Larvik ready for group of Champions

The word death does not really belong in relation to sport, but still many people have chosen to characterise Group 2 of the main round in the Women's EHF Champions League this season as the group of death.

And it is true that the group appears to be really tough, consisting of four former Champions League winners.

While we have to go as far back as to 2003 to find RK Krim Mercator's second win, the three remaining teams are none others than the champions of the previous three years.

Györi Audi ETO won last season after several in vain attempts, Buducnost won in 2012 and Larvik HK in 2011.

Now Larvik, the losing finalists from last season, are making a new attempt to reach the top of the competition.

The Norwegian record champions did really well in the group phase, where they were well on the road to winning Group D, when they ran into a 31:29 at home to Macedonian WHC Vardar SCBT who claimed the top spot through that victory.

Up against two group winners

This means that Larvik are not only running into three former Champions League winners. They are also facing two group winners from the group phase.

Györ, whom they lost two in the final last spring, and who won Group A of the group phase this season without losing a single point – and RK Krim Mercator who won Group C.

The last team in this tough group is Buducnost who finished second in Group B after FC Midtjylland.

Obviously, it will be a Larvik team, who are used to winning, who enter the main round with an away game against Krim Saturday evening, as they are leading the Norwegian league as usual and are undefeated in the domestic tournament since 18 April 2001.

However, they were close to running into their first defeat on Norwegian soil in 12 years, as they drew 25:25 away against Storhamar on 8 January this year. Nora Mork secured the draw on a penalty shot with 20 seconds left.

However, Larvik have also taken their first title this season already, as they won the Norwegian Cup just before New Year.

Leganger back

For the main round, Larvik will be reinforced compared their latest matches as goalkeeper Cecilie Leganger is back from injury.

“Furthermore, we have not got any further pregnancies in our squad,” Larvik assistant coach Tor Odvar Moen says with a laugh – referring to the considerable number of pregnant players, Larvik have had lately.

“Of course, we are in for a tough challenge in our main round group.

“We will probably have to see Györ as the top favourites to win the group, and then it will be a battle among the remaining three teams for the last place in the FINAL4,” Moen told ehfCL.com.

“We will probably have to win our home games in order to qualify for the FINAL4 and then see, if we can steal a point or two away.

“The chance may come already in our first match, away against Krim. Here we will be in attacking position, I think, as the pressure will be on Krim. Losing the opening match at home is never nice.”

It is a fact that Larvik will not meet Swedish international Linnea Torstensson who left the club for Danish Viborg HK last week after having been released from her contract.

“We will simply play against the players they send on,” is Tor Odvar Moen's comment to that.