Time to take revenge for Veszprem

Five times MKB-MVM Veszprem was eliminated in knock-out stages of the EHF Champions League by FC Barcelona - now the Hungarian side hopes that the time for revenge has come in Cologne. But both sides, who had hoped for reaching the final, will face “only” for the positions 3 and 4 on Sunday (15:15 hrs. local times).

The duel of the disappointed will have some main actors: Veszprem coach Carlos Antonio Ortega had won the EHF Champions League six times (1996-2000 and 2005) with FC Barcelona.

Veszprem team captain Laszlo Nagy was the last Barcelona team captain to raise the Champions League trophy, in Cologne 2011. Now both face their former club like Cristian Ugalde, also Champions League winner in 2011.

The only major decision to be taken in this match is whether Veszprem’s Momir Ilic will be awarded later with the golden ball, presented by adidas, for the top scorer of the competition. Currently Ilic has 96 goals on his tally - and the only player present in Cologne, who can attack him, is his Serbian country-fellow Marko Vujin (THW Kiel), but he is already 16 goals below.

So Ilic has best chances to become Champions League top scorer for the first time in his career and to succeed on Hans Lindberg (Hamburg), last year’s best scorer.

Barcelona were fully shocked after their elimination by Flensburg on Saturday after giving a six-goal lead in the last eight minutes from their hands (32:26 - 32:32) and then lost after extra-time and penalty shoot-out. “We had another nightmare,” said coach Xavi Pascual. So psychology and will might decide this placement match. Barcelona missed the final for the first time at an appearance in Cologne.

Veszprem will miss their line player Renato Sulic, who received one-match ban following his elbowing on Patrick Wiencek.