Six teams vie for four open spots

With two rounds left to play in the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase, all eyes are on Groups A and D, with two places in the Last 16 up for decision in each group and three teams left to contend for them. Both groups contain one fixture which will have a huge bering on who qualifies - Celje vs Zaporozhye in Group A and Aalborg vs Velenje in Group D.

Additionally all four group winners can be decided in the penultimate round group phase: Veszprém, Kiel and Barcelona each need just one point to secure top spot, which means the home right in the second leg matches of the Last 16 and (in case they proceed) the quarter-finals.

Group A:

MKB-MVM Veszprem (HUN) vs. HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb (CRO)
Saturday, 19:00 hrs. local time live on ehfTV.com, reverse fixture: 33:22

A draw would be a perfect result for both – as Veszprem then would seal the top position and Zagreb would be in an ideal position for their duel with Celje and Zaporozhye for the Last16, with their final match against St. Petersburg.

However, after dropping their first point at Rhein Neckar Löwen, the Hungarian side will be determined to take their fifth home victory from five matches. The first leg was a proof of Veszprem's dominance, and Zagreb will need something special to add to their only away win in this season at St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg HC (RUS) vs. Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER)
Saturday, 20:00 hrs. local time live on ehfTV.com, reverse fixture: 17:31

Despite gaining their first point of this season, the hosts are out of the race for the knock-out stage. In contrast, Löwen will definitely finish the group phase among the top two teams. To rank on top in the end, the German side need a minor miracle, to win both remaining matches and Veszprem need to lose both.

Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO) vs. HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR)
Saturday, 20:30 hrs. local time live on ehfTV.com, reverse fixture: 32:29

It is show time in Celje. If Zagreb lose at Veszprem, the winner of this duel of two equal teams (both on 7 points) is through to the Last 16. If Zagreb tie and Celje win, the Slovenians would also clinch a berth in the knock-out stage, as they have a better head to head record against the Croats. The loser of this match will definitely be under pressure, as their last matches are anything but easy: Celje play at Rhein Neckar Löwen and Zaporozhye host Veszprém.

Group B:

Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) vs. KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN)
Thursday, 20:30 hrs. local time live on ehfTV.com, reverse fixture: 22:23

In mathematical case, Kolding still can become group winner – but the constellation is quite tricky: Kielce need to win at Kiel by exactly one goal, then Kiel need to lose against Porto and Kolding need to win both remaining matches (regardless the result of Kielce vs. Plock). Then the Danes would be number one despite their close and unlucky home defeat against THW in round 8 – but this is more a wishing well than a realistic prediction.

KIF are equal with Kielce (each 10 points) , but have won the direct encounter – what might be decisive in the final ranking. But the hurdle at Plock is anything but easy, as even the Polish runners-ups (8 points) have the fate in their hands to finish on second position, if they win their last two matches against Kolding (at least by 2 goals) and Kielce. If Plock (by more than one goal difference) and Kiel win, the Polish duel at Kielce will decide the second rank.

Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA) vs. FC Porto Vitalis (POR)
Saturday,  18:00 hrs. local time live on ehfTV.com, reverse fixture: 21:22

A match without any relevance, but only for the honour, as in round 8 both sides were eliminated from the knock-out stage. After beating Kielce on home ground, Dunkerque are in the favoured role, and if the French runners-ups win by two or more goals difference, they have a good base to finish ahead of the Portuguese in the final ranking.

THW Kiel (GER) vs. KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL)
Sunday, 17:45 hrs. local time live on ehfTV.com, reverse fixture: 29:34

A draw is enough for Kiel to secure the top position, but THW are out for revenge for their by now only defeat on international ground in this season in the first leg. Kielce still can become group winner, though they are currently four points below the German side. But therefore they must win clearly at Kiel, hope that Porto take the points from Sparkassenarena one week later and then have to beat Plock – a lot of competition maths!

But Kiel lost both previous encounters against the Polish champions: In the bronze final of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2013 in Cologne and the first leg in Kielce. But they have beaten new Kielce coach Talant Dujshebaev in their last duel, the final of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2012, when Dujshebaev had coached Atletico Madrid.

Group C:

FC Barcelona (ESP) vs. PSG Handball (FRA)
Saturday,  16:15 hrs. local time live on ehfTV.com, reverse fixture: 33:29

Like Kiel, like Barcelona: Both powerhouses need only a draw to finish on top of their group. But the Catalans need to be aware, as PSG in rising form after a weak start in the VELUX EHF Champions League. Since the home defeat in the first leg on 20 October 2013 the French champions won all their respective four international matches to climb on the second position of this group. But the chances to finish on top are very low, being four points below the record winner of the EHF Champions League. For Paris it is more important to keep the distance to Metalurg (two points below).

The match is something like a little version of the EHF EURO semi-finals in Herning, as five Frenchmen, two Danes, three Croats and seven Spaniards of their respective national teams will be on court, including the duel of Nikola Karabatic and Cedric Sorhaindo with three of their team mates of the newly crowned European champions.

HC Dinamo Minsk (BLR) vs. HC Metalurg (MKD)
Sunday, 16:00 hrs. local time live on ehfTV.com, reverse fixture: 29:33

Although Minsk are out, they can play a decisive role in the race for strong Last 16 place for their rivals in the ehfTV.com Match of the Week. If Metalurg tie or win, the Macedonians would definitely finish ahead of their local rivals Vardar and could hope for second position if they take the two points.

HC Vardar - Skopje (MKD) vs. Wacker Thun (SUI)
Sunday, 18:00 hrs. local time live on ehfTV.com, reverse fixture: 37:24

Vardar are clear favourite against the Swiss champions, not only because of the first leg result, but because of home advantage and still having plenty to play for. If they win and Metalurg lose at Minsk, this gives the Macedonian champions hope of ranking ahead of Metalurg in the end, as both have tough tasks ahead: Metalurg host Barcelona and Vardar play at Paris in their respective last matches.

Group D:

SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) vs. Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP)
Wednesday, 20:55 hrs. local time live on ehfTV.com, reverse fixture: 32:32

Flensburg fight for the top position and La Rioja for clinching the berth for the Last16, but as the German side have won all their respective home matches in the campaign, SG are in the favoured position in the opener of Round 9 on Wednesday. The host still rank one point below Hamburg – and they are eager to take revenge for the draw at Logrono in the first leg.

Aalborg Handball (DEN) vs. RK Gorenje Velenje (SLO)
Sunday, 14:15 hrs. local time live on ehfTV.com, reverse fixture: 30:25

After missing a great chance to qualify for the Last 16 with a defeat at Logrono, Aalborg now have their fate in their hands again to be the second Danish team to qualify for the Last 16 after KIF. Regardless of all other results, a victory against Velenje would grant the team of coach Nikolaj Jacobsen third position in this group. The Slovenians are currently equal with La Rioja, but have won the direct encounter against the Spaniards, who have the clearly easier task in the remaining last match, as they face Halmstad at home while Velenje compete with Flensburg.

HK DROTT Halmstad (SWE) vs. HSV Hamburg (GER)
Sunday, 16:00 hrs. local time live on ehfTV.com, reverse fixture: 30:39

First vs sixth, 14 points vs 1 – the prediction for the match seems to be easy, as Halmstad still wait for their first victory. Their chances appear quite slim against the defending champions. If Flensburg do not beat La Rioja and HSV win in Sweden, first position in the group would already be confirmed on Sunday, in all other cases the final matches (Velenje vs Flensburg and HSV vs Aalborg) will decide.