Around four and a half years after the first and only previous visit, our women’s handball team returned to Dortmund to face the Black-and-Yellows once again on Sunday afternoon. Back then, a 25–25 draw left us dissatisfied, and although we wouldn’t have been content with a draw this time either, even that result would have improved our chances ahead of the return leg – that was all that mattered in this tie.

On paper, we were the stronger side, but there were clear dangers heading into the game. Dortmund, fresh off their last week’s cup success, could play without pressure and with confidence, while we were missing both of our natural left backs. Orlane Kanor is still recovering from a concussion suffered against Podravka, and Emily Vogel picked up an injury in the league clash against Győr. As a result, Anna Szeibert was included in the squad, while Vogel, although present and even dressed in kit, could only support the team from the stands.

Despite her absence, the team made a strong start.

Even during the warm-up, the players were more vocal than usual, constantly pushing and motivating each other — and that energy carried into the opening minutes. We settled into the game quickly, defended aggressively, and took an early 3–1 lead. This came despite an early two-minute suspension for Mette Tranborg in an off-the-ball situation.

We made more mistakes in attack in the following phase, allowing Dortmund to level at 4–4 and even push for the lead, but Malestein broke the deadlock, and by the midway point of the half we managed to pull away again. Katrin Klujber added two superb goals, but overall it was our defence and Blanka Böde-Bíró’s saves that kept us in front. The game had its ups and downs, with momentum swinging between the two sides, but Dortmund never managed to take the lead. We finished the half strongly as well: after 9–9, we put together a three-goal run and went into the break with a 13–10 lead.

After the restart, our opponent came out with even more intensity, tightening their defence and making it difficult for us to extend the gap. In fact, we had to fight to maintain our three-goal advantage. At a crucial moment, Anna Szeibert stepped up, contributing a goal and two assists, providing a major boost when Jesper Jensen was unable to field Darja Dmitrieva.

At 18–14, we opened up a four-goal lead for the first time, and the flow of the game looked promising. However, we then went through a poor spell, turning over possession and conceding easy goals, allowing the hosts back into the game. Compared to the league clash against Győr, there were fewer standout individual performances, and fatigue was also visible, but the attitude never dropped, and someone always came up with a key moment.

Klujber, for example, made an impact on both ends, with a ball steal and a goal during this period. Even when Dortmund equalised at 21–21, we responded immediately with three consecutive goals to kick off the final stretch. From there, we never looked back. Strong defence, a crucial save from Laura Glauser and more goals from Szeibert — even Dortmund’s switch to seven-on-six didn’t change the momentum. In the final minute, we even had the chance to extend the lead to six.

After a timeout and a well-worked attack, Vilde Ingstad found the back of the net, setting the biggest margin of the game at the final whistle.

We now head into the second leg in a favourable position — one step closer to the quarter-finals.

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