Ambitious teams in early Group D opener

It will be two teams with plenty of VELUX EHF Champions League experience who meet in BBC Arena in Schaffhausen on Thursday night.

Kadetten Schaffhausen and C.S. Dinamo Bucuresti each have a long history in the Champions League, and this year, they both have the Last 16 as their clear objective.

“It will be crucial to us to find the right keys to this match,” Kadetten coach Petr Hrachovec told his club’s website, explaining that closing the space in defence will be particularly essential.

Dinamo Bucuresti have undergone quite a lot of changes compared to last season, but that does not keep the Romanian team from aiming for the Last 16 for the first time ever.

“Let us not forget that last year, we were ranked fourth in the group and finished first,” as team captain Dan Savenco puts it.

GROUP D
Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI) vs C.S. Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU)
Thursday 12 September, 20:15 local time, live on ehftv.com

• Kadetten Schaffhausen were in the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase uninterrupted from 2014 to 2018, but were absent last season

• Dinamo Bucuresti are in the Champions League Group Phase for the fourth year in row, having reached the play-offs in 2018/19

• Schaffhausen won their opening match in the Swiss league this season 36:30 against Wacker Thun, who were in the Champions League last season. Kadetten lost their second match away to TV Suhr-Aarau 27:26 last Sunday

• Dinamo Bucuresti have won their first two matches in the Romanian league – 34:30 at home against Vaslui and 31:28 in the local derby against CSM Bucuresti