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 There is still hope of a place in the Quarterfinals for many of the remaining teams as the second leg of the VELUX EHF Champions league throws off around Europe. The return matches of the Last 16 begin on Thursday 31 March in Chekhov and Mannheim.
Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) – Bosna Sarajevo (BIH)
Thursday 31 March, 19:00 hrs (local time)
The Russian Bears have lost just one match on home ground this season and are the favourites against the Bosnian champions.
After winning their first match in Sarajevo clearly 31:22 they can afford to lose by eight goals and still reach the Quarterfinals for the second year in a row.
“We are playing to win, nothing else matters to us,” said Timur Dibirov, who was the Chekhovskie top scorer with six goals in the first leg.
Bosna on the other hand will continue with the performance they showed after the break last Sunday.
“In the first half we were too weak but then we improved,” Bosna coach Irfan Smajlagic said.
“We know that it is a highly difficult task in Chekhov but we want to show that we belong to the best 16 teams in Europe. But of course the Bears are the clear favourites again.”
His team did not win any points in away matches up to now in this VELUX EHF Champions League season.
Watch the match LIVE on ehfTV.com at 19.00 local time.
Rhein Neckar Löwen (GER) – RK Croatia Ossiguranje Zagreb (CRO)
Thursday 31 March, 19:00 hrs (local time)
Löwen expect a full arena, as a lot of Croats who live in Germany will support their team in Mannheim.
“No matter how loud their spectators are: It is our home match – and we want to go on to the Quarterfinals. We did not lose a match in any competition in the SAP Arena, so we want to continue this run,” said Löwen left wing, Uwe Gensheimer.
He was the top scorer with ten goals last Sunday when the Germans won 31:28 in Zagreb – the first home defeat for RK in this season.
Löwen’s coach, Gudmundur Gudmundsson, said: “This victory is worth a lot, but we have achieved nothing right now. The first half is played, now we have to win the second too. Zagreb are very strong and we have to be aware ot that.”
For Serbian international Zarko Sesum the Löwen’s chance are “only 50:50, even if we did win in Zagreb.”
Löwen manager, Thorsten Storm, is also hoping for a full hall: “We need 100 percent support from our fans,” he said.
“We have the great chance to be part of the Quarterfinals again. I think our team deserves to go on in the competition.”
On the other side, Zagreb have not given up despite their defeat.
“We played well against one of the best teams in the world,” coach Ivica Obrvan said. “We will fight until the end to get to the next round. We will not surrender in Mannheim.”
Top star Ivano Balic is also looking for the turning point: “We were close to winning in the first match. If we play well in defence we will have a chance. We have to put the pressure on the Löwen for 60 minutes.”
Watch the match LIVE on ehfTV.com at 19.00 local time.
Renovalia Ciudad Real (ESP) – Chambery Savoie (FRA)
Saturday 2 April, 16:00 hrs (local time)
After taking both points from the Alps with a 27:24 win in the first leg, Ciudad Real are on the way to the Quarterfinals.
But coach, Talant Dushebajev, has warned that nothing is decided after the first 60 minutes of this encounter: “Chambery are strong, we have to be wide awake in defence like in the first match.”
On the other hand Chambery coach, Philippe Gardent, is still fired up.
“We need to improve our efficiency in defence. But it is very hard to score against such a huge defence and an outstanding goalkeeper such as Arpad Sterbik.”
Ciudad have won all their home matches in the current season – and Chambery took most of their points on home ground.
“If we start well and give more than 100 percent we can still hope for a victory,” Gardent concluded.
MKB Veszprem (HUN) – FC Barcelona-Borges (ESP)
Saturday 2 April, 16:15 hrs (local time)
In the last 24 months MKB Veszprem have lost only one home match in the VELUX EHF Champions League – which makes them the strongest home team of the whole competition and gives the Hungarians the spirit to level the 21:28 defeat in the first match against Barca.
But the only opponent who took the points from the Veszprem Arena was…FC Barcelona Borges in last season’s Quarterfinals with a 34:33 victory.
In 2010, the Catalans arrived in Hungary with a six goal advantage, this year the situation is quite the same.
“This result does not mean we will have an easy return match,” said FC Barcelona Manager, Xavier o’Callaghan.
“We know how strong Veszprem are – supported by their great fans. We will have to concentrate for 60 minutes to go through to the Quarterfinals.”
This season Veszprem have won against top opponents like Montpellier and Hamburg on home soil – but they also know that seven goals mean a huge burden for the return match.
“We played well for 50 minutes in Barcelona,” coach Lajos Mocsai said. “But then we stopped scoring. If this happens again we will not have a chance. But if we start well and take control of the match early we have a slight chance of turning the result.”
