Barcelona in group with Kielce, Kiel with Veszprem again

The record winners of the EHF Champions League FC Barcelona will start defending their eighth title in Group B after the group phase draw in the Vienna city centre set all four groups of the new season. Barcelona's left wing Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson together with Jean Brihault, EH President and Michael Wiederer, EHF Secretary General conducted the draw.

The third placed team of the last season, Vive Tauron Kielce lead Barcelona's list opponents, other teams are HC Vardar, KIF Kolding Kobenhavn, MOL-Pick Szeged, Rhein-Neckar Löwen, IFK Kristianstad and Montpellier HB.

"We players never have a wish for the draw. But my manager said he would not take me back if I draw the wrong teams," Sigurdsson said at the draw.

In Group A the three-time winners THW Kiel will meet again their frequent opponents MKB-MVM Veszprem among others.

Sabine Holdorf-Schust from Kiel commented: "It is not possible to get a tougher group than this one. Kiel, Veszprem, Paris and Flensburg all together in one group - that's unbelievable. I have to admitt, that I did not wish for this, but at the same time all teams in this group are attractive opponents."

Dirk Schmäschke, SG Flensburg-Handewitt manager said: "For us this means seven top class but also seven very hard matches. This is a group that will provide great entertainment for our spectators, but also poses a massive challenge for all teams that are in it."

The first round of the group phase is scheduled for 16-20 September 2015.

While the winners of the Groups A and B will qualify directly for the quarter-finals, teams ranked second to sixth continue in the Last 16. However only two teams from Groups C and D will take the spots in the Last 16 following the group phase and a knock-out round between the top four teams of these groups.

Earlier on Friday the hosting rights of the qualification draw have been awarded. The first right went to RK Borac m:tel Banja Luka from Bosnia Herzegovina. If they decline the right, OCI-Lions from the Netherlands will have a chance followed by Elverum HH from Norway and Austria's Alpla HC Hard.

Find the playing dates and the new playing system here.