20.02.2013, 03:32
Just six spots reserved in four pots

Barcelona and Kielce in Pot 1, Füchse in Pot 2, Atlético and Minsk in Pot 3 and Bjerringbro in Pot 4

Just six spots reserved in four pots

Only the last twelve matches of the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase during the upcoming days will answer the several remaining question marks before the Last 16 draw.

Just six out of sixteen teams know their exact pot position before the last round and there is still fierce competition for the last three play-off tickets.

In Pot 1 reserved for the group winners Vive Targi Kielce from Group C and FC Barcelona from Group D are confirmed. Füchse Berlin are the only secured team of Pot 2 while Atlético Madrid and Dinamo Minsk will enter the draw from Pot 3. Bjerringbro Silkeborg in Pot 4 have to wait for other three teams as seven candidates are still vying for the fourth positions in Group A, B and D.

The draw of the first knock-out stage on the way to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2013 will take place on Tuesday, 26 February, at 12:30 hrs local time in Vienna and it will be live streamed on ehfTV.com.

A fourth ranked team of the Group Phase will play the first match at home against a first ranked team except against the winner of its own group of the Group Phase.

A third ranked team of the Group Phase will play the first match at home against the second ranked team except against the second ranked team of its own group of the Group Phase.

There will be no protection from teams of the same country, what means that teams from Germany, Spain and Hungary can face their domestic rivals in the Last 16.

The first leg is scheduled for 13-17 March, the second leg will be played 20-24 March. The winning teams of the Last 16 qualify for the Quarter-finals.

Composition of pots for the draw of the VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 before Round 10:

Pot 1:
(HSV Hamburg or SG Flensburg-Handewitt or Chekhovski Medvedi)
(MKB Veszprém KC or THW Kiel)
Vive Targi Kielce
FC Barcelona

Pot 2:
(HSV Hamburg or SG Flensburg-Handewitt or Chekhovski Medvedi)
(MKB Veszprém KC or THW Kiel)
(Metalurg Skopje or Gorenje Velenje)
Füchse Berlin

Pot 3:
(HSV Hamburg or SG Flensburg-Handewitt or Chekhovski Medvedi)
Atlético Madrid
(Metalurg Skopje or Gorenje Velenje)
Dinamo Minsk

Pot 4:
(Montpellier Agglomération HB or Reale Ademar León)
(Celje Pivovarna Laško or Sävehof IK or HCM Constanta)
Bjerringbro-Silkeborg
(Pick Szeged or Kadetten Schaffhausen)

Further information
Read the preview of the group phase last round here and the regulations explanation here

TEXT: EHF / br