Barca capture Zagreb’s fortress

Hamburg, Löwen and Barcelona have taken big steps towards the CL quarterfinals by winning their away matches in the last 16. The biggest surprise was the clear victory of Barca in Zagreb, Hamburg and the Löwen were the favoured teams in Valladolid and Kielce. The only group winner that played their first leg match on Saturday couldn’t take both points: Montpellier tied in Kolding, but still have best chances to reach the next stage.

Last 16, first leg:

KIF Kolding- Montpellier HB 26:26 (10:13)

Ademar Leon remains the only team which could win at Aarhus in this season. Like Kiel and Barcelona before Montpellier was the third top team against which KIF Kolding tied on home soil. Goalkeeper Ole Erevik and Anders Oechsler, who scored ten goals, were the match winners for the Danes, as on the other hand Vid Kavtivnik scored ten goals, too – including the last equalizer to the score of 26:26. Kolding had the better start, but Montpellier improved from the middle of the first half on. At the score of 10:9 the French team was in lead for the first time, extended the gap to three goals at the break and kept this distance until minute 42 (18:15).But then the French express stopped, Kolding equalized (19:19) and took back the lead at the score of 22:21. Even as Guigou awoke the Montpellier hopes for two points with the 24:23 the Danes took the lead again – by the tenth Oechsler goal, before Kavticnik saved one point for the French champion, who still has best chances to go for the quarterfinals, as Kolding is like fire and ice in home and away matches.

RK Zagreb – FC Barcelona 26:33 (12:17)

The debut and comeback for Nenad Kljaic as new coach of RK Zagreb didn’t have a happy end: His team was chanceless against FC Barcelona – and after the first leg the Spaniards took more than one step to the quarterfinals thanks to this clear victory. Right from the start CL record winner Barcelonja showed their strength and as their goalkeepers Saric and later Barrufet were much better than Skof on the other side. Supported by more than 10.000 spectators in the Zagreb Arena the host tried hard to break the Spanish wall but missed too many chances, specially from the back court positions. On the other hand Barcelona – still missing their top star Siarhei Rutenka – was very efficient with their counter attack and from the wings. Right wing Tomas and left wing Garciaeach scored eight goals. Right after the break Barcelona extended the lead to four goals (21:17/37) , Zagreb afterwards had their best period and reduced the gap to 22:24 – the match was close to turn.But then again goalkeeper Barrufet showed his strength and Barca remained cold as ice in the hot atmosphere. Thanks to a 7:1 series the Catalans decided the game at the score of 31:23 and kept this gap until the end. Now Zagreb need a big wonder and a victory with an eight goal difference to reach the quarterfinals. Hard work for Nenad Kljaic in the upcoming week. Top scorer in his team was Kiril Lazarow with seven goals.

Vive Targi Kielce – HSV Hamburg 24:30 (15:17)

Thanks to a very concentrated performance HSV Hamburg is very close to the quarterfinals, too. The Germans were the stronger team and could count on their individual class, but Kielce fought very hard and was cheered by the more than 4000 spectators all through the match. The game was not only a special duel for the Lijewski brothers, as they returned with Hamburg to their Polish home country. It was a duel of two outstanding Danish players: Kielce goalkeeper Marcus Cleverly, who was the reason why the Polish team didn’t lose with a bigger difference, as he saved 17 shots, and HSV right wing Hans Lindbergh, who was top scorer of the game with ten goals. The duel of two of the best line players of the CL (Vori/Stojkovic) couldn’t take place, as Kielce pivot Rastko Stojkovic had to be replaced due to injury, which was a severe weakening for the Wenta team. The first 20 minutes were totally equal, before HSV extended the lead to 17:15 at the break and by four consecutives goals at the start of the second half to 21:15. Thanks to Cleverly the distance didn’t increase, but HSV was experienced enough to keep the distance quite big. Even as Kielce could reduce the gap to 23:26 intermediatelyHSV in the end took a six goals victory – more than a little step forward to the quarterfinals. Kielce top scorer was Pawel Posiadlo with six goals.

Pevafersa Valladolid – Rhein Neckar Löwen 29:30 (14:14)

After a match dominated by strong defense sides and superb goalkeepers – Thomas Svensson for Valladolid and the duo Fritz/Szmal for the Löwen – the Germans have best chances to go on to the next stage. The Löwen were in lead most of the time, temporarily with a three goal difference and took the points deserved. On their side Bielecki scored nine and Myrhol eight goals, Entrerrios and Twethen hit the back of the net each six times for the host. Even as their frenetic spectators pushed them to the limit, Valladolid wasn’t able to win, as Szmal saved some important shots in the crunch time of the match and Valladolid missed too many penalty shots, as Fritz saved four of them. On the other hand they had to thank outstanding Svensson that the difference in the end was only one goal. Even as Manojlovic received a red card after three suspensions in minute 34 the Löwen – led by Olafur Stefansson – kept calm and waited for their chances. Specially Myrhol took the profit of the assists of Stefansson. Four minutes before the end the Löwen led 29:26, but Valladolid didn’t give up, and Milosavlevic scored the last goal with a penalty shot after the final whistle. In one week the Spaniards will know, how big the importance of this goal was. For Löwen coach Ola Lindgren nothing is decided yet: “It’s only halftime, and we nearly start again with a 0:0. 60 minutes are still to be played and we need the support of our fans to go on to the quarterfinals.”