Viborg and Holstebro see a lot of each other

Viborg HK and Team Tvis Holstebro see a lot of each other this week. Not only do the two teams meet in an entirely Danish clash in the Last 16 of the Women's Cup Winners' Cup. Between those two matches they also met in the Danish league Thursday night.

After a 30:24 win for Viborg in the first leg of the Last 16 last weekend, Holstebro came a bit closer when the two teams met again in Viborg Stadionhal Thursday. 27:24 was the Viborg win this time, and that calls for some optimism by Holstebro left wing Ann Grete Nørgaard.

“If we can only adjust a few things, I do not think we are that far behind Viborg,” the Danish international said.

Defending Cup Winners' Cup champions Hypo Niederösterreich have a fine chance to take a further step towards anther triumph, when they play at home against the third Danish team in the tournament Friday night.

After their 27:23 win in Denmark last Friday, the four-time EHF Champions League winners are clear favourites for the overall win, when they meet HC Odense in the Maria Enzersdorf for the second leg.

Byasen Trondheim are also close to the quarter-finals after having ruined HC Lokomotiva Zagreb's 65-year anniversary last weekend by winning 24:22 in the Croatian capital.

For the return match Sunday evening in the Trondheim Spektrum, a sponsor has even guaranteed free entry for all spectators in order to get as much support for the Norwegian ladies as possible.

Fleury Loiret Handball are already in the quarter-finals after defeating Veszprem Barabas Dunatakarek KC from Hungary 54:39 on aggregate last weekend, while FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria seem to be going to compensate for their compatriots' defeat, being up 40:30 before visiting Tertnes Bergen for the second leg Sunday.

A third Hungarian team, ÉRD Handball Club are also reaching out for the quarter-final, as they are defending a 32:23 lead in Germany against Buxtehuder SV Sunday.

Zvezda Zvenigorod are not far from the quarter-final either, as the Russians are taking a 26:19 lead with them to France for the second meeting with last season´s EHF Cup finalists Metz Handball, while HC Podravka Vegeta seem to have a chance to catch up with Rostov-Don´s 24:19 lead, when the Russians are visiting Croatia Sunday.