Battle for Last 16 starts in Bosnia

The Sportska Dvorana Amel Beckovic in Vogosca will be hosting the first match in Round 3 of the Men's Challenge Cup.
Friday night, the local heroes of HC Vogosca Poljine Hills are playing the first leg against St. Petersburg HC.

Vogosca are debutants in Europe this season, and despite having played two matches in the Challenge Cup this season already, they have not won a match yet.

The explanation to the fact, that they have made it to Round 3 after all, is that they proceeded through away goals after both their matches against MSK Povazska Bystrica ended in draws.

St. Petersburg have prouder European traditions to thing back on, when they go to Bosnia.

Last season, the Russian team was in the EHF Cup Group Phase after three years in succession in the Champions League.

This weekend will also see two double-headers.

HC Dukla Praha will try to copy their achievement from last season, when they reached the Last 16, when they receive A.S.S. Spes.

The visitors from Cyprus did not qualify for Europe last season, but the year before they reached the Last 16 of the Challenge Cup, so they will obviously also be eager to get a round further when they visit the capital of the Czech Republic for the two matches Saturday and Sunday.

London GD Handball Club will be flying to Estonia this weekend for two matches against HC Kehra.

GD stands for Great Danes, but you actually look in vain for Danish players in the squad of the London club, just as you do not find any British players, but many other nationalities.

HC Kehra, on the other hand, consist entirely of Estonian players, except from two Ukrainians.

Round 3 also contains a meeting between the two finalists of the Challenge Cup last season.

Back then, Handbal club Odorhei from Romania defeated Portuguese ABD/UMinho over two matches in the final.

On Saturday evening, the two teams meet again, this time for the first leg of their Round 3 tie. The Romanian team has the home advantage in the first match.

Find the complete overview of the Men's Challenge Cup Round 3 matches here