Overview

• Coach Bennet Wiegert said the timing of the decision was a surprise and made it hard to focus during the Eisenach tournament.
• The club accelerated a previously arranged move for 23-year-old RK Zagreb goalkeeper Matej Mandic, with reports citing a €250,000–€300,000 fee.
• Wiegert described a pragmatic plan for Mandic’s early games and set low immediate expectations for his contribution.
• Magdeburg expects a near full-strength lineup for Friday’s Bundesliga opener at TBV Lemgo.
• The team starts the campaign as a championship favorite after securing at least one title in each of the past five seasons.