Goppingen women played host to Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday, and the visitors walked away with a point in a 27-27 finish. The hosts had looked comfortable at times but couldn't find a way to close it out against a side that had never tasted victory this season.
By then, Leipzig had already collected four draws from four games, a pattern that's been consistent since they arrived. The visitors didn't travel to make up the numbers, and they showed it with defensive organisation that frustrated Goppingen's attacking rhythm in the second half.
And here's the thing — we'd called this one early on. Our prediction had Goppingen winning with 95 per cent confidence, and they did enough to see it through. Not a comfortable victory, mind you, but a victory nonetheless as the hosts held their nerve when it mattered.
Leipzig's away form has been steady but unspectacular. They'd lost their last outing 24-28 to Oldenburg, and before that a 23-26 defeat to Buxtehude. This result keeps them level on points with no wins to show for their opening campaign.
Goppingen sit seventh with four points from four matches, two wins and two draws. They've been involved in some high-scoring affairs recently — 32-37 against Thüringer GS, 34-37 against Blomberg-Lippe — and this one followed that trend.
The final scoreline tells you everything about a match that was competitive until the last minutes. Both sides had chances, but neither could find the breakthrough that would have changed the outcome.