Zvezda aiming to improve Russian results in Denmark

When Zvezda Zvenigorod enter the court in Viborg Stadionhal Sunday afternoon for the first leg of the Women's Cup Winners' Cup final, they will need to do better than two other Russian teams have done in Denmark earlier this season.

Dinamo Volgograd were sent out of the quarter-finals of the EHF Cup through a nine goal away defeat to Team Esbjerg, and in the semi-final of the Cup Winners' Cup things went even worse for Rostov-Don who were beaten by 15 goals by exactly Zvezda's opponent on Sunday, Viborg HK.

Women's EHF Cup Winners' Cup final first leg
Viborg HK (DEN) vs Zvezda Zvenigorod (RUS)
Sunday 4 May 13.00 local time, live on the ehfTV

Female Russian handball teams do not have the best memories from their visits to Denmark this season.

In the quarter-finals of the EHF Cup, Dinamo Volgograd lost 36:27 away to Team Esbjerg, a result which sent Volgograd out of that competition with a three goal defeat on aggregate.

And it went even worse for Rostov-Don when they visited Viborg HK in the semi-final of the Cup Winners' Cup. Having already lost 27:25 at home, Rostov-Don were defeated as clearly as 34:19 in Viborg Stadionhal in the return match.

When Zvezda visit Viborg Sunday afternoon, they will obviously have to do better than their Russian colleagues in order keep their chances for an overall win alive ahead of the return match in Russia next Sunday.

Despite Viborg's easy win against Rostov-Don, there is still a lot of respect in the Danish team before the meeting with yet another Russian opponent, though.

“I expect a tough final. We are meeting a mega strong Zvezda team, where (Liudmilla) Postnova still seems to be in her best form, and apart from her, they have several other national team players,” Viborg's right back Louise Burgaard told eurohandball.com.

The 21-year-old Danish international does not want speculate as to how big a win she and her team-mates my need in the first match in order to have good chance in the return match.

“Obviously, a Cup Winners' Cup final in Russia will be difficult, but against Rostov-Don we proved that we can also win in Russia, so I would be content with just a win at home Sunday,” Louise Burgaard said.

Chances are equal, says Revva

Despite the bad luck of other Russian teams in Denmark this season, Zvezda's head coach Alexandr Revva does not seem to fear the visit to Viborg in particular.

“The teams' chances are equal. Viborg is very good team, but our team has high-class players. The mere fact that we play in the final of the Cup Winners' Cup is not a bad result for the team, but we are not going to stop at that, but will fight for the victory in this tournament, Alexandr Revva told eurohandball.com.