Unphased by last season, Györ setting the bar high

Eight years in a row, Györi Audi ETO have made it to at least the semi-finals of the Women's EHF Champions League, and even lifted the trophy in 2013 and 2014.

This achievement has not been matched by any other female team in the European club handball’s flagship competition up to this point.

But then the defending champions’ trend came to an end in April 2015 - losing their quarter-finals against Vardar on aggregate.

Thus, the Hungarian powerhouses failed to qualify for the MVM EHF FINAL4 at home in Budapest.

Some possible causes for this unsuccessful season could be the absence of Katrine Lunde and Anita Görbicz due to pregnancy.  

Eduarda Amorim was out for month after tearing her cruciate ligament.

Even on a domestic level, Györ were suffering. They lost the league finals to their rivals FTC, but managed to book their place in the Champions League group matches by winning their qualification tournament.

Györ ended up in a tough group coming up against such sides as Midtjylland, Vardar and record champions, Hypo Niederösterreich.

But with Görbicz and Amorim returning hopes are high for the club.

Before the new season, Györ have undergone one of the biggest transitions in the club’s history.

In total ten players including Katrine Lunde, Susann Müller, Jelena Grubisic, Macarena Aguilar and Orsolya Herr have departed.

On the other hand, some Hungarians young guns, Dutch stars Cornelia Nycke Groot and Yvette Broich and Norwegian right back Linn Sulland will now wear the famous green and white.

Thus, coach Ambros Martin now has the challenge to get this new squad working together, but the early signs are positive as Martin & Co. are on the back of a successful pre-season.

Györ came out on top in all seven of their preparation matches, the Hungarian Super Cup - against FTC - and both Champions League qualification matches - all of which underlines that they are well and truly back on track.

The only negative news that arose from this period was the injury to the talented newcomer Gabriella Toth, who has undergone a knee operation.

“We are setting the bar high - we want to go all the way to the Women’s EHF FINAL4 in Budapest,” club President Ernö Kelecsenyi commented.

“We know that the group matches will be difficult. Vardar were twice part of the FINAL4, and Midtjylland once.

“Hypo are the dark horse in the group, everybody wants to beat them, but it will not be that easy.

“We need to remain focussed from the first minute until the last.”

Team captain Anita Görbicz, who is back playing since September, hopes for a season without any hiccups:

“Last season we had to deal with really tough games and a hoard of injuries, so we hope to put this behind us and fight for the best possible results.”

Like her president, Görbicz is aware of high hurdles ahead in the group matches, and even beyond in the main round:

“Not only do we have a strong group but beyond the group there are some tough opposition.

“Vardar are a very strong opponent, I expect a tough scrap against them.

“Midtjylland are a typical representative of the Scandinavian handball; it is never easy to play against such teams.

“Hypo seems to be the weakest in the group, but this does not mean that it will be an easy game.”

Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN)

Qualification for the 2015/16 EHF Women’s Champions League season: Hungarian runners-ups, winners of qualification tournament 1

Newcomers: Zsuzsanna Tomori (FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria), Eva Kiss (Fehervar KC), Gabriella Toth (Mosonmagyarovar KC), Cornelia Groot (FC Midtjylland), Yvette Broch (Metz Handball), Linn Sulland  (Larvik HK)

Left the club: Vesna Milanovic Litre (Krim Ljubljana), Macarena Aguilar (Rostov/Siofok), Jelena Grubisic (CSM Bucharest), Katrine Lunde (Rostov), Orsolya Herr (Fehervar KC), Agnes Hornyak (Nice Handball), Anna Sen (Rostov), Ivett Szepesi (Mosonmagyarovar KC), Csapo Kyra (Mosonmagyarovar KC), Susann Müller (Bietigheim)

Coach: Ambros Martín (since 2012)

Team captain: Anita Görbicz

Opponents in group matches: Midtjylland, Vardar, Hypo in Group C

EHF Women’s Champions League records:

Participations (including 2015/2016 season): 13
Winner: 2012/13, 2013/14
Finalist: 2008/09, 2011/12
Semi-finalist: 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2010/11
Quarter-finals: 2014/15
Group Phase: 2000/01, 2005/06
Qualification: 2004/05

Other EC records:

Cup Winners Cup:
Finalist : 2005/06
Semi-finalist : 2002/03

EHF Cup:
Finalist: 1998/99, 2001/02, 2003/04, 2004/05

Hungarian champion: 1957, 1959, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Hungarian Cup winner: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015