Two Russian-Scandinavian encounters

It is going to be Russia versus Scandinavia in both ties of the Women's Cup Winners' Cup semi-final, of which the first legs are played this weekend.

Rostov-Don are receiving former treble Women's EHF Champions League winners Viborg HK Saturday afternoon, while the Scandinavian side has the home advantage in the first leg of the other tie, where Byasen Trondheim are taking on another former EHF Champions League winner, Zvezda Zvenigorod Sunday evening.

Rostov-Don (RUS) vs Viborg HK (DEN)
Saturday 5 April, 17.00 hrs local time

Rostov-Don will probably be able to find confidence in their home ground statistics, when they take on the Women's EHF Champions League winners from 2006, 2009 and 2010, Viborg HK.

Rostov-Don may not have the same number of trophies to show for it as their opponents, but it is a fact that the Russian team is undefeated in the Palace of Sport “Rostov Don” this season, and this calls for respect from the visitors who won the Danish league recently.

Previously, Viborg coach Christian Dalmose characterised Hungarian FTC, whom Viborg eliminated in the quarter-final as the strongest team in the competition, but this does not mean that he does not fear Rostov-Don.

“It is a strong team we will be up against. They have lots of Ukrainian and Russian internationals as well as former internationals, and furthermore they have a goalkeeper from the Montenegrin national team,” Dalmose told Viborg HK's website.

“It is a really, really strong team who is particularly dangerous on home ground, so this will definitely not be ‘a walk in Gorky Park’,” Christian Dalmose added.

Byasen Trondheim (NOR) vs Zvezda Zvenigorod (RUS)
Sunday 6 April, 18.00 hrs local time

A former Women's EHF Champions League winner will be visiting Stjørdalshallen by Trondheim Sunday.

Zvezda Zvenigorod won the European top flight in the 2007/08 season, but it takes more than this to make coach and players from Byasen shiver with respect and fear.

Eliminating former Champions League winners is something they know a thing or two about in the Norwegian club.

In the quarter-final they sent Hypo Niederösterreich out with 66:53 in aggregate after a 37:23 win in the second leg in exactly the same hall, where they are taking on Zvezda on Sunday.

“Zvezda are a strong team with many profiles, but even though we are going to be up against a strong opponent, our quarter-final win over Hypo has given us confidence, and now we want more,” Byasen's Danish coach Claus Mogensen told his club's website.

“It is obvious that a win against six ruling world champions gives a lot of self-confidence, so we are highly motivated for the matches against Zvezda, and we have great confidence in our own skills,” Claus Mogensen added.

Photo: NidarosFoto