GROUP MATHEMATICS TO THE VERY END

Twelve matches within four days, then the remaining open questions will finally be answered in the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League. Seven teams fight for the three last places in the Last 16, six teams fight for three top positions in the final Round of the Group Phase.

On Monday the draw of the Last 16 will be carried out in Vienna with four pots. The group winners face the teams ranked fourth, the second ranked teams will meet the third ranked ones. Also the first and second placed teams from each group will have the advantage of home right in the second leg. Starting from the knock-out stage there will be no national protection anymore, so teams from the same country could meet in direct duels.

Group A

The group winners, the second and the fourth rank are still undecided – only Barcelona’s third place is known. The tree matches face two indirect duels, that is the constellation in Group A before the final games.

Chambery Savoie HB (FRA) vs. Rhein Neckar Löwen (GER)
Saturday 5 March 2011, 17:30 hrs (local time)

Pivovarna Lasko Celje (SLO) vs. F.C. Barcelona-Borges (ESP)
Saturday 5 March 2011, 18:00 hrs (local time)

The VELUX EHF Men's Champions League game of Group Phase, Round 10, Pivovarna Lasko Celje (SLO) against F.C. Barcelona-Borges (ESP) on Saturday 5 March 2011 at 18:00 hrs (local time) will be broadcast live on our free-of-charge web stream on ehfTV.com as our features “Match of the Week” including English commentary.

The big question: Chambery or Celje – which of the two clubs will reach the Last 16? Both teams are equal in points, both teams have their last match at home – but both teams face tough opponents.

Chambery showed their strength on home ground by beating Barcelona and they lost very closely against Kiel while Celje beat Kielce in their last home match. The last round does not have that big importance for Barcelona as their position cannot be changed no matter what the result is.

Rhein Neckar Löwen are still struggling on the road to first place, so they would have to win in France and at the same time hope for a Kiel defeat in Kielce. So more pressure lays on Chambery: if they finish the Group Phase with the same amount of points as Celje, they would miss the Last 16 due to losing the direct encounter with a two goal difference.

And both opponents have a bad memory on their first matches: Chambery lost at Löwen 22:37 and Celje was overrun by Barcelona 33:44.

K.S. Vive Targi Kielce (POL) vs. THW Kiel (GER)
Sunday 6 March 2011, 18:30 hrs (local time)

In their definitely last match in this season of the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League, Kielce is looking for a happy ending. In the first match in Kiel the Wenta team were close to a sensation and lost only 29:33, in their last match at Löwen the Polish champions showed a brave performance.

Now they want to show that they belong to the best 16 teams despite unlike last season having missed the next stage. Kiel has no hurry as they can wait for the Löwen result on Saturday. If their German opponents do not win in Chambery, Kiel have already first place secured before the starting whistle in Kielce.

THW still miss Daniel Narcisse and Kim Andersson. Funny fact: The coaches Bogdan Wenta and Alfred Gislasson were both coaches at the German club Magdeburg before. If Löwen and Kiel finish with the same amount of points, Kiel wins the group due to points from the direct encounters.

Group B

Tatran Presov (SVK) vs. IK Sävehof (SWE)
Sunday 6 March 2011, 16:00 hrs (local time)

Can Presov take revenge for the 32:33 defeat in Sävehof? In this match between the two teams with the lowest amount of points of all 24 participants, the Slovaks go for their first victory in this season.

Until now they have only taken one point – on home soil against Hamburg. Sävehof have two points on their account – from the victory against Tatran.

HSV Hamburg (GER) vs. KIF Kolding (DEN)
Sunday 6 March 2011, 17:00 hrs (local time)

The Germans need one point from this borderland duel to secure their third place. But it is not an easy task, as Kolding showed their strength in the first encounter, surprisingly beating HSV 32:30.

For Lars Christiansen this game will be something very special as he returns to Germany for the first time in an official match after 14 years in Flensburg before this season.

Despite having lost their last home match against Montpellier, Hamburg are in the favourite role.

Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA) vs. MKB Veszprém (HUN)
Sunday 6 March 2011, 17:30 hrs (local time)

The big clash for group victory: of all 24 teams, Veszprém is the most successful one, with eight victories in nine matches, including a 27:26 over Montpellier in the first encounter. For group victory, Veszprem need only a draw to remain on top, Montpellier need to win.

MAHB have won their last six matches including both encounters against Kolding and the away game in Hamburg.

It will be the game of two heavy weights in this VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League season: Marko Vujin (Veszprém), current league top scorer will meet Nikola Karabatic, former CL top scorer and leader of Montpellier.

The French champions still suffer from injury problems as Michael Guigou will definitely miss the game and Vid Kavticnik will most probably not be able to play.

