CSM search for lost charm in Norway

CSM’s shock defeat against Bietigheim saw the first coaching change of the season in the Women’s EHF Champions League. After only two rounds, the Romanian powerhouse replaced Magnus Johansson with Dragan Djukic.

The Serbian coach will have a tough task this weekend as he only had two days of preparations before a crucial game against Vipers Kristiansand in what could prove to be a pivotal game for the Romanian side’s season.

Elsewhere, unbeaten Bietigheim will be tested by FTC on home court, while Györ aim to extend their winning streak to three games against Thüringer HC.

GROUP C
HC Podravka Vegeta (CRO) vs RK Krim Mercator (SLO)
Saturday 20 October, 18:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

• Podravka won against RK Dalmatink in the Croatian league, while Krim did not play in midweek
• HC Podravka Vegeta will be buoyed by their performance in the opening 40 minutes against Győr in the previous round
• Krim bounced back well from a heavy first round loss and a victory on Saturday will prove they have realistic ambitions for this season

Thüringer HC (GER) vs Győri Audi ETO KC (HUN)
Sunday 21 October, 14:00 hrs local time, live ehfTV.com

• Győr scored 72 goals in the first two rounds, the most by any team in the competition
• Thüringer HC failed to pick up a point in the first two rounds
• the German champions played beat Blomberg-Lippe to remain unbeaten in the domestic league, while Gábor Danyi’s team had the chance to rest this week

GROUP D
Vipers Kristiansand (NOR) vs CSM Bucuresti (ROU)
Saturday 20 October, 18:15 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

• CSM went through a coaching change this week, with Serbian coach Dragan Djukic taking over from Magnus Johansson, who lost his job following last week’s loss against Bietigheim
• the Romanian side has the second-worst defensive record in the competition, with 61 goals conceded, one fewer than FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria
• with 19 goals scored over two games, Cristina Neagu is the top goal scorer in the Women’s EHF Champions League
• this is the maiden game between the two sides in an European competition

SG BBM Bietigheim (GER) vs FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN)
Sunday 21 October, 17:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

• the German side hope to emulate last week’s win against CSM, one of their biggest in the club’s history
• Bietigheim are unbeaten in all competitions, riding a ten-game streak
• FTC hope to improve their defence, after conceding 62 goals over the past two games, the most in the competition
• the two teams met in last season’s main round, splitting home wins. A pre-season friendly in September saw FTC win 22:21 against Bietigheim