No winner in Danish derby

In Group 1, the three top teams Metz, Rostov-Don and Buducnost all have good chances to progress to the quarter-final, so the Danish derby matches between Kobenhavn and Odense should play an important role in determining the fourth-placed team.

Kobenhavn and Odense had been level on three points prior to their clash, and they remain level on four points each after their clash in the Danish capital ended in a 24:24 draw.

• Both sides now have four points, with Kobenhavn remaining in fourth place thanks to their superior goal difference
• Kelly Dulfer was Kobenhavn’s best scorer with four goals; Freja Kyndboel netted seven times for Odense
• Kobenhavn will play at Metz on Sunday; Odense will meet Rostov-Don

GROUP 1

Kobenhavn Handball (DEN) vs Odense HC (DEN) 24:24 (12:9)

In the Danish league, Odense enjoy a perfect record and are currently ten points ahead of the fourth-placed Kobenhavn. However, despite the difference in the domestic league standings, the two sides could not be separated following a tight and entertaining battle.

Odense had the brighter start, taking a 4:2 lead by the 8th minute, but Kobenhavn improved their defence and had an impressive 6:0 partial during the next seven minutes to pull ahead 8:4. Mette Tranborg's two goals helped Odense to cut the deficit to 8:6, yet Kobenhavn, who were led by Hanna Blomstrand and Mai Kragballe Nielsen, restored a four-goal lead (11:7). Kobenhavn held a three-goal lead after the first half (12:9).

However, Odense responded after the break and were the better team early in the second half. Goals by Freja Kyndboel and Stine Jørgensen helped the visitors to draw level at 15:15 by the 40th minute.

In a close game, the rivals continued to exchange goals in the second half. With two minutes to go, they were still level at 23:23, and Jenny Alm put Kobenhavn ahead before Kyndboel equalised with her seventh goal in the game 30 seconds from the buzzer. Kobenhavn called for a timeout and had the opportunity to win the match on the last attack, but Alm missed her shot, and the teams split the points after an exciting derby match.

Odense coach Jan Pytlick was pleased to get a point, but he was not satisfied with the performance of his team. He said: “Of course, I am satisfied that we leave the match with one point. However, I am not satisfied with the match as a whole. We make around 17 turnovers, and in a match like this that is just not good enough."