Dinamo Minsk beat Prešov to earn the spot

HC Dinamo Minsk will contest in the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase after overcoming Tatran Prešov 29:27 in the final of the Qualification Tournament 2 in Prešov. While Minsk will return to the European top flight again, Tatran will switch to the EHF Cup Qualification Round 3.

Minsk will face FC Barcelona, PSG Handball, Vardar Skopje, Metalurg Skopje and Wacker Thun in Group C.

Qualification Tournament 2

Final: HC Dinamo Minsk vs Tatran Prešov 29:27 (14:13)

Dinamo won both halves by one goal to gain the top spot. It was the battle for the glory. First half was as tight as a handball fan can imagine, with HC Dinamo Minsk being one goal up and a true final was to be expected in the second half.

Both teams played their best in the second half, with the result being uncertain until the end. Dinamo have had the upper hand and the margin of three goals up in 40th min proved to be decisive. Dinamo Minsk can look forward the top european handball competition. Home team failed to make it to the Europe's premium third time in a row.

"It was a very difficult game, however I think my team was better. We sticked to our tactics and it worked well, although Prešov are very strong, especially at home. Very fast and dangerous in attack. We are happy to go through and play in the Champions League,“ said Igor Rapovec, assistant coach of the winning team for the media at the press conference.  

"I want to congratulate our opponent. We saw an interesting match with real drama. We did not win because we did not convert what we usually do – we did not score from the 7m, neither from the counter attacks - the weapons we count on. Also we played almost quarter of the match one man down,“ reflected on the match at the press conference Peter Hatalčík, coach of the home team.

3/4 place match: A.E.K Athens vs Besiktas JK 34:30 (21:14)

In the first match of the day, A.E.K. Athens beat Besiktas JK to earn 3rd place and a direct passage to the EHF Cup Qualification round 3, while Turkish team have to start in the same competition one round earlier and will face Pfadi Winterthur from Switzerland.