Three red cards were to prove costly for Emil Nielsen and FC Barcelona, when they were defeated by Magdeburg in the Champions League semi-final.
This means that this year's Champions League final will be an all-German encounter after Füchse Berlin defeated Nantes in the other semi-final.
The match was characterized by huge drama and several video reviews that did not turn out in Barcelona's favor. On three occasions Barcelona-players were presented with a red card, with two of them in the final minutes.
Magdeburg were therefore handed a golden opportunity to decide the match for themselves at the very end enjoying a two-man advantage.
Barcelona won the tournament last year and looked set for the final this year as well. French playmaker Dika Mem in particular seemed to be in superb form in the first half.
The Frenchman scored on his first seven attempts and was impossible to control for Magnus Saugstrup and the other defenders from Magdeburg.
Towards the end of the first half, Barcelona's defensive rock Thiagus Petrus was then red-carded for rough treatment of Gisli Kristjansson which helped Magdeburg bring the match back on level terms 18-18 at the interval.
After the break, Barcelona then looked to be in control again at 24-21, but then Ómar Ingi Magnússon took charge with four successive goals and suddenly Magdeburg were in front.
To add insult to injury, Dika Mem was stretchered off the court by two teammates a few seconds later and did not return.
Fortunately for Barcelona, his replacement, Melvyn Richardson, ensured that Barcelona ended a scoring break of seven minutes.
Barcelona then got the upper hand and scored two quick goals in an empty net - one of them from Emil Nielsen.
Magdeburg got back to 29-29 and had the opportunity to take the lead, but the Danish keeper produced an important save on a free throw.
But red cards to Jonathan Carlsbogaard and Aitor Arino brought Barcelona to their knees asTim Hornke scored the decisive goal from the wing.