Preview on Round 7 of the VELUX EHF Champions League
Before the players can focus - in exactly this order - on domestic competitions, Christmas and the preparation for the 2013 World Championship in Spain, the last round of the VELUX EHF Champions League in 2012 will be played from Thursday to Sunday.
After Round 6 confirmed the first four participants of the Last 16 – Barcelona, Veszprém, Kielce and Berlin – Round 7 can increase the number of teams progressing to the knock-out stage rapidly. Under certain more or less realistic circumstances up to seven more clubs can clinch their berths in the Last 16. But mostly it is the match day of highly important decisions in all groups whether some teams still can hope to go on in 2013 or the remaining three rounds will be something like a farewell tour for them.
Group A:
RK Partizan Beograd (SRB) vs. Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS)
Thursday, 20:00 hrs local times in Niš
First leg: 31:38
On the one hand it is something like the last chance for Partizan, on the other Medvedi can proceed to the Last 16 in case of a victory and a parallel defeat of León at Hamburg. The Serbian champions showed a strong home performance in the last but one round, having Montpellier close to a defeat. And the team of coach Alexander Brković know that – if they still want to hope for the knock-out stage – they need to take the points on home ground. Medvedi won both encounters against León clearly, but only have this victory on their away account aside a draw at Hamburg.
HSV Hamburg (GER) vs. Reale Ademar León (ESP)
Thursday, 20:00 hrs local times
First leg: 28:26
 Despite their long series of injuries – now extended by Blaženko Lacković – HSV are supposed to be the favourite at home against León. The young Spanish team won in Montpellier in their first away match of this season, but failed to add any points when out of their arena in the following rounds. And Hamburg - like Medvedi with nine points on their tally - can march in step with the Russian champions to the Last 16, if both win.
Montpellier Agglomération HB (FRA) vs. SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)
Sunday, 19:00 hrs local times
First leg: 37:37
Are Montpellier able to extend their series of success? This is the dominant question before this top duel of Group A. Since seven matches, the French champions are unbeaten – and after their double strike against Partizan they are back on the way to the Last 16. But Flensburg will arrive with a boosted confidence after their home victory against Hamburg. And Flensburg can also manage to proceed to the Last 16 if they take an away victory and Hamburg and Chekhov win their respective matches. But if Karabatić & Co. take both points they are below Flensburg by only one point and then even can hope for the third place.
Group B:
HCM Constanta (ROU) vs. IK Sävehof (SWE)
Thursday, 20:00 hrs local times in Buzau
First leg: 31:35
If Constanta’s hope to progress will still be alive under the Christmas tree they need to beat Sävehof on Thursday – and if the Romanians show performances like they did against Madrid in the previous rounds they are not without a chance. The Swedish champions are two points ahead of Constanta – but have yet not a single away point on their account. In the previous two rounds they were taught “ten-goal-lessons” by Veszprém. A success on Romanian ground would mean a major step towards the knock-out stage, as then the fourth ranked will mostly be decided in the direct
THW Kiel (GER) vs. Atlético Madrid (ESP)
 Sunday, 17:15 hrs local times
First leg: 32:27
The re-match of the 2012 VELUX EHF FINAL4 final will not only be the ehfTV.com Match of the Week (live streamed free of charge and with English live commentary), but will also answer the question of Veszprém’s closest hunter.
If Madrid lose their fourth match, they are out of the race for the group victory, if Kiel lose, they would be equal in points with the Spaniards, but at minimum still be four points (maybe even six) below the Hungarians.
THW had won the first round encounter at Madrid right after they had lost the IHF Super Globe final against Atlético. Kiel can already proceed to the Last 16 if they win and Celje lose.duel with Celje. If the host win, three teams are in the race for this one spot.
