02.12.2011, 12:00
Madrid and Medvedi share the points

Atletico and Hamburg remain unbeaten after Round 7 of the VELUX EHF Champions League.

Madrid and Medvedi share the points

Atletico Madrid and HSV Hamburg remain unbeaten in the VELUX EHF Champions League. Whilst Madrid tied at Chekhovskie, Hamburg had no problems in beating Constanta clearly.

Group B:

Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) vs. Atletico Madrid (ESP) 29:29 (18:16)

Madrid remain on top of the group, but tied like in the first match against the bravely fighting Russian bears from Chekhov. The match was nail-biting until the very end with changing leads in the final stage. Top scorers were Chipurin (Medvedi) and Lazarow (Madrid) with each seven goals in a match of highest international level. Atletico remain unbeaten – and if Kielce do not win against Füchse, the Spaniards are already qualified for the Last 16.

After absolute equal first 20 minutes, Chekhovskie extended the lead to 18:16 at the break and thanks to their goalkeeper Oleg Grams a victory was in sight when the host was away with a five goals margin in minute 42 (23:18).

But as the Spanish defence improved and Madrid was able to score by interceptive fast breaks the match changed. Due to a 9:3 series Madrid took the lead at 27:26. Medvedi was able to return, but the seventh goal of Lazarow in the very last attack of the game secured a draw for Madrid.

Thanks to this tie, Medvedi extended their series to 5:1 points from the last three matches – and the Russians are in good position with in total seven points.

Group C:

HSV Hamburg (GER) vs. HCM Constanta (ROU) 36:25 (20:11)

Seventh victory in match seven for the German champions: Thanks to an incredible performance of left back Blazenko Lackovic (eight goals) and more than 20 saves of goalkeeper Johannes Bitter HSV took a clear win and have the optimum of 14 points on their account before the EHF EURO break.

The story of the match is a very one-sided one: After the 3:3 Hamburg accelerated and extended the margin to 13:6, 18:8 and 20:11 at the break. Even as Constanta improved in the second half and reduced the gap intermediately to six goals, Hamburg was not endangered at any second. In minute 44 the margin was again 10 goals, in the end it were eleven. Constanta remain with two points on their account, their top scorer in Hamburg were Stavrositu and Riganas with each four goals.

Statements after the match:

Per Carlen (coach HSV Hamburg): It was like Rock’n’Roll on the field, as Lackovic played brilliant. Aside our defence stood strong and Johannes Bitter saved 50 per cent of all shots. So we are absolutely satisfied with the first seven rounds of the VELUX EHF Champions League.

Constantin Stefan (coach HCM Constanta): We had to face a very strong team and could not fulfill our hopes and dreams. We could only catch up with the Germans in short periods – HSV was the clear better team – and I keep my fingers crosses that they reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4 again.

TEXT: Björn Pazen