Champions League Men | 17 Dec 2020

Borussia Düsseldorf and 1 FC Saarbrücken in the final

Champions League Men 2020/21 in ARAG CenterCourt Düsseldorf

In the final of the Champions League Men 2020/21 in ARAG CenterCourt Düsseldorf will play Borussia Düsseldorf and 1 FC Saarbrücken.

 

You can see all the results here.

You can follow the action live here.

You can see pictures here.

 

TTSC UMMC - Borussia Düsseldorf 2:3

Jonathan GROTH – Kristian KARLSSON 3:0 (11:8, 11:8, 11:3)

Tomislav PUCAR – Timo BOLL 0:3 (6:11, 8:11, 6:11)

Liam PITCHFORD – Anton KALLBERG 2:3 (12:10, 7:11, 5:11, 13:11, 3:6)

Jonathan GROTH – Timo BOLL 3:2 (11:5, 10:12, 6:11, 21:19, 6:0)

Tomislav PUCAR - Kristian KARLSSON 0:3 (9:11, 9:11, 2:11)

Russia's side had a better start of the match with Jonathan GROTH overcame Kristian KARLSSON in straight games. Both players, Dane and Swede commenced the duel focused, but GROTH managed to keep the match under the control with very good service game. In the second game, KARRLSSON had a better start but GROTH kept the momentum going, playing with more and more confidence. The close game continued, but like in the opening one, GROTH was able to shift up the gear in the closing stage. There were no gifts from the KARLSSON; Dane had to work hard for each point, but it paid off eventually.

Timo BOLL get Borussia Düsseldorf back on track with the straight games win over Tomislav PUCAR. PUCAR put some pressure on BOLL, but Germany's player denied all of his attempts to get control. PUCAR played very aggressive, but BOLL was calm and forced his adversary into the mistakes. Errors flowed, frustration was evident and BOLL won the match in dominated mode.

It all came down to the good service in the opening game between Liam PITCHFORD and Anton KALLBERG. Swede had a better start but PITCHFORD settled into rhythm in the closing stage. PITCHFORD came from 1:5 in reverse to won the game by narrow margin. The momentum shifted from one side to another, before crucial game went to Swede's account. In fourth game KALLBERG moved up in convincing fashion before Zoran PRIMORAC called for time out at 1:3; Liam leveled and moved forward to 4:3. It was time for the time out called by Germany's bench. Liam kept the pressure high, KALLBERG faced three game points before PITCHFORD moved the match into the decisive game. KALLBERG stayed focused and won the tie break 3:6.

On his second exit to the table BOLL faced very dangerous GROTH. Dane's powerful strokes put BOLL into the defensive mode as GROTH kept the momentum going. Jonathan made a good start to 5:1, but BOLL came close at 6:5. PRIMORAC call for time out, to halt Timo's way back. German was slowed a little, but he took the massive game in his favor. In the third game BOLL was in much safer zone at the beginning. Timo had 4:1 in advance before GROTH recovered to take the lead; it did not take long before Timo moved it to the next level.

The final outcome of the fourth game showed the massive severity of this part of match – 21:19. GROTH forced BOLL into the fifth game. GROTH brave performance was awarded. He forced BOLL into the first defeat at the tournament.

KARLSSON won the opening game against PUCAR by keeping the control from the very beginning. The power switched to the other side in the second game, but in the finish it was KARLSSON who had a better nerves.

“At the end it is important that all three of us scored. In matches like this complete team has to play at the highest level in order to win,” said BOLL.

Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg - 1 FC Saarbrücken 1:3

Marcos FREITAS – Patrick FRANZISKA 2:3 (8:11, 11:5, 6:11, 11:7, 3:6)

Vladimir SAMSONOV – SHANG Kun 1:3 (12:14, 11:9, 3:11, 4:11)

Dimitrij OVTCHAROV – Darko JORGIC 3:1 (4:11, 12:10, 11:6, 11:5)

Marcos FREITAS – SHANG Kun 2:3 (7:11, 8:11, 11:1, 11:5, 4:6)

The crowned champion from 2019, Fakel-Gazprom Orenburg, no one seed, club who won the title five times in history of TTCLM failed to reach the final. 1 FC Saarbrücken will play on the final stage first time in history.

Patrick FRANZISKA made safe gap at 6:1 before Marcos FREITAS managed to settle into the rhythm and did some service fine tuning; Portugal's player moved to another gear, but it was too late for the opening game. The match swung to the other side as Marcos kept the momentum. Again, FRANZISKA dominated in the third game. With 7:1, he secured enough room to whitstood Marcos' spirited come back in the second half of the game. Once again it was 7:1, in the fourth game, but this time for FREITAS before he moved to decisive game.

SAMSONOV had a better start against SHAN Kun, but Chinese player's aggressive approach was not to be denied. He maintained consistency and responded to Belarus experienced and tricky shots to win the opening game by narrow margin. In the next one it was SAMSONOV who reached 7:4 once again and it was SHANG who managed to stay calm to answer to it. SHANG leveled it, but this time Vladimir sealed the game in his favor. In third and fourth game Kun dominated completely.

Darko JORGIC won the opening game against Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in furious style. OVTCHAROV halted Darko's run and returned into the game. The match remained close until the second half of the third game, when OVTCHAROV started moving in fast lane.

SHANG Kun plays a pivotal role in 1 FC Saarbrücken's success. After victory over Vladimir SAMSONOV he overcame Marcos FREITAS.

“We are extremely happy with the outcome. For us it was important to have the good start. It was very close game that I won against Marcos. SHAN Kun's contribution was great. He outplayed SAMSONOV who was very good tonight. He was much faster and moved better. JORGIC usually played better against OVTCHAROV, but tonight Dima was stronger,” said FRANZISKA.