Podravka host Györ with Group C lead at stake

The debut of Györ’s new head coach, Gabor Danyi, could not have been better. The title holders opened their Women’s EHF Champions League 2018/19 campaign with an astonishing 39:23 win over Krim Mercator last week.

Next up for Györ is Sunday’s trip to Podravka Vegeta, which surprised with an away win at Thüringer HC in Round 1. The winner will earn an early two-point lead in Group C.

In Group D, leaders CSM Bucuresti will celebrate a jubilee. The Romanian side play their 50th match in Europe’s top-flight competition when they visit Bietigheim on Sunday. Elsewhere, FTC want to avoid their worst start to the season in 10 years.

GROUP C

RK Krim Mercator (SLO) vs Thüringer HC (GER)
Saturday, 13 October, 19:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

• Krim conceded 39 goals last week due to Györ’s ‘run, shoot, run, shoot’ tactics

• THC need to avoid the mistakes that led to their home defeat against Podravka

• Krim will rely on Tjasa Stanko again, though the left back missed six from 10 attempts against Györ

• In their domestic leagues this week, Krim routed Krka 48:13 and THC won easily 36:25 in Oldenburg

HC Podravka Vegeta (CRO) vs Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN)
Sunday, 14 October, 18:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

• After scoring 39 goals against Krim, Györ netted 47 times in a domestic league match on Wednesday

• The title holders can open up a two-point lead in the group if they win in Croatia

• Podravka were the outsiders against THC but earned two points thanks to their disciplined defence

• Podravka enjoyed a week of rest as they had no midweek match in their domestic league

GROUP D

FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN) vs Vipers Kristiansand (NOR)
Sunday, 14 October, 14:30 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

• FTC have never started the group matches with two straight losses in the past 10 years

• Vipers are yet to win an away game, after losing all three in their debut season last year

• The Norwegian champions strengthened their grip on the domestic league on Wednesday, with a commanding 33:19 win against rivals Larvik

SG BBM Bietigheim (GER) vs CSM Bucuresti (ROU)
Sunday, 14 October, 17:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

• In the Romanian league, CSM lost their first home match in five years, 22:19 against SCM Ramnicu Valcea

• CSM will play the 50th Champions League match in the club's history (31 wins, 15 defeats, three draws)

• CSM playmaker Andrea Lekic will be back in time from Buenos Aires, where she was an Youth Olympic Games ambassador

• Bietigheim are still unbeaten this season, winning their fourth consecutive match in the Bundesliga, 34:24 against Nellingen