Powerhouse Kiel Top Handball-Bundesliga Betting Predictions

Germany’s premier Handball-Bundesliga is one of the best in the world. In April 2020, the 36 clubs of the top two divisions voted to end the 2019/20 season after playing only 26 of 34 games. But on October 1st, the LIQUI MOLY Handball-Bundesliga returns with 20 clubs competing for the German Championship. Handball-Bundesliga betting predictions looks at which teams could launch a successful campaign for the title in the upcoming 2020/21 season.

For many, Handball is Germany’s second sport, after football. Unlike football, however, the biggest match attendances occur in smaller cities or towns, where it’s become the favourite spectator sport. Most domestic football leagues are dominated by teams from big cities, such as Barcelona, Manchester, Munich and Paris. But Handball-Bundesliga’s top teams belong to cities such as Kiel, with just 246,000 residents. Flensburg has 85,000, Gummersbach has 51,000 and Grosswallstadt only has just over 4,000. So don’t fixate on the big cities when it comes to your handball betting strategies!

This season will see an extra two teams in 1. Bundesliga

Handball-Bundesliga sees 18 teams competing every season, with seasons usually played from August or September to May. The Bundesliga is unique as there are no playoffs in the league, nor is there a final match between the two top teams. As last year’s season unfortunately ended earlier than expected, no teams were relegated from 1. Bundesliga, although the two best teams from the 2. Bundesliga were still promoted. As a result, three times Bundesliga champions (in the late 1980s) TUSEM Essen and HSC 2000 Coburg will this year also play in the top flight. You can read more about last season’s Handball Bundesliga betting predictions here 2019 Handball-Bundesliga Betting Predictions: THW Kiel and More.

This means that in the 2020/21 season there will be 20 teams and each team will play 38 games, 4 games more than the previous seasons. The top two teams at the season’s end automatically enter the EHF Champions League, the top handball competition for first division clubs in Europe, the following season. Teams three, four and five qualify for the EHF Cup, run for second division European clubs. Last season’s runners-up SG Flensburg-Handewitt will join winners THW Kiel in the Champions League next season, while SC Magdeburg, TSV Hannover-Burgdorf and Rhein-Neckar Löwen take the EHF Cup places. You’ll find betting action on both of these competitions, and the Bundesliga, at our trusted online gambling sites in Germany.

Bundesliga winners over last ten years:

Top Teams in Handball Bundesliga

Founded 56 years ago, the Bundesliga has been considered one of the best leagues in Europe for decades. And for many years, 12 time championship winners VfL Gummersbach were the team to beat. But in 2007, THW Kiel -286 knocked them from the top spot to become the most successful handball team in Bundesliga history. Gummersbach are still one of the most popular teams in the league, however, having won a record 5 EHF European Cup titles to THW Kiel’s 3.

In the 1990s, THW Kiel emerged as a force to be reckoned with, mainly due to the brilliance of their top player Nikola Karabatic. Over the course of the decade they won 7 titles, and their dominance of the league to this day has seen them become something of a Bundesliga dynasty. In more recent times, Rhein-Neckar Löwen +550 have enjoyed some success, taking consecutive titles in 2016 and 2017. SG Flensburg-Handewitt +450 have also done so, in 2004, 2018 and 2019. Handball-Bundesliga betting predictions, however, show this is a trend Kiel will be looking to stamp out very soon.

Handball-Bundesliga betting predictions – Kiel dominance set to continue

The favourites to win the Bundesliga this season are of course current champions THW Kiel -286. In the world of German professional handball, they stand head and shoulders above the competition. Affectionately known as ‘The Zebras’, they have dominated the division for more than 25 years. Over this time, they have won a total of 21 championships, including 18 of the last 27.

And this season they look even stronger. Already boasting some of the best players in the world, they will see elite centre back Sander Sagosen joining them from Paris Saint Germain. Sagosen will partner the master of defence Domagoj Duvnjak, who was chosen by players and coaches as MVP last season for the second time in his career.

A massive help to Sagosen and Duvnjak will certainly be big-name players like Niclas Ekberg, Nikola Bilyk and Harald Reinkind. Not to mention Niklas Landin Jacobsen, considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world. You can read more here about the Best Handball Players in History such as THW Kiel player Magnus Wislander.

Considering how strong the roster is, head coach Filip Jicha, once a great player himself, will surely be confident of bringing home the club’s twenty-second league trophy. And of course, having already found success in his first season as head coach factors into Handball-Bundesliga betting predictions that he’s going to make it happen again.

Other Handball Bundesliga betting predictions for winner

Someone who will be looking to prevent this are fierce neighboring rivals Flensburg-Handewitt +450. Runners-up last season, they are undoubtedly not very happy about the way the season ended. Having won the two previous championships, they were only two points behind Kiel with the hat-trick in their sights when it finished so abruptly. Whether they would have caught Kiel or not, they will be keen to prove a point come October.

They also have talent. Captain Lasse Svan will play alongside last season’s top scorers for Flensburg, Jim Gottfridson and Goran Johanessen (101 and 110 goals respectively). Benjamin Burić and Torbjorn Bergerud are very solid between the sticks, and they have a physical force in Magnus Rød who stands at 204 cm. The biggest new signing is Mads Mensah Larsen, who scored 65 goals for Rhein Neckar Löwen last season. Comparing the roster with that of Kiel, however, they should perhaps be realistic and make the Champions League spot their top priority.

After Kiel and Flensburg, Handball-Bundesliga betting predictions currently have Rhein Neckar Löwen +550 third in the outright winner stakes. Success had eluded the team from Mannheim over the last few seasons, but they are hoping for a change in fortune under new head coach Martin Schwalb. Appointed in the February this year. Schwalb is a true German handball legend who has already won the Bundesliga as a coach in 2011 with HSV Hamburg.

Their roster also looks very interesting with some more experienced players like top scorer Uwe Gensheimer, Jesper Nielsen, Alexander Petersson and Patrick Groetzki mixed in with some younger upcoming stars like Romain Lagarde, Lukas Nilsson, Jannik Kohlbacher and Ymir Őrn Gislason.

How to bet on Handball-Bundesliga betting predictions

Current Outright Winner odds at NordicBet Sportsbook:

Although handball may not be considered a major sport worldwide, handball betting is immensely popular. Betting on handball is very straightforward, and sharp bettors can make a nice profit on the numerous handball betting markets focussing on both domestic and international competitions.

Handball betting options are similar to those offered on basketball. Punters can chose from, amongst others, match result, handicap, total goals, double result or winning margin markets. Pinnacle Sports offer bets on various domestic leagues, including the German Bundesliga and the Spanish Liga. You’re also covered for the World Handball Championships, European Handball Championships, the Olympics and other major events, including the EHF Champions League. So for wagering selections, check out Online sportsbooks in Germany where you will find up-to-date Handball-Bundesliga betting predictions and you’re preferred betting markets.

You can discover more about Pinnacle Sports here.