Adler Mannheim claimed a 5-4 victory over Bordeaux in the Continental Cup of Champions on Thursday evening. The result leaves both sides level on zero points after two matches each.
We had tipped the visitors to win, and that confidence proved justified. The away side took their chances when it mattered, while Bordeaux struggled to find their rhythm after going ahead.
And here's the thing — both teams have shown flashes of quality in recent outings. Bordeaux beat Graz 99ers 4-2 on their last outing, while Mannheim's 3-1 win over Växjö Lakers suggested they were ready for this fixture.
The visitors threw everything at it in the second half, switching to a more direct approach. By then they had trailed, but kept knocking on the door until the breakthrough came.
It was a game where the result could have gone either way, but Mannheim's experience showed when the pressure mounted. They fancy their chances in the knockout stages now.