Confident coaches ahead of decisive showdown

Only one goal is separating the participants in the Women's Challenge Cup ahead of the second leg on Sunday, which will be shown live on ehfTV.com from 17:30 hrs local time.

However, it is the home in the return match, Union Mios Biganos-Begles who have the one-goal lead after winning the first match in Poland against Pogon Baltica Szczecin 21:20.

The French win could have been bigger, though, as Mios were leading with three goals at half-time and with four in the second half.

Still, Mios coach Manu Mayonnade is confident ahead of the home match in the Salle Jean Dauguet in Bordeaux.

“Winning by one goal away was a good thing, but I have seen this season it is very easy to turn things around in the Challenge Cup. We overcame a seven-goal home deficit in the semi-finals, so I consider myself warned,” says Manu Mayonnade.

“This is our only chance to win something this season, and we don't intend to let it go. We aim to start the game quickly to prevent Pogon to think they have a chance to defeat us. We want to take the lead as quickly as possible and control the pace of the game,” adds Mayonnade.

While Mios won the Challenge Cup in 2011, it is Szczecin's first season in Europe at all.

Visiting the city of Bordeaux will also be a new experience for the Polish team's head coach, Adrian Struzik.

“I have never been in Bordeaux before, but I am definitely not going there just for a tour. This final tie of the Challenge Cup is still open. We believe that we can win the match in France,” Adrian Struzik tells eurohandball.com.