Hamburg vs Vardar, Löwen vs Kielce

A March trip to Skopje awaits the defending champions of the VELUX EHF Champions League as HSV Hamburg will face HC Vardar - Skopje in the Last 16. All eight pairings of the first knock-out stage were confirmed on Tuesday as the last 16 draw of the premier European club competition took place in Vienna.

“Vardar Skopje are a tough nut to crack. It is not true we have not played against them. We have, but at that time their name was Chekhovskie Medvedi (laughing). But seriously now, Vardar are very tough, but we have to deal with it. It is special down there in their arena and I do not think we can create a similar atmosphere in Hamburg,” said HSV's representative Matthias Rudolph after the draw.

The draw was carried out by Chairman of the EHF Marketing Men’s Club Board Tomaz Jersic alongside EHF Secretary General Michael Wiederer.

In total, four former winners of the continental top flight progressed from the group phase. The record seven times trophy holders FC Barcelona Intersport will meet Aalborg Handball, who play in the last 16 for the first time, 2012 winners THW Kiel will play against Motor Zaporozhye, and 2004 trophy holders Celje Pivovarna Lasko will lock horns with SG Flensburg-Handewitt in a repeat of the 2004 final.

The other pairings were: Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) vs MKB-MVM Veszprém KC (HUN), Vive Targi Kielce (POL) vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER), Gorenje Velenje (SLO) vs PSG Handball (FRA) and Metalurg Skopje (MKD) vs KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN).

There were huge expectations who will be drawn against Kielce as arguably the strongest team in the Pot 3 and the shortest straw was pulled by Löwen who will meet five their former players in Kielce's uniforms.

“This is the biggest draw we could get. Both teams are on the same level, it will be tough, but also we will see games on a very high sport level,” Rhein Neckar manager Thorsten Storm said.

“We played each other before three times in the CL. It will be very exciting for our spectators and very tough games for our players. But all three possible opponents were strong. Under a new coach our team has a new spirit. He changed the system of our defence, but he still needs more time. We will see how far we can get until March,” Radoslaw Wasiak of Kielce commented.

The first leg is scheduled for 19-23 March, the second leg will be played 26-30 March. The winning teams of the last 16 qualify for the quarter-finals and only the four best outfits will make it to the climax of the season, the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne (31 May and 1 June 2014).

For club's reactions on the draw visit the EHF Media Portal. If you haven't registered yet, please send an email stating your name and media outlet to media@eurohandball.com.

VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 draw:

Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) vs MKB-MVM Veszprém KC (HUN)
HC Vardar - Skopje (MKD) vs HSV Hamburg (GER)
Aalborg Handball (DEN) vs FC Barcelona Intersport (ESP)
HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) vs THW Kiel (GER)
Metalurg Skopje (MKD) vs KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN)
Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO) vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)
Gorenje Velenje (SLO) vs PSG Handball (FRA)
Vive Targi Kielce (POL) vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER)

(first leg 19-23 March, second leg 26-30 March

For more reactions of the clubs representatives visit the EHF Media Portal. If you haven't registered yet, please send an email stating your name and media outlet to media@eurohandball.com.