Nantes remain unbeaten with third consecutive win

After a less-than-impressive win at home against Portuguese side ABC/UMinho last week (9 October), HBC Nantes bounced back in fashion in the VELUX EHF Champions League, earning their third straight win in the top European club competition, a 35:25 drubbing away, against Danish side TTH Holstebro.

It was the Danish side’s worst-ever defeat in the competition and their third in a row.

• Nantes have three wins and one draw in their first four VELUX EHF Champions League matches of the season and are top with seven points
• Holstebro have the exact opposite record with one draw and three losses in a row, and find themselves bottom
• French side travel to Bucuresti to meet Dinamo next week (22 October)
• Nicolas Claire had an outstanding game for Nantes with seven goals from eight shots

GROUP D

TTH Holstebro (DEN) vs HBC Nantes (FRA) 25:35 (13:19)

A flawless start is one of the keys to success in handball and Nantes are one of the teams that have applied that statement near to perfection in their opening four games of the VELUX EHF Champions League season.

After drawing their opening game, away at HC Motor Zaporozhye – the only blemish on their otherwise perfect record - the French side powered to a 9:2 lead in round 2 against Besiktas and applied the same concept against Holstebro today with an overwhelming first eight minutes that saw Nantes jump to a 5:0, then 7:2 lead.

83% shot efficiency for Nantes

Powered by top goalscorer Magnus Bramming, Holstebro attempted to mount a comeback and managed to slow down the visitors, reducing the difference to three goals (14:11), but the French side continued to impress in attack, finishing the first half with an outstanding 83% shot efficiency in attack.

No chance for Holstebro

Having secured a seven-goal lead early in the second half, Nantes started to alternate their line-up, with only three players failing to score during the game.

However, they never stopped pressing and improved their lead to 10, claiming their third consecutive win and securing a two-point lead in the ranking, before their game against Dinamo next Saturday (22 October).

With such a result Holstebro are the only team without a win in the group and their chances to progress are becoming slimmer round-by-round.