Draw sends Krim and Sävehof to main round

A draw in the Group C match between IK Sävehof and Krim Marcator was just enough for both teams to qualify for the main round. It is a historich achievement for Sävehof as the Swedish team has never gone that far before.

In Group A Györi Audi ETO recorded their fifth successive win, but the Hungarian side only managed to win the away game against Hypo Niederösterreich by one goal, 28:27.

Everything is set for the group final between Larvik and Vardar Skopje in Group D the coming weekend. However, Larvik had trouble to remain undefeated in their away game against Podravka, while Vardar cruised to a ten-goal home win against Bera Bera

Group A: Hypo Niderösterreich (AUT) vs Györi Audi ETO (HUN) 27:28 (11:14)

Györ recorded their fifth win in this group phase, but it was by far their narrowest one to date, and it may have come as a surprise to the defending EHF Champions League winners that they had to fight pretty hard for the two points.

For most of the match, Györ seemed to be on their way to another clear win, enthusiastically supported by the many Hungarian fans who had made the trip to the Austrian capital and who almost turned the match into a home game for Györ.

The visitors were dominating from the start and within the first 20 minutes did Hypo coach Morten Soubak called no less than two team timeouts without changing his team's tactics successfully.

After a three goal lead at half-time, Györ continued to keep the hosts between three and six goals behind them – until they seemed to become a bit too sure that the win was already a fact.

This allowed Hypo to score the last three goals of the match to reduce the distance from four to only one goal.

However, that was as close as they got, and while Györ consolidated their first place, Hypo Niederösterreich will still have to fight for their possible main round berth in the last round.

Group A: HCM Baia Mare (ROM) vs Thüringer HC (GER) 20:19 (10:11)

The Romanian side and the German champions gave each other a tough and close fight in Maramures, after which both teams actually keep at least a theoretical chance to qualify for the main round.

However, it will be a thriller and with a lot of mathematics involved on the last match day this coming weekend – and with Baia Mare in need of an away win against Györ in order to have a chance.

Baia Mare were leading for most of the first half, but still the visitors were up one goal at half-time.

Early in the second half though the hosts seemed to be removing any doubt about the outcome. They got back into the lead in a hurry and increased it to five goals at 19:14.

At that point, there was no doubt that the enthusiastic crowd believed that the win was already a fact. However, the guests managed to reduce to 19:18 and 20:19, but without being able to take the last step.

Group C: IK Sävehof (SWE) vs Krim Mercator (SLO) 25:25 (16:13)

During the week Sävehof had received the message that line player Linn Blohm will be sidelined for six to nine months due to a torn cruciate ligament in her knee.

This did not stop the Swedish champions from writing history as the draw at home against Krim was exactly enough to take them to the EHF Champions League main round for the first time. The result was also what the Slovenian side needed for a main round berth.

Blohm´s teammate at the circle, Frida Tengstedt, did extremely well, and so did goalkeeper Filippa Idehn who performed small miracles between the goalposts from time to time.

Krim got the better start and were leading by two or three goals several times, but partly thanks to Idehn in goal, the hosts caught up and even got ahead by three towards half-time.

For most of the second half, Sävehof managed to maintain their three-goal lead until five Slovenian goals in succession sent the visitors two goals up with 90 seconds left.

Still, the home team managed to score the last two goals of the match – the last one through a penalty from Jenny Alm - and secured the draw which was just what both teams needed.

"It was mentally tough to be balancing on the edge of defeat after having been in control for so long, but it was impressive that we managed to get back in the game at the end. We showed a fantastic spirit," Sävehof coach Henrik Signell said.

Group C: HC Leipzig (GER) vs Metz Handball (FRA) 22:25 (10:11)

The draw between Sävehof and Krim meant that Metz's three-goal win in Leipzig turned out to be in vain, at least when it came to qualifying for the EHF Champions League Main Round.

However, the French champions and their fans in the hall celebrated the progress to the EHF Cup Winners' Cup, as Metz are sure to finish third in the group, as they are better than Leipzig in the two teams' direct encounter.

Despite a lot of injuries, Leipzig had the better start and were leading by two or three goals during most of the first half, before the visitors managed to finish the first half in style and be up by one at half time.

As the second half progressed, the resources seemed to run out for Leipzig, and Metz increased their lead to seven goals.

Four Leipzig goals in a row, which changed 15:22 into 19:22, brought the hope back to the home crowd for a while, but Metz were the stronger team in the end.

"Of course it is embarrassing for a club like HC Leipzig to be completely out of European handball, but no team in Europe can compensate for five injured key players," Leipzig coach Thomas Örneborg said.

Group D: HC Podravka Vegeta (CRO) vs Larvik (NOR) 19:24 (8:8)

When the two teams met in Larvik on 5 October, the Norwegian champions won by 16 goals – 34:18.

They did not even come near that difference this Sunday evening in Koprivnica. In fact, Podravka had the upper hand for large parts of the match against a Norwegian team who did not really seem mentally ready for the task.

In a low-scoring first half, the home team was leading by one or two goals most of the time, and only in the last minutes before the break, Larvik managed to take it back to the one-goal lead they had at the beginning. The two teams went to the dressing rooms with an even score, though.

From the start of the second half, Podravka continued to please the home ground and tease their guests.

Three goals were the hosts up with several times during the last 30 minutes, and not until the last ten minutes did last season's EHF Champions League's finalists manage to really take the initiative.

With only eight and a half minute remaining, Larvik got their first lead in the second half, at 18:17, but from then on they cruised to a relatively secure five goal win.

Group D: HC Vardar SCBT (MKD) vs. Balonmano Bera Bera (ESP) 30:20 (15:7)

Bera Bera were allowed to score the first goal in the match, but from then on, the Macedonian hospitality was over and done with.

After a fairly equal start, Vardar really turned on their engines and were soon to create a remarkable distance. Via 8:5 and 10:6, the home team increased their lead to eight goals at half-time, and in the second half they went on to a 25:12, when their lead was at its highest.

Towards the end the visitors were allowed to crawl a little closer, but still they did not prevent a comfortable home win.

Vardar are now ready for the battle for the first place in the group in Larvik Saturday evening. A draw – like the 27:27 result in the two teams' first meeting – will do for the Macedonians due to the better goal difference.