The VELUX EHF Men's Champions League game of Group Phase, Round 10 between Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA) and MKB Veszprém (HUN) on Sunday 6 March 2011 at 17:30 hrs (local time) will be broadcast live on our free-of-charge web stream on ehfTV.com.

Group C

Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) vs. Dinamo Minsk (BLR)
Thursday 3 March 2011, 19:00 hrs (local time)

For Chekhov the game has no importance other than the honour as they have already won the group. Their neighbours from Minsk desperately need to win if they want to go through to the Last 16.

But even when they take both points Minsk are still not qualified, as they then have to hope for a defeat of Kadetten in Valladolid.

Despite the home defeat against Szeged Chekhov is the favourite – not only because of the clear 34:27 victory in Minsk in the first encounter.

Cuatro Rayas BM Valladolid (ESP) vs. Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI)
Saturday 5 March 2011, 18:00 hrs (local time)

Another highly decisive game: At that time already knowing the result from Chekhov, Schaffhausen will know whether they still need one point or whether the nine points on the bank are already enough.

A victory could upgrade their position from four to three. But this game is also important for Valladolid in order to secure their second position. If they are equal in points with Szeged in the end, they lose the direct encounter with the Hungarians.

That is the worst scenario from the Spanish point of view: If Valladolid lose with more than two goals they could also be overtaken by Schaffhausen and they would rank fourth if Szeged win in Aalborg.

AaB Handball (DEN) vs. Pick Szeged (HUN)
Sunday 6 March 2011, 15:50 hrs (local time)

The Danes will play without pressure as they are already out of the race for the next stage, all they have is their will to win their second match in this season.

Pick could reach out for second place taking the scenario that they gain one more point in the final round than Valladolid.

By qualifying for the Last 16 the Hungarians have already reached their objective. But now they could even improve their position for the upcoming Round.

The Danes clearly lost the first encounter in Szeged with 28:37.

Group D

Mathematics until the very end – this is what Group D provides. Even as three participants for the Last 16 have already been known for weeks, no final positions are clear.

Ciudad Real could end first or second, Flensburg first to third and Zagreb second or third. But the fight for fourth place is even more delicate. Bosna bring a one point advantage to Constanta and St. Petersburg to the final round.

If all those three teams are equal in points in the end, St. Petersburg are the lucky winners of this internal ranking in which all teams would have 4 points. The Russians have the best goal difference in this ranking (+6) ahead of Constanta (-2) and Bosna (-4).

To get this constellation Constanta and St. Petersburg must gain exact one point more than Sarajevo. If Bosna is equal only with Constanta the Bosnians are through, if they are equal with St. Petersburg the Russians have taken the step to the Last 16 – the same if St. Petersburg and Constanta are equal in points in the end.

SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) vs. RK Bosna Sarajevo (BIH)
Wednesday 2 March 2011, 19:00 hrs (local time)

Flensburg can put Ciudad Real under pressure with a victory; Bosna can reach the Last 16 with a victory.

If both teams tie – which would be a surprise after Flensburg’s clear 35:23 victory in the first encounter – nothing in this group will be decided before Saturday.

Flensburg still miss some key players but they are confident after three straight victories. Bosna have four straight points on the bank after starting their catch-up chase against Constanta and St. Petersburg.

If Flensburg take one point or more they have secured second place ahead of Zagreb.

The VELUX EHF Men's Champions League game of Group Phase, Round 10 between SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) and RK Bosna Sarajevo (BIH) on Wednesday 2 March 2011 at 19:00 hrs (local time) will be broadcast live on our free-of-charge web stream on ehfTV.com.

HCM Constanta (ROU) vs. Renovalia Ciudad Real (ESP)
Thursday 3 March 2011, 19:00 hrs (local time)

Ciudad Real need one point to win this group, Constanta need a victory to remain on track for the Last 16, still depending on the two other results.

Ciudad did not have problems with the Romanians in the first match (34:28) and they found their rhythm again after two weak performances against St. Petersburg and Flensburg by beating Zagreb with a ten goal distance on Sunday.

The three times CL winners from Spain are the great favourites in Constanta, not only because the Romanians lost their last four matches.

The VELUX EHF Men's Champions League game of Group Phase, Round 10 between HCM Constanta (ROU) and Renovalia Ciudad Real (ESP) on Thursday 3 March 2011 at 19:00 hrs (local time) will be broadcast live on our free-of-charge web stream on ehfTV.com.

RK Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb (CRO) vs. HC St. Petersburg (RUS)
Saturday 5 March 2011, 17:30 hrs (local time)

All the calculations in this group will have an end on Saturday evening – or probably even earlier for the host: If Flensburg take at least one point against Bosna, Zagreb cannot climb to the second rank anymore.

But in this case St. Petersburg can hope to go on with a victory in Croatia. Still the Russians are the underdog at the Croatian champions, which are unbeaten at home this season.