open exchange of blows became, in these minutes, a game in which Leipzig took control – also because the defensive work now enabled turnovers and quick, clear finishes.

At halftime, the score was 17:13. Carstens later pointed out above all the defensive quality after the break and the fact that his team had to work out many solutions through individual actions – an indication that the victory did not come from a single tactical trick, but from a mix of increased presence in defense, improved goalkeeper actions, and moments in which Leipzig took responsibility in attack.

Clear lead, then it gets tight again

After the break, Leipzig extended the lead: at 21:15 (39th minute), the game initially seemed to be heading for a home win, and at 27:21 (52nd minute), the decision seemed close. Dean Bombac was Leipzig's top scorer with eight goals and gave the attack structure and finishing quality in many situations.

But in the final phase, the game wobbled again. Leipzig temporarily lost their clear line, and Erlangen closed the gap step by step. Marek Nissen was hardly to be stopped and ended up with eleven goals. 43 seconds before the end, HC Erlangen was back within one goal.

Leipzig nevertheless brought the lead over the line and ran down the clock in the last attack. Thus, SC DHfK also won its tenth Bundesliga home game against the Franconians.

Relief in the relegation battle – and a signal internally

All in all, it was a victory that counted less for its brilliance than for its effect: two points that immediately help in the relegation zone, and an evening that can bring back some self-confidence after weeks without success. The fact that Leipzig got nervous again after a clear lead remains a warning sign. But what matters for the moment is this: the negative streak is over – and Leipzig has shown that in pressure phases, they can not only keep games open, but also win them.