Barca in the knock-out stage

After Hamburg and Madrid the third participant of last season’s VELUX EHF FINAL4 have made their way to the Last 16 of the current season of the VELUX EHF Champions League: FC Barcelona Intersport. RK Zagreb is on their hunt with their sixth victory, whilst Koper and Metalurg made some steps towards the knock-out stage.

Group A:

FC Barcelona Intersport (ESP) vs. Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI) 33:29 (18:15)

The defending champions have qualified for the Last 16 with their seventh victory from seven matches. But the Catalans had to break much harder resistance as they had expected against the Swiss champions.

Barca was in lead all the time, but Kadetten fought hard against the defeat and were close to a sensation. Right after the break Barcelona extended the gap to 22:17 and seemed to be on the winner’s way, but the Swiss team stood strong in defence and avoided the Catalan fast breaks. At the score of 30:28 Kadetten nearly had caught up, but then Siarhei Rutenka decided the game.

Top scorers were Ugalde (Barcelona) and Kuckucka (Kadetten) with each six goals. Despite the defeat Schaffhausen remain on the fourth place.

Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo (BIH) vs. RK Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb (CRO) 21:26 (11:14)

Zagreb will follow Barca to the Last 16 if Sävehof do not beat Chambery on Sunday  - and secured the sixth victory from seven matches. The Croats were clearly dominant in Sarajevo all the time – even as the host played their best match of this season’s VELUX EHF Champions League. Bosna remain without a point.

Match winner for the Croats was top scorer Horvat, who hit the back of the net nine times, Medic scored six goals for the Bosnians.  In the second half Bosna could reduce the gap intermediately to two goals, but in the end, Zagreb had more power and individual skills.

Group C:

Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) vs. RK Cimos Koper (SLO) 25:25 (14:12)

Both teams are the winners, as Orlen Wisla Plock stopped their series of defeats and distanced St. Petersburg and Cimos Koper are close to the Last 16 after this draw.

After the Slovenians had the better start, Plock turned the game at 10:9 for the first time and took a two goal difference to the dressing rooms. Also in the second half the Polish champions were ahead mostly with two goals – until minute 57, when top scorer Krivokapic and Dobelsek equalized with two goals 25:25. Both teams missed several chances in the last 120 seconds – so the draw was well-deserved, even as Wisla were slightly more dominant. Kavas was Wisla’s top scorer with four goals.

HC Metalurg (MKD) vs. HC St. Petersburg (RUS) 32:19 (16:7)

Markovic (9 goals) and Mojsovski (7 goals) nearly beat St. Petersburg on their own. By winning their fourth home match Metalurg now is highly close to the knock-out stage, as St. Petersburg remain on fifth position. Metalurg now is equal in points with Koper and have a six points cushion to St. Petersburg – and the FYR Macedonians have won the direct encounter against the Russians clearly.