Teams with new faces

Not all teams look the same in the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase, compared to their appearance before Christmas. A number of clubs in the competition have made use of the chance for late entries before the deadline which passed on Tuesday, 5 February.

SG Flensburg Handewitt in Group A have been hit hard with injuries in their back court this season. First Serbian left back Petar Đorđić got injured for the rest of the season.

Then his replacement, Icelandic international Arnor Atlason, who was a free signing after the bankruptcy of AG København, was hit by the same fate.

However, rescue continued to come from Iceland – in the form of Olafur Gustafsson.

The 23 year old left back, who signed from Hafnarfjardar in his native country, may have boosted his self-confidence through a good performance at the World Championship in January and seems be a fine supplement to Lars Kaufmann in the North Germans´ left back position.

At first sight he looks to be one of the most successful new signings in the European top flight.

HCM Constanta in Group B were also busy in the transfer market and deserve a closer look. The Romanian champions have reinforced their team with no less than two new players.

Serbian right winger Predrag Vujadinović and Romanian line player Albert Critescu have both joined from CSM Bucuresti who had to let them go due to financial problems. Those two make Constanta look stronger and more versatile than they did before Christmas.

Another quite remarkable signing has taken place in Group D, where Pick Szeged sought, and appear to have found, reinforcement on the right wing in the shape of Montenegrin international Marko Lasica.
  
The last signing which catches the eye in the competition is in Group C, where HC Metalurg have added further depth to their already quite impressive team.

This time the Macedonians have strengthened their left back position further with Bosnian international Igor Mandić who has joined from RK Borac in his home country.