Facts and figures from the main round

After 24 matches, the highly thrilling Main Round of the Women’s EHF Champions League came to an end on Sunday evening. The close nature of this phase was proven by the fact that the each of the final matches in both groups decided either the semi-finalists (Group 1) or the final ranking (Group 2).

Both semi-finalists of Group 1 (Vardar and FC Midtjylland) were confirmed in the last of six rounds, while both semi-finalists of Group 2 (Györ and Buducnost) had already been decided before.

The semi-final pairings of the first Women’s EHF FINAL4 in Budapest (3/4 May) are set by the final ranking of the main round, as Vardar (MKD) will face Buducnost (MNE) and Györ (HUN) will take on Midtjylland (DEN).

Here are the most important facts and figures, which show, how equal both groups were: In contrast to only two draws in the 48 matches of the group phase, six main round matches (25 per cent) ended with a tie and in three more matches the winning team scored only one goal more.

Regarding the four semi-finalists, only one team – defending champions Györ – had been part of the semi-final of the 2012/13 season. Vardar are the first debutants to make it to the semi-finals since eventual winners Zvezda Zvenigoriod (RUS) in the 2007/08 season.

Midtjylland have clinched their semi-final berth in this competition for the second time since the 2002/03 season, then under their former name Ikast-Bording. Buducnost are part of a semi-final for the eighth time, while Györ reached their eighth successive semi-final.

The Women’s EHF Champions League winner came from FYR Macedonia (Kometal Skopje/2002) and Montenegro (Buducnost/2012) once, twice from Hungary (Dunaferr/1999 and Györ/2013) and seven times from Denmark (Slagelse/2004, 2005, 2007 and Viborg/2006, 2009, 2010).

Regarding the 2013/14 season, Audi ETO Györ are the only unbeaten semi-finalist. After a clean sweep of six wins in the group phase, the team of coach Ambros Martin won four of six main round matches and tied twice with Buducnost. In the previous season, Györ stormed to the semi-final with 12 wins from 12 matches.

The Montenegrins finished their main round campaign unbeaten with three draws and three victories. Surprisingly Buducnost earned more points in away matches (5) compared to home games (4) – quite unusual for one of the strongest home teams in this competition.

Level with Vardar, Buducnost also had the highest average of spectators in the main round with 5000, the match with the biggest attendance was Vardar vs Sävehof in the final round by 6000.

The Montenegrins also topped the ‘best defence’ and ‘best goal difference’ rankings, while Györ had the best attack of all eight main round competitors. Even after the finalisation of the group phase the same two teams had been in lead in the ‘best attack’ and ‘best defence’ rankings.

German side Thüringer HC were the unluckiest team, topping the table before the final main round match day, they missed out on a ticket to Budapest by goal difference in their direct encounter with Midtjylland, despite having 7 points on their account.

By looking upon both groups, the significance of being victorious on home ground to clinch the berth for the semi-finals was extremely high. Vardar and Midtjylland were the only teams to reach the maximum six points from their home matches, followed by Thüringer HC (five) and Györ (five).

While both semi-finalists from Group 2 remained unbeaten in their away matches, earning five points each, Vardar (two) and Midtjylland (one) did not win one single away match in the main round.

Here are some more facts and figures on the Women’s EHF Champions League Main Round:

4 – Like in the previous season, four nations are represented in the semi-finals. Last season we had Hungary, Romania, Norway and Slovenia, this time around it is Hungary, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro and Denmark.
5 – matches were won by away teams
6 – matches ended in a draw
13 – times the home team was victorious
15 – goals was the biggest difference in the Main Round, occurred in the match Buducnost vs. Krim (30:15)
24 – goals was the best goal difference of all teams, achieved by Buducnost
38 – was the lowest number of goals in a single match (Buducnost vs. Larvik 19:19)
60 – was the highest number of goals in a single match (Györ vs. Larvik 31:29)
73 – goals were scored by Anita Görbicz (Györ) to lead the top scorer ranking.
77 – goals over the two games between Buducnost and Larvik was the lowest aggregate score (19:19 and 17:22)
126 – conceded goals meant that Buducnost had the best defence.
160 – goals were scored by Györ to finish with the best attack.
6,000 – spectators attended the match Vardar vs Sävehof – the highest number of all 72 Women’s EHF Champions League matches this season.

Top 3 rankings:

Top scorer:
73 goals – Anita Görbicz (HUN/Györ)
71 goals – Nora Mörk (NOR/Larvik)
69 goals – Ida Oden (SWE/Sävehof)

The best current scorers of the remaining three semi-finalists are:
68 goals – Andrea Lekic (SRB/Vardar)
53 goals – Radmila Petrovic (MNE/Buducnost)
51 goals – Stine Jörgensen (DEN/Midtjylland)

Best defence:
126 goals conceded – Buducnost (251 including group matches)
142 goals conceded – Vardar (280 including group matches)
147 goals conceded – Györ (290 including group matches)

Best attack:
160 goals scored – Györ (392 including group matches)
157 goals scored – Thüringer HC (316 including group matches)
154 goals scored – Vardar (339 including group matches)

Best goal difference in the main round:
+24 goals – Buducnost
+13 goals – Györ
+12 goals – Vardar

Highest number of goals in one main round match:
60 – Györ – Larvik (31:29)
58 – Sävehof – Thüringer HC (26:32)
58 – Sävehof – Midtjylland (29:29)

Lowest number of goals in one match:
38 – Buducnost – Larvik (19:19)
39 – Larvik – Buducnost (17:22)
42 – Krim – Larvik (24:18)

Highest number of points in the main round:
10 – Györ
9 – Buducnost
8 – Vardar

Highest number of points including group matches:
22 – Györ
19 – Vardar
17 – Buducnost
17 - Midtjylland

Best home teams in the main round:
6 points – Vardar, Midtjylland
5 points – Györ, Thüringer HC
4 points – Buducnost

Best home teams including group matches:
12 points – Midtjylland
11 points – Györ, Vardar
10 points - Buducnost

Best away teams in the main round:
5 points – Györ, Buducnost
2 points – Vardar
2 points – Thüringer HC
1 points - Midtjylland

Best away team including group matches:
11 points – Györ
7 points – Vardar, Buducnost
5 points – Midtjylland

Highest numbers of spectators in the main round:
6000 – Vardar vs. Sävehof
5000 – Vardar vs. Midtjylland, Buducnost vs. Krim, Buducnost vs. Larvik, Buducnost vs. Györ
4025 – Larvik vs. Györ