Decisive phase begins
After a break due to the EHF EURO 2012 qualification matches, club handball fans around Europe are getting excited, as the EHF Women’s Champions League continues with its decisive phase on Saturday and Sunday with eight thrilling games in store.
In the more clear Groups, A and D, the dominating teams of Budućnost and FC Midtjylland alongside Oltchim and Itxako can decide their Main Round progression with a good performance, whilst in the more balanced Groups; B and C, everything is still open.
Each game here has great importance for the participating teams in the race for a Main Round spot.
www.ehfTV.com has live coverage of Viborg HK vs. RK Krim Mercator, HC Podravka Vegeta vs. Larvik, Metz Handball vs. Győri Audi ETO and Dinamo Volgograd vs. C.S. Oltchim Rm. Vâlcea, but regional restrictions apply. Click HERE for listings.
For regional TV listings of all the EHF Women's Champions League matches click HERE.
GROUP A
Byåsen (NOR) vs. Budućnost (MNE)
Saturday 29 October, 16:15 hrs (local time)
Experienced Budućnost are clear favourites in this duel, especially after Dragan Adžić’s team cleared the big hurdle of FC Midtjylland in Round 3. His side was forced into maximum concentration in the match-up against the Danish champions, but with a focused game plan and with the backing of their vocal fans, the Montenegrins celebrated their third victory in three games.
Byåsen have prepared for this game with a clear victory over Fredrikstad at the Trondheim Spektrum. Both Camilla Herrem and Ida Alstad are back after injury, but it will still be a hard task to overcome the strong eastern Europeans who stand one level higher than their opponents in the group phase currently.
Thüringer HC (GER) vs. FC Midtjylland (DEN)
Sunday 30 October, 15:00 hrs (local time)
FCM have four points in the tournament so far, whilst Thüringer HC are still waiting for their first points.
Nevertheless, the German champions’ clear aim is to collect points in their home games, as coach Herbert Müller underlined: "As long as we still have a chance of qualifying for the Main Round we’ll do our best in every match. We’ll aim for victory in our home matches."
In preparation for the weekend clash, THC outclassed HC Leipzig in a one-sided affair by nine goals with Idalina Borges-Mesquita and Nadja Nadgornaja their top scorers with six goals each. The latter will play an important role against FCM, as Müller requests more variety from his back-court.
For the opponents, their premiere did not work out too well, as FCM lost on Wednesday 25:28 against Team Tvis Holstebro in the Danish league. Coach Ryan Zinglersen was therefore unhappy about the result. "We made too many mistakes in offence, and never got the desired change of pace. In attacks we often made errors, especially in the decisive moments."
GROUP B
Viborg HK (DEN) vs. RK Krim Mercator (SLO)
Saturday 29 October, 19:30 hrs (local time)
Live on www.ehfTV.com (regional restrictions apply)
Krim's winning series of results was stopped two weeks ago by Larvik, so the Slovenians will want to get back on-track, whilst the Danes are burning to get revenge for the heavy defeat they suffered in Ljubljana in early October.
After that defeat Coach Martin Albertsen and his crew worked hard on a number of improvements with regard to physical shape, tactic-related matters and mental preparation - all important facets to winning a game.
Albertsen is confident that his side will perform much better. "We are better equipped for the clash and we are desperate to show our fans that we can play quality handball. No matter how, we want to win this match, so I hope the loss at Krim is our first and only defeat in the group. Good signals and attitude of spirit show great determination prior to this clash."
Krim expect a very tough game in Viborg, as every player knows of the great importance of the fourth round result with the EHF Women’s Champions League turning into a decisive phase with each gained important for advancing from this well-balanced group.
The national team matches did not cause any injuries for Tone Tiselj’s team, so the coach is travelling to Denmark with his best squad in the hope of surprising Viborg again.
 HC Podravka Vegeta (CRO) vs. Larvik (NOR)
Saturday 29 October, 18:00 hrs (local time)
Live on www.ehfTV.com (regional restrictions apply)
Larvik are back in top shape again after their surprise first round loss against Viborg, whilst for Podravka, this game will be the last chance to remain in race for a Main Round spot.
The Croats know the great importance of this clash, as with a defeat they may have to say farewell to their aims of continuing in the competition.
Therefore, Coach Neven Hrupec rested Miranda Tatari, Nikica Pušić-Koroljević and Ivana Petković in their recent domestic league match, whilst left-back Sanja Damnjanović remained on the bench, not playing due to tiredness following from Serbia’s EHF EURO qualification matches.
On the Norwegian side, it seems that the title defenders are back on track again and the good performance has been underlined twice in the EHF Women’s Champions League and also in the domestic league, where right-back Linn Jørum Sulland is in fantastic goal-scoring form, netting 12 times in Larvik's recent game.
