Metz dominate Odense to win Group A

With a win of 41:26 against Women's EHF Champions debutants Odense HC in the last of the group matches, Metz Handball secured first place in Group A.

The French champions take five points with them to the main round, while Odense take one point with them.

• Metz win the group and Odense finish third
• Both teams proceed to the main round
• Metz take five points with them to the main round, Odense one
• Manon Houette scored eight goals for Metz, Mie Højlund seven for Odense

GROUP A
Metz Handball (FRA) vs Odense HC (DEN) 41:26 (21:12)

Already after 11 minutes and 23 seconds, Odense coach Jan Pytlick called his second timeout.

At that point, his team were already down 10:4, but things turned out even worse for the Danish Champions League debutants.

Metz increased their lead to 10 goals several times in the first half, and the fast-playing home team kept on scoring throughout the last 30 minutes.

Pytlick tied the seven against six attack from the 22. minute, but without being able to stop turn the tides.

Both teams already knew they would progress to the main round before the match, but points were still at stake. Metz, who won Group A, take five points with them, while Odense will have to make do with one.

In their first match in the main round, Metz host Group B winners Rostov-Don, while Odense receive another French team, Brest Bretagne Handball.

Pytlick said he and his team were disappointed about their performance.

"We lost to a better team today, and we will now look forward to the matches in the main round, where we have to step up as a team," he said.