02.06.2013, 02:08
Preview 3/4 Place: KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL) vs. THW Kiel (GER)

Newcomers face 2012 champions in penultimate game of VELUX EHF Champions League season

Preview 3/4 Place: KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL) vs. THW Kiel (GER)

How quickly can the last year's winners regroup after their semi-final disaster against Hamburg? This is the main question before THW Kiel take on Vive Targi Kielce in the third place match of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 on today (June 2) at 15:15 (local time). Not only Alfred Gislason's squad have to swallow a bitter pill, but also a few thousand 'zebra' fans in the LANXESS arena.

VELUX EHF Champions League 3/4 Place Match
Vive Targi Kielce (POL) vs. THW Kiel (GER)
LANXESS arena, Cologne, Germany
Sunday 2 June - 15:15 (local time)

On the other hand the newcomers of the final tournament should find new motivation much more easily as they gave FC Barcelona Intersport a good run for their money in the first semi-final and only lost their rhythm against the European heavyweights ten minutes before the final whistle.

History speaks for Kiel though as the match in Cologne will be their fifth direct encounter in European club competitions against Kielce and with three victories. In their first match in February 1998 Kielce beat the then-emerging German powerhouse 28:27 in the Men's EHF Cup quarter-finals with the current manager of Vive, Radoslaw Wasiak, scoring five goals.

However, the Polish club lost in the rematch in Kiel and were also defeated in both matches against Kiel in 2010/11 EHF Champions League campaign.

In addition, Kielce won only four out of 17 European matches against German teams, while Kiel suffered only two defeats in eight duels with Polish sides.

TEXT: Bjorn Pazen/amc