First round winners in new derby

Round 2 sees two losers of the opening round, Krim and Larvik, clash in Slovenia while Sävehof have their first home match in the new Partille Arena against Esbjerg.

•    Team Esbjerg are visiting IK Sävehof with two former Sävehof players, goalkeeper Filippa Idéhn and backcourt player Jenny Alm.
•    Sävehof are playing their first Women’s EHF Champions League match in the new Partille Arena.
•    RK Krim Mercator have not been able to defeat Larvik in the three latest matches against the Norwegian side.
•    The two top players from the first match day, Emma Ekenman-Fernis from Sävehof and Laura van der Heijden from Esbjerg (awarded best player of Round 1), who both scored 11 goals in the first round, are meeting, when Sävehof receive Esbjerg.

RK Krim Mercator (SLO) vs Larvik (NOR)
Saturday 22. October, 16.30 local time, live on ehftv.com

Both teams are chasing their first points in the tournament after opening the group matches with defeats.

Krim lost as big as 35:25 away to Team Esbjerg, while Larvik were leading rather clearly for the first 35 minutes at home against Sävehof, but ended by losing 25:22.

Larvik got a fine dress rehearsal before flying to Ljubljana, though, defeating Norway’s other Champions League participant Glassverket no less than 40:25 on Wednesday, but ahead of that match, Larvik ran into a further injury, as left win Thea Mørk was injured.

“I do expect Thea to be able to travel with us to Ljubljana, though, and compared to our first match, I also expect Anja Hammerseng-Edin back, while we are stilling missing left wing Sanna Solberg and now also backcourt player Tine Stange who has broken her thumb,” explains Larvik coach Tor Odvar Moen who sees a good chance to win in the Slovenian capital after all.

“I have noticed, of course that Krim lost by 10 goals to Esbjerg in their first match, but I also noticed that they scored 25 goals, so they definitely have some attacking players we need to stop,” he added.

IK Sävehof (SWE) vs Team Esbjerg (DEN)
Sunday 23. October, 15.00 local time, live of ehftv.com

It will be the two winners from the first round, who meet in the first Champions League match ever in the new Partille Arena.

While Sävehof managed to chance a five goal deficit into a 25:22 win away against Larvik, Esbjerg left no doubt, as they won 35:25 at home against RK Krim Mercator.

“We are looking forward to the match and to welcoming the two former Sävehof players Filippa Idéhn and Jenny Alm in the Partille Arena.

“We realise that it will be a difficult task against an Esbjerg team who managed to win by 10 in their first Champions League match ever,” says Sävehof coach Henrik Signell ahead of the Scandinavian neighbour derby.

Esbjerg coach Lars Frederiksen is also impressed by his opponent.

“I was surprised by Sävehof’s win in Larvik and by their ability to come back from a clear deficit.

“At least, we are warned that this team is apparently never beaten.

“It is going to be an interesting match between the two winners from the first round, and we will obviously do our utmost to stay undefeated,” says Lars Frederiksen.