Gabor Czaszar added: “We need a miracle, but we have prepared perfectly for another miracle.”
From the personal point of view both teams hope for the comebacks of their goalkeepers Saric (Barcelona) and Fazekas (Veszprem).
Watch the match LIVE on ehfTV.com at 16.15 local time.
THW Kiel (GER) – KIF Kolding (DEN)
Saturday 2 April, 17:00 hrs (local time)
The trip is short for Kolding but the challenge is as high as a mountain. After losing 29:36 on home ground the Danes need a real sensation to stop THW Kiel on their way to the Quarterfinals.
The hopes are low in Kolding, as captain Anders Oechsler explained: “Everything was said and done for us after the draw when we knew we had to face THW. We do not have any chance but we are really looking forward to playing in this great arena on Saturday.”
For THW coach Alfred Gislason, the return match is another step towards their final destination – Cologne and the VELUX EHF FINAL4.
“We want to be in Cologne again,” he said. “We made a good start in Denmark, and now we do not want to let this match slip out of our hands. We are not in the Quarterfinals yet but the situation is looking quite good.”
Kiel Goalkeeper, Thierry Omey, said: “It’s good to have a seven goal advantage on your side, but we should not be sure that we already have reached the Quarterfinals. 60 minutes are still lying ahead. And we have to play as well as we did in the second half in Kolding.”
But on Tuesday Kiel suffered from an enormous set back in the German League: They lost 25:28 against Großwallstadt on home ground – the first Bundesliga defeat in their arena for 1239 days, which showed the “Zebras” are not unbeatable. Eight rounds before the end THW is six points behind the league leaders, HSV Hamburg.
Watch the match LIVE on ehfTV.com at 17.00 local time.
Montpellier MAHB (FRA) – Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI)
Sunday 3 April, 17:00 hrs (local time)
Early failure or clear victory - this is the situation for Montpellier HB in the second leg of the Last 16. After losing 26:31 in the first leg, the pressure is on Nikola Karabatic & Co.
“This is one of the hardest tasks in this season,” coach Patrice Canyer said. “Everything has to change compared with the first match.”
In Switzerland, Montpellier were behind with ten goals and could keep their hopes alive only with a catch-up chase in the final minutes.
Canayer now hopes that some of his injured players (Accambry and Di Panda) can return to this crucial game at home. After winning the league match in Nantes clearly, the coach said: “I think we are back on track. I hope that the team has understood what to do against Schaffhausen.”
Cuatro Rayas Valladolid (ESP) – HSV Hamburg (GER)
Sunday 3 April, 18:00 hrs (local time)
“Knowing the atmosphere in Valladolid, six goals mean almost nothing,” said HSV coach Martin Schwalb ahead of the return match.
The Germans won 28:22 last week – and they will hope that injured team captain Guillaume Gille can travel with the team to Spain.
The injuries to Lijewski and Lackovic are not that severe so they can play on Sunday.
HSV President Andreas Rudolph was critical of his team’s performance in the opening leg. “Our performance before the break was terrible,” he said. “If we play like this again we do not have a chance in Spain.”
Fortunately his team improved in the second half and went on to a clear victory.
In the German Bundesliga, HSV just recorded their 25th straight victory of the season – and the team is full of confidence.
“We have total respect for Valladolid,” coach Schwalb said. “But I hope we can stand the pressure and reach our next objective, the Quarterfinals.”
Valladolid will be hoping for strong support from their team’s supporters at the weekend. “They will be our eighth player,” Eduardo Gurbindo hopes, and President Miguel Dionisio added: “It is a difficult mission, but with the support of our great fans, nothing is impossible.”
Match of the Week with LIVE commentary from Tom O'Brannagain - watch the match ehfTV.com at 18.00 local time.
SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) – Pick Szeged (HUN)
Sunday 3 April, 19.30 hrs (local time)
The opinion in Flensburg is clear - to start the second leg with just a one goal buffer does not mean a certain place in the Quarterfinals.
“I am proud of what my players did in Szeged but nothing is safe,” said Flensburg team coach, Ljubomir Vranjes. “In contrast Szeged won at Chekhov which means that they are not just strong at home,”
He still has to cope with several injuries of key players like Oscar Carlen, Thomas Mogensen and Petar Djordjic.
Szeged has the same high hopes – despite knowing that Flensburg beat Ciudad Real in their arena.
“We nearly start at zero and it is our objective to win in Flensburg with at least two goals,” Pick player David Katzirz said.
Watch the match LIVE on ehfTV.com at 19.30 local time.
TEXT: Björn Pazen
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