Top drawer clash kickstarts the season

There is no doubt Group 1 of the qualification round will offer top quality Champions League action and the fact that one of the participants will be sorely missed in the Group Matches stage makes the Leipzig showdown the first remarkable clash of the 2014/15 Women's EHF Champions League. And what a start that will be!

All action apart from the third place match will be streamed live on www.ehfTV.com.

Qualification Group 1
FTC-Rail Cargo Hungária (HUN) vs SERCODAK Dalfsen (NED)
Saturday, 20 September at 16:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

Although Ferencváros made Győr sweat for the Hungarian Supercup (the Champions League holder eventualy won 29-28) the rest of the Budapest greens’ friendlies did not go well. Coach Gábor Elek is not concerned about the odd results, the club legend claimed the only important thing was to reach peak form by the time the Leipzig tournament began.

The Hungarians will meet Sercodak Dalfsen in the semi-final. The Dutch champion met a Hungarian opponent last year when they went down against Érd in the third round of the Cup Winners’ Cup.

Ferencváros cannot afford to believe they are already in the final but the Hungarian runners-up are clear favorites none more so than Leipzig in the other semi. The final is expected to be played between Leipzig and Ferencváros but they will be made to work for their money. If they do get to decide who get to join the cream of European women’s handball between each other, than it will be Champions League action at its best.

HC Leipzig (GER) vs BNTU BelAZ Minsk Region (BLR)
Saturday, 20 September at 18:30 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

The home side is taking on BNTU Belaz Minsk, the team they eliminated on their way to the final of last year’s qualification group. Leipzig won the final against hosts Byasen and this time the Germans play host, which makes it a particularly mazy run for the Belarusian team who lost by five goals against Leipzig in Trondheim.

The German Cup winners lost Susann Müller – who joined holders Győr to replace the home-bound Katarina Bulatovic – and are facing a devastating injury crisis which keeps three of their key players sidelined.

Manager Kay-Sven Hähner hopes his side will be able to compensate for the bad luck and sets the target for Leipzig. "It will be very tough, but if you want to be part of the group matches you know in advance that the hurdles will be high. We are ambitious and aim for the group phase.“

Match for 3/4 place
Sunday,  21 September at 16.30 hrs local time

The losers of the two semi-finals Saturday meet in the match for the third and fourth place.

Final
Sunday 21 September at 19.05 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

The winners of the semi-finals meet in the deciding match for the group phase berth.