RK Pivovarna Laško Celje (SLO) vs. MKB Veszprém (HUN)
Saturday, 19:00 hrs local times
First leg: 22:32
Who beats Kiel at home should be able to hope for the next sensation against Veszprém, or? Celje have grown enormously in the current season and they can play without any pressure against the clear group leader from Hungary. Veszprém will feel at little bit like home, as the architecture of their arena is identical to the one in Slovenia. After six victories from six matches, Veszprém should be the favourite, but Kiel had the same role two rounds ago – and lost. In a perfect constellation for the Hungarians, they win and Madrid take the points from Kiel – as then MKB would nearly already be confirmed as the group winner. If Celje win, everything would again be open for the first three positions, and the Slovenians would have a good chances to follow Veszprém to the knock-out stages.
Group C:
The situation in this group is as crazy that on Sunday all four participants of the Last 16 can already be confirmed: If Velenje, Metalurg and Bjerringbro win their matches, Chambéry and St. Petersburg would be out of the race and the final three rounds would only decide the final ranking.
HC St. Petersburg (RUS) vs. Gorenje Velenje (SLO)
Saturday, 19:00 hrs local times in Chekhov
First leg: 22:35
After their previous results, the „wasps“ from Velenje are supposed to be the favourite though they only took one away victory so far – at Chambéry. If the Slovenian champions take both points from Russia they are definitely among the last 16 teams of the VELUX EHF Champions League, even a draw would be enough to proceed. After their two clear defeats against Silkeborg this match is the last chance for St. Petersburg to keep the flame of hope burning.
Bjerringbro Silkeborg (DEN) vs. Vive Targi Kielce (POL)
Sunday, 17:00 hrs local times
First leg: 26:35
 After four points from their three home matches and the away victory at St. Petersburg the Danes are flying on the wings of success. Silkeborg are even confident enough to hope that they can be the first to beat group leaders from Kielce though the Poles have reached the Last 16 already by an optimum of 12 points.
If the host win – what would be a major sensation – they would already be confirmed for the Last 16, if additionally St. Petersburg and Chambéry lose. But Kielce are on a high flyer currently and have the better individual skills.
Another victory would at least mean that the distance before the chasing pack of Skopje and Velenje would not be smaller than four points before the last three rounds.
HC Metalurg Skopje (MKD) vs. Chambéry Savoie (FRA)
Saturday, 18:00 hrs local times
First leg: 33:30
Mathematically Chambéry are still in the race for the Last 16 despite six defeats in six matches, but the chance to make this sensation come true are nearly at zero. Regardless all other results the French runners-up would be out of the race if they will not win at Skopje. On the other hand, Metalurg are eager after the two unlucky defeats against top ranked Kielce. Being equal with Velenje currently, the Macedonians can march in step with the Slovenians to the knock-out stage, if both win their encounters. And especially on home ground anything else than a victory would be a major surprise.
Group D:
Pick Szeged (HUN) vs. HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb (CRO)
Saturday, 17:15 hrs local times
First leg: 27:30
The neighbour’s duel at Szeged is the most important match in Group D in this round. Both teams are separated only by one point after both had lost their respective matches against Barcelona and Berlin in the rounds 5 and 6. The only Zagreb victory in this season was the 30:27 against the Hungarians in Round 1, followed by a draw at Minsk. Szeged only took two points against Schaffhausen, but can overtake the Croatians if they win this highly decisive duel regarding the fourth spot for the Last 16.
FC Barcelona Intersport (ESP) vs. Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI)
Saturday, 16:15 hrs local times
First leg: 33:23
 Schaffhausen need a major sensation – a draw or even better a victory in Barcelona – to remain in the race for the Last 16, as the Swiss champions only have two points on their tally and though the current distance to the fourth place is only one point. But still Barca are the clear favourite after their 100 percent record of six victories in six matches.
Dinamo Minsk (BLR) vs. Füchse Berlin (GER)
Sunday, 17:30 hrs local times
First leg: 25:29
If Dinamo continue their highly successful series by another victory against Berlin, they only can mathematically miss the knock-out stage. The Belarusians have clearly improved since their opening victory in the German capital. In the previous rounds Minsk have taken two clear victories against Schaffhausen, while Berlin took four – closely reached – points against Zagreb. If Berlin win, they make another big step to consolidate their second rank in the table.
TEXT: Björn Pazen / br
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