The fight for third place in the handball Bundesliga is as good as settled. In third-to-last game of the season, the BVB handball ladies beat their closest rivals in the battle for third, HSG Blomberg-Lippe, by 31-28 (17-10). It was a game of two halves and a hard-fought contest. The result means that it would take a very unlikely turn of events for BVB not to finish third.

The scenario: A victory against fast-chasing Blomberg was almost a must in the battle to hang on to third place in the league, and with it the guarantee of a place in the European League next season. In recent months, HSG Blomberg-Lippe had fought to get within two points of BVB. A Blomberg victory would have seen them pull level with BVB with two matches to go before the end of the season.

Personnel matters: All the players had come through the hard-fought European League matches unscathed. Alina Grijseels' little finger was ready for action again three weeks after the operation. Lisa Antl had hyperextended her knee in Graz, but was in the squad.

The match: The question on everyone's lips ahead of throw-off in the Halle Wellinghofen was: "Only three days after winning the bronze medal in the European League, can BVB produce such euphoria once again after two exhausting games within the space 24 hours? Would they have enough gas left in the tank? The answer on the court was clear: BVB picked up from where they had left off against Thüringer on Sunday evening – in the first half, at least. 

BVB's concentrated and aggressive defence left the Blomberg attack looking rather toothless. Blomberg had to wait until the fourth minute to open their account, Laetitia Quist finding the net for the away side. At that stage BVB, were 3-1 ahead thanks to goals from Dana Bleckmann and a brace from Emma Olsson.

The game would continue at a breath-taking pace. Alina Grijseels took care of Laetitia Quist at the back, while Haruno Sasaki put the shackles on Malina Marie Michalczik, with BVB's goalkeeper Yara ten Holte sweeping up behind them as she put in another impressive performance. 

And up front, the goals were flooding in like clockwork. With the score 6-2 after nine minutes, HSG coach Steffen Birkner felt compelled to take a first time-out. The 609 fans in Halle Wellinghofen were thrilled when Lena Hausherr extended the home side's lead to 9-5 from the spot on 16 minutes. After 20 minutes, it was 12-6 thanks to the impressive Dana Bleckmann, forcing Steffen Birkner to take his second time-out on 20 minutes.

It was one of BVB's strongest showings from the start of a match this season, leaving Blomberg trailing 15-8 with five minutes to go before the break. After an impressive performance, BVB went into the dressing rooms 17-10 ahead.

BVB maintained the high pace in the second half, with Alina Grijseels really putting her foot on the gas. The captain increased BVB's lead to 23-16 in the 39th minute with a solo effort that saw her run the entire court. However, Blomberg refused to lie down, and had closed to within four goals at 24-20 after 45 minutes. As BVB faded, Blomberg piled on the pressure to fight their way back into the game.

The final 15 minutes descended into an all-out battle and a wild, hectic game. HSG had not yet given up and were 27-22 down with 50 minutes on the referee's watch, closing to 27-24 three minutes later, and five minutes before the final whistle, BVB's lead had been cut to just 28-26. One minute before the final whistle, captain Alina Grijseels sealed the victory with her sixth goal, making it 31-28.

Henk Groener (BVB head coach): "I was surprised that the team put in such a strong performance in the first half. I would not necessarily have expected that after their efforts over the weekend. After the break, Blomberg were better than us. They fought really well and never gave up. However, it was a deserved victory based on our strong first half."

Steffen Birkner (HSG Blomberg-Lippe head coach): "BVB were better than us in every facet of the game for 30 minutes and deserved to win."

BVB Handball Women: Moth, ten Holte, Kohorst; Grijseels (6), Sprengers (3), Kusian (1), Antl, van Kreij, Ossenkopp (2), Sasaki (1), Olsson (6), Rønning (1), Stens, Hausherr (3/2), Garovic (3), Bleckmann (5)

Outlook: Saturday will see a rematch of the Final Four contest against Thüringer HC, as the Dortmund ladies take on the second-placed side at 18:00 CET in Bad Langensalza in the penultimate game of the season. One week later, the season finale in Halle Wellinghofen against Bayer Leverkusen will start at 19:00 CET.