FIRST-HAND INSIGHT: As the new VELUX EHF Champions League season draws near, we have a look at the top five teams which are likely to provide us with the most goals
Which teams have the best sharpshooters?
All teams in the VELUX EHF Champions League are equipped with some magnificent group of players. If you want to succeed, you must be able to score the goals needed, and obviously some teams look to be stronger contestants than others in that area.
Where many teams rightfully claim to be on our firepower ranking, we have narrowed it down to the top five attacking teams for the upcoming season.
5. MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN)
Szeged are maybe not a team which would make the list for everybody. But there are two good reasons for the Hungarian champions to be here. First, they were among the best scoring teams with 421 goals in last year’s group phase; in fact, their total was only exceeded by PSG’s 424. Also, Szeged have reinforced their squad this summer with the likes of Vardar’s Joan Canellas and Jorge Maqueda as well as Kielce’s Dean Bombac. Every reason to expect some more fireworks from Szeged in 2018/19.
4. HBC Nantes (FRA)
You don’t reach the final of this magnificent competition unless you have real firepower in your arsenal. Nantes proved that last season and will have a pretty similar squad this year, but just even more experienced. The French club has said goodbye to Dominik Klein after last season, but Valero Rivera joined from Barcelona to fill his place. Also, it should be unnecessary to add that a team which includes Kiril Lazarov is certain to score a certain amount of goals.
3. Telekom Veszprém HC (HUN)
Ljubomir Vranjes has an extremely exciting squad to work with. Last season, Mate Lekai had spells where he seemed to score when he wanted, and he will now have the likes of Manuel Strlek and Rene Toft Hansen around him, bringing even more quality on the court. With the threatening duo of László Nagy and Momir Ilic also in the mix, Veszprém’s starting line-up looks awesome.
2. Barça Lassa (ESP)
No matter where you look, there is quality on every position at Barça. Ludovic Fabregas, last year’s champion with Montpellier HB, is an exciting new piece to an already impressive puzzle. Aron Palmarsson will play his first whole season with the Catalan giants and there is no shortage of stars that he can feed with assists over the coming season.
1. Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
They failed to lift the trophy in the end but PSG came off an incredible group phase, scoring 30.3 goals on average per game. It will be interesting to see what new coach Raul Gonzalez brings, but his squad surely knows its way towards the goal. Uwe Gensheimer topped the goal scoring ranks in the competition once again last season, and to have him in the mix with the likes of Mikkel Hansen, Sander Sagosen and newcomer Kim Ekdal du Rietz, scoring goals should not be something that Gonzalez will need to worry about.
TEXT:
Andri Yrkill Valsson / ew