Eisbären Berlin ended their winless run with a 4-1 victory against Graz 99ers in the Continental Cup of Champions on Thursday evening. The Berlin side played at home and took advantage of a sluggish away performance to open their account with three points from two matches. Graz remain on zero points after two defeats and face an uphill task to salvage their campaign.
Both teams arrived at this fixture having suffered two losses each, though the pattern of defeats told different stories. Eisbären Berlin lost 2-8 to Davos and 2-6 to Servette in their opening games, while Graz 99ers fell 2-4 to Bordeaux and 2-4 to Fribourg-Gottéron. The hosts had previously beaten Lausitzer Füchse 3-1 and lost heavily to Augsburg and Zug, suggesting inconsistency rather than collapse.
The outcome matched our prediction ahead of kick-off, where we backed the home side with 68 per cent confidence. Berlin's record at home offered more stability than their recent away form suggested, and Graz struggled to find rhythm against organized opposition. The away side looked disjointed from the opening exchanges and never really threatened to mount a comeback.
What stands out is how both teams sit at the bottom of their respective groups despite playing two matches each. The standings show zero points for both sides, which means the table has barely begun to take shape. This result gives Eisbären Berlin a foundation to build on, while Graz 99ers must turn things around quickly if they hope to progress.
Graz 99ers had shown flashes of promise earlier, beating Bratislava 5-2 before losing to Sparta Prague and Munnfeld. Their recent form suggested they could compete, but Thursday's display offered little evidence of that potential. Eisbären Berlin, meanwhile, finally found the consistency they needed after a difficult start to the tournament.