Veszprém ready to stop Sporting’s dreams

Telekom Veszprém HC did not start the VELUX EHF Champions League season in their expected form, but after coach David Davis took over the team has had a series of eight consecutive wins, including the one over group winners Barça Lassa, at home in the Veszprém Arena.

So the task for Sporting CP on Saturday to make up for last week’s 30:28 home defeat won’t be easy. The Portuguese side controlled their first-leg rendezvous until the last seven minutes when Veszprém’s defence started to work better.

Sporting wrote Portuguese handball history by beating Dimamo Bucuresti in the play-offs and entering the Last 16. No doubt that they will need their great offensive skills in order to continue their historic season in Europe.

LAST 16, SECOND LEG

Telekom Veszprém HC (HUN) vs Sporting CP (POR)
Saturday 30 March, 17:30 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

• Veszprém won the first leg 30:28 but had not been in the lead until the 53rd minute

• no Portuguese club has ever reached the quarter-finals

• Veszprém have been unbeaten in their last 10 home games across all competitions

• both teams had never met before last week’s match

• last season, Veszprém were eliminated in the Last 16 by Skjern