GROUP C
Randers HK (DEN) vs. Hypo Niederösterreich (AUT)
Sunday 30 October, 16:50 hrs (local time)
After two victories Randers suffered their first defeat on home soil in an unlucky way against Metz, so in their last home match, the Danes wish to finish their home account positively. Hypo, on the other hand are still looking for their first point in the EHF Women’s Champions League this season.
With eight of their Brazilian players winning the gold medal at the recent Pan American Games, Coach András Németh expects top motivation from the South Americans in this clash. Due to the tournament in Mexico, Hypo have been missing several of their players in the last two weeks, so the real preparation only started on Wednesday when the Brazilians returned to Austria. Despite this, the Austrians want to take revenge for the unlucky home defeat against the Danes.
Nina Wörz, Randers German international, points out the importance of home matches. "It’s very important to win our home matches if we want to advance from the group.
“Right now we have four points and a good chance to achieve our goals. We will have to look ahead and take the positives from the lost match against Metz."
 Metz Handball (FRA) vs. Győri Audi ETO (HUN)
Saturday 29 October, 17:00 (local time)
Live on www.ehfTV.com (regional restrictions apply)
A tough game will await the Hungarians in France against Metz who are leading their domestic league with the maximum points.
Metz successfully achieved their aim of staying in the top two positions of the group in Randers where they defeated the Danish runners-up after a close duel with a last-second goal.
Goalkeeper coach Jean Pietrala is confident about qualification through to the eight.
"The victory against the Danes added to what we produced in Hungary. Our start to the match was much better and we didn’t let the lead out of our hands. Our objective remains to qualify for the Main Round. We set this goal at the beginning of the season."
For Audi ETO only a victory counts in the away clash as the Hungarians have already lost one game in the group phase, so they will do their utmost to bring home the points.
For this match, Coach Csaba Konkoly’s team staged a grand premiere in the Hungarian League on Wednesday, when they defeated the runners-up from last year, Debrecen, in an away duel by an impressive 21 goals.
Despite the huge victory, Győr will miss their classy left winger Orsolya Vérten due to injury, so it will be interesting to see who will take this spot for the match-up with the French.
Also, goalkeeper Katalin Pálinger was out of training for a few days, but her replacement Katrine Lunde Haraldsen is an equal replacement, with her form improving to an impressive level in the last few matches.
GROUP D
Buxtehuder SV (GER) vs. Grupo Asfi Itxako Navarra (ESP)
Saturday 29 October, 19:00 hrs (local time)
Buxtehuder SV hope to come up with a better result against Itxako than in the away game, when they lost by 11 goals, whilst Itxako will want to iron-out a home failure, having lost to Oltchim.
Both clubs had a nice home league start prior to the EHF Women’s Champions League, as Buxtehude defeated Oldenburg 33:30 in the German League thanks to nine goals from the outstanding Steffi Melbeck. Itxako also collected two points in the Spanish League in a one-sided victory over Elche Mustang.
The German side is revitalised after three straight losses in the Queen’s Tournament and after the victory over Oldenburg they are full of confidence again.
"We are back with great confidence and look forward to welcoming the Spaniards," said Goalkeeper Antje Lenz. It will be a double event in Hamburg, as afterwards, Hamburger SV will host Balingen in the O2 World Arena.
Coach Ambros Martín's team are suffering several injury problems, with the trio of Mirjana Milenković, Andrea Barnó and Begoña Fernández not being fully fit. Nevertheless, Martín expects an improved performance to the last game against Oltchim and two points from this duel.
 Dinamo Volgograd (RUS) vs. C.S. Oltchim Rm. Vâlcea (ROU)
Sunday 30 October, 14:00 hrs (local time)
Live on www.ehfTV.com (regional restrictions apply)
Dinamo are currently in third spot right in Group D, whilst the Romanians, Oltchim, are flying high with three victories, leading the group with maximum points.
The Russians, who lead their domestic league, want to surprise Radu Voina's team and Dinamo coach Victor Ryabykh may know the recipe.
"We didn’t have a summer training camp as part of our preparation, which is why the team has only just started to gain their form. In the first phase of the Champions League we were not ready, but against Oltchim I expect optimum form, and we’ll fight as hard as possible!"
Oltchim are full of confidence prior to the return match against Dinamo, as the national team, based around the club players, celebrated successful EHF EURO qualification games. The win against 2010/11 semi-finalists Itxako in the last round of the EHF Women’s Champions League will give extra motivation to the players.
In their earlier direct match-up, Oltchim defeated Dinamo by 31:26.
For regional TV listings of all the EHF Women's Champions League matches click HERE.
TEXT: Márk Hegedüs
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