Last step to group phase through lens

The joy unalloyed of TSV Hannover-Burgdorf players. Their maiden European season will carry on in 2014 after the "palfreys" jumped over their first hurdle - Kadetten Schaffhausen.

TSV's Gustav Rydegard running wild after scoring one of his two goals.

And his Swedish countrymen in Pick Szeged Jonas Larholm at the jump shot against Benfica.

Pick managed to redeem themselves for their unlucky VELUX EHF Champions League qualification and will count among the favourites of the competition not only because of their devoted fans.

Sweden will have a double participation thanks to IFK Kristianstad and Lugi HF, who had it much more difficult against AEK Athens. Gustav Sjöllin's three goals helped the home team on their way to the second narrow victory.

Lugi's Norwegian "mercenary" Johannes Hippe celebrates the promotion.

Elverum's Nacor Medina Perez's effort proved to be not enough to stop last season's runners-up HBC Nantes on their march to the group phase.

Despite all recent difficulties the stronghold of Spanish handball Leon will not remain without a major European competition in this season. The EHF Champions League regulars made it to the EHF Cup Group Phase and false starts of bench players running on the court at the final whistle could be excused.

While spectators in Montpellier were cheering after a clear succes of their favourites against Kaustik ...

... fans in Maribor were a welcomed remedy for last season's quarter-finalists Branik Maribor, who were seen off from the competition by Tatran Presov.

FC Porto are not the only club in Portugal who can make headlines. Sporting Lisbon emulated the success of their domestic rivals in the EHF Cup. Bruno Almeida (left) and Pedro Caseiro hide no emotions after their aggregate win over Porec.

Photo: TSV Hannover-Burgdorf, Aurel Ivanyi, Magnys Torp Antonsen, Rene Mira, Cesar Santos, Fredrik Rosengren, MAHB, Bostjan Selinsek