Heading for the Finals
EHF Men's Cup Winners Cup
Caja3 BM Aragon (ESP) vs. SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)
Saturday, 28 April, 18:30 hrs local time
First Leg: 30:39 (13:19)
SG Flensburg-Handewitt have a great chance to reach their fifth final of a European Cup competition – and the first one since the EHF Champions league final in 2007. Their nine-goal advantage from the first leg seems to be a great base for the current runners-up of the Bundesliga, who will miss key player Holger Glandorf through injury.
VfL Gummersbach (GER) vs. HC Pivovarna Celje Lasko (SLO)
Saturday, 28 April, 19:00 hrs local time
First leg: 27:34 (13:21)
After a dominant first match Celje are the favourites after the first leg, but Gummersbach are very strong on home ground. The hosts have won three straight European Cup titles in previous years and hope to head for their fourth straight final. If Flensburg and Celce proceed, it is the "re-match" of the final of the EHF Champions League of the 2003/2004 season.
Men's EHF Cup
Frisch Auf Göppingen (GER) vs. Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER)
Friday, 27 April, 19:30 hrs (local time)
First Leg: 32:33 (13:15)
After a very close fist leg with Löwen as lucky winners, experts are expecting the same for the opening match of the Men’s EC semi-final weekend. Göppingen are defending champions, and Löwen are hungry for their first ever (national or international) title in this all-German duel.
US Dunkerque HD Grand Littoral (FRA) vs. SC Magdeburg (GER)
Sunday, 29 April, 17:00 hrs (local time)
First Leg: 30:25 (13:9)
In the long history of their participation in European Cup competitions, SC Magdeburg have made many miracles – but after suffering a clear home defeat the Germans are the underdogs in Northern France, where the host can afford to lose by four goals and still qualify for the finals. Qualifying for the semi finals was already the biggest international success in club history, but now the French team want it all.
EHF Men's Challenge Cup
AC Diomidis Argous (GRE) vs. Maccabi "Tyrec" Tel Aviv (ISR)
Sunday, 29 April, 18:30 hrs local time
First Leg: 29:26 (11:11)
After the away victory in Israel, the gate is open for the Greek team to reach the EHF Challenge Cup final. The hosts will be missing Nikolaos Samaras, who was suspended for one match after a direct red card in the first leg.
Wacker Thun (SUI) vs. Sporting CL (POR)
Saturday, 28 April, 17:00 hrs local time
First Leg: 29:31 (15:12)
In the first leg the Swiss team threw away a clear lead and lost due to a weak final stage in the duel of two former EHF Challenge Cup winners. But a two-goal margin is no safe cushion for the Portuguese team, who won the EHF Challenge Cup in 2010.
TEXT: Björn Pazen
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