Unfortunately, the hall in the Saudi Arabian Dammam was not worthy of such a final, many seats remained free. In the end, however, there were just over 3,000 spectators. Both teams offered top-level handball from the first minute. Magdeburg got into the game better, which was also due to the strong keeper Nikola Portner and right winger Daniel Pettersson. After nine minutes and an 8-4 lead, Barcelona’s coach called a time-out. The Champions League winners gradually acclimated, goalkeeper Gonzalo Perez de Vargas improved. At 10:9, the Catalans had the chance to equalize. But the SCM remained unimpressed and always found the right answer. Magdeburg’s speed counterattacks came precisely and so the lead grew again to 20:17. 13 seconds before the break, Bennet Wiegert called a time-out, he really wanted the 21st goal. And it worked: after a great pass, Gisli Kristjansson came flying in and netted.
After the change of sides, Magdeburg continued exactly where they left off. After 40 minutes the lead had grown to six goals (25:19). Then Barcelona changed their defensive behavior – with effect. The Spaniards defended more offensively, tried to take Kristjansson out of the game, gained goal after goal and made it 28:28 (46th). The final minute of the regular season couldn’t be surpassed in terms of drama. Lukas Mertens managed it 35:34, but Barcelona got a penalty and equalized. At the last second, Philipp Weber hammered the ball against the post.
In overtime, keeper Portner became a hero. At 40:39, the Swiss parried the decisive seven-metre throw and thus secured the decisive last attack for the Magdeburg team. Magnusson finally made everything clear and, like last year, SCM had secured the Club World Cup.