2022 EHF European League Predictions for the Semi-finals

A Magdeburg success from 2022 – Image source: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The 2021/22 EHF European League will have its last three games this weekend, on the 28-29 May in Lisbon, Portugal. The four remaining teams will first meet in the semi-finals to fight for a place in the final. The 2022 EHF European League predictions favor Magdeburg and Benfica to win their ties and reach the final, let’s see their chances below. 

The EHF European League is the second-tier handball club competition in the continent which has been held since 1981. Previously it was known as the EHF Cup with former winners including mostly German clubs. SC Magdeburg are one of them. While they are also the defending champions after their victory against Fuchse Berlin in last year’s final. Now the club will have a chance of defending its title after getting to the final four again. They need to win first against Croatian side RK Nexe who became the first club of their country to reach the semi-final. In the other game, the hosts, SL Benfica will meet Polish side Orlen Wisla Plock who finished fourth last season. It seems like a tighter match with both teams aiming for their first final.

2022 EHF European League predictions favor Magdeburg to reach the final again

SC Magdeburg have won this tournament four times so far and belongs to the most successful clubs. They are also the defending champions with a good chance of winning the trophy again. The team won its group with 9 wins and one draw, then knocked out Sporting and HBC Nantes in the previous rounds. Now Bennet Wiegert’s team will face RK Nexe in the semi-final with online sportsbooks in Portugal highly favoring them for the win. Their odds are only 1.092 while Nexe’s odds for the victory are 9.70 in the 2022 EHF European League predictions. 

The two teams have met nine times so far with Magdeburg winning on seven occasions. The German club also won their last two matches at this season’s group stage. But they need to focus on Saturday as well. As Nexe have one of the best rising stars in its squad, Halil Jaganjac. The Croatian international is second in the top scorer’s list but only two goals behind the current leader. Of course, Magdeburg have their own top players like the Danish international, Michael Damgaard who scored 12 goals in the quarter-final against Nantes. And his compatriot, goalkeeper Mike Jensen who has also been brilliant in that game. 

Benfica will be supported by home fans

SL Benfica reached the final four of the European League for the first time in the club’s history. Whatever their final result will be they have already made history. As along with Nexe they are the first team to reach the last four after starting the tournament in the first round. Serbian internationals Lazar Kukic and Petar Djordjic have played a key role in the team’s success. With the latter player also chasing the top scorer title. Home fans can also give a boost for the team. Which has the odds of 1.91 to win their match against Wisla Plock on online gambling sites in Portugal. 

But it will be a tough game against the Polish side which will feature in their second final four after their appearance last year. Plock won their group with a similar record as Magdebrurg, with 9 wins and only one defeat. In the knockout stage they won against German TBV Lemgo. then against Swiss Kadetten Schaffhausen with a 15-goal margin on aggregate. Now Xavi Sabate’s team will face a more difficult opponent in Benfica. But with a very experienced and balanced squad including Tin Lucin, Zoltan Szita or Serdio Abel, they have a chance of winning the match. And the odds of 2.312 to do so on 22Bet. 

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