Sibling contests surname ownership within the household.
The highly anticipated showdown between two notable handball players from the Lichtlein family is set to occur in the German Bundesliga, as Nils Lichtlein and his uncle Carsten Lichtlein prepare to face off on the court. With both players vying for the championship title, the stakes are high.
After a thrilling final whistle, the Berlin Max-Schmeling Hall erupted, with fans creating a passionate atmosphere, and the players celebrating with exclamations and embraces. As former teammates, the towering Carsten Lichtlein and Nils Lichtlein shared a heartfelt and lengthy embrace. Their shared victory in the U21 Handball World Championship, with Carsten acting as coach and Nils showing exceptional playmaking skills, was the highlight of their joint journey.
Now, more than two years later, the Lichtlein family could experience another triumph. However, there can only be one German champion amidst the fierce competition. Next Thursday, at 8 pm (Dyn), Füchse Berlin will host MT Melsungen, and the match will represent a crucial preliminary clash. Notably, Carsten Lichtlein, who has made a surprising comeback from a severe knee injury, will be on the MT Melsungen bench in an unexpected role – as a goalkeeper, replacing starting goalkeeper Nebojsa Simic.
Pressured to perform alongside Adam Morawski, Carsten and the Polish player will share the goalkeeping duties until the end of the season. If Morawski does not deliver a standout performance, Carsten may be called upon to save Nils' shots. "Of course, it's strange to play against my nephew," Carsten says, adding that his focus remains on the championship, and he intends to block out the personal duel for the duration of the match.
Nils Lichtlein, the son of Carsten's sister and a longtime national team player, has been hailed as a "genius for his age." In 2019, Carsten commended his nephew's exceptional playmaking skills and vision during the U21 World Championship. Since then, Nils has been selected for the senior national team and has impressive credentials, including participation in a World Cup and a European Championship. As a vital member of Füchse Berlin, Nils has exhibited exceptional talent, becoming a key player for World Handballer of the Year Mathias Gidsel and his fellow nationals Lasse Andersson.
While title-wise Carsten has dominated the field, having won the World Championship in 2007 and the European Championship twice in 2004 and 2016, his career reached a notable milestone with 716 appearances in the Bundesliga. His first Bundesliga game took place in 2000, before Nils was even born. In 2019, Carsten announced his retirement from the handball scene, transitioning to a goalkeeper coaching role at MT Melsungen.
Media attention and speculation have arisen about MT Melsungen's acquisition of top German players for significant sums – a practice reminiscent of Paris Saint-Germain in football. Critics have abstained from praising the club's approach, as Melsungen has yet to win any titles despite their financial investments. Although they achieved a remarkable performance in the Final Four of the European League, ending the season with a third-place playoff loss to SG Flensburg-Handewitt and a game for third place against THW Kiel, the team's ultimate goal of a championship title still eludes them.
Considered underdogs by many experts, MT Melsungen will face Füchse Berlin, the current table leaders in a battle for prestige, money, and the German championship title. With both teams harboring title aspirations, the direct duel holds considerable implications for the championship race. While the outcome is still uncertain, the winner will likely lead the standings, ensuring a spot in the Champions League next season, while the loser faces participation in the more financially modest European League.
In the upcoming preliminary clash between Füchse Berlin and MT Melsungen, Carsten Lichtlein, who has returned from a severe knee injury, will take the goalkeeping position for the latter, competing against his nephew Nils Lichtlein who plays for Füchse Berlin in the German Bundesliga. As the teams strive for the German championship title, the match promises to be significant, as the winners are likely to secure a spot in the Champions League next season.
