Nine balls for Last 16 draw still waiting for owners

With seven teams already qualified for the Last 16 after last weekend's double-headers, the remaining nine teams for the pots for next Tuesday draw for the Last 16 are going to be found this weekend.

Two of those teams are to be found in new double-headers, while the rest of the Last 16 participants will emerge from the second leg of the tie that started last weekend.

Luxembourg are already sure to be represented among the Last 16 after HB Dudelange qualified last weekend.

This weekend, the country may double their representation, when Handball Esch are entering the competition.

Just like Dudelange, who sent out Hapoel Ashdod, Esch are meeting an Israeli team and can hope to copy their countrymen's achievement, as they receive Ramat Hashron SGS HC for two matches in the Centre Omnisport H. Schmitz Saturday and Sunday evening.

The other double-header this weekend is taking place in Turda, Romania, where AHC Potaissa Turda take on HC Dobrudja from Bulgaria Saturday afternoon and Sunday at high noon.

While Turda made it to the third qualification round for the EHF Cup group phase last year, the Bulgarian visitors will be trying to make it a step further than the previous two years, when the third round of the Challenge Cup became the end for them.

In the Nordic derby between Haslum Handballklubb and Valur, the ambitious Norwegian side will try to catch up with Valur's 31:24 lead from the first match, when Haslum have the home advantage Saturday late in the afternoon, while the excitement is big in Emmen, Netherlands, where JMS Hurry-Up are only down 22:20 before receiving Turkish Göztepe SK.

Switzerland's only representative in the tournament, TSV St. Otmar St. Gallen can apparently take things a bit easier when receiving Klaipedas

Dragunas from Lithuania Sunday afternoon.

St. Gallen won the away match as clearly as 35:28, but line player Benjamin Geisser is warning his teammates against taking the task too easily.

“We must forget the first match. The return match starts by zero, and we will have to concentrate from the start. Seven goals is nothing in handball!” Geisser told St. Gallen's website.