Decisive weekend ahead in Women’s Challenge Cup

Two of the semi-finalists of the Women’s Challenge Cup will be determined this weekend, with two of the quarter-final ties to be played as double headers.

Rocasa Gran Canaria ACE will host ZRK IZVOR BUKOVICKA BANJA-Arandjelovac from Serbia for two matches on Saturday and Sunday evening.

Having played in the Cup Winners’ Cup and the EHF Cup for the previous four years, Rocasa are now looking for success in the Challenge Cup. Their Serbian opponents meanwhile, will try to make it one step further than last season, where their European adventure ended in the quarter-final stage. 

The other double header this weekend is taking place in Kastamonu in Turkey. 

On Saturday and Sunday, the local team Kastamonu B. Genclik SK will welcome Virto / Quintus from the Netherlands. While Kastamonu are back in Europe after a four-year break, Virto / Quintus are playing in the Challenge Cup for the third year in a row. 

The Dutch side look to be the favourites ahead of the clash, but they may have trouble against Montenegrin international Sonja Barjaktarovic in the goal for Kastamonu.

A second Turkish team is playing away this weekend, with Izmir BSB SK travelling to Poland to meet EKS Start Elblag for the first leg on Saturday afternoon. The return match will be played the following Saturday.

HC Vardar junior from Macedonia and Ukrainian HC Karpaty wait until Monday evening to play the first leg of their draw, which will take place at Sport Centre Jane Sandanski in Skopje.