08.11.2013, 09:07
Third round match with 7,500 spectators

PREVIEW: Team Tvis Holstebro are expecting to play their first match against Belarusian champions in fron of the capacity crowd in the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning as the first leg matches of the Women's Cup Winners' Cup Round 3 will be played over the upcoming weekend.

Third round match with 7,500 spectators

Usually, one would probably not expect 7,500 spectators for a match in the third round of the Women's Cup Winners' Cup, but nevertheless, this is the expected attendance when Team Tvis Holstebro receive BNTU BelAZ Minsk Reg.

Last season, Team Tvis Holstebro won the Women's EHF Cup, this season they are trying their skills in the Cup Winners' Cup, and they certainly enter the tournament in style. More than 5,000 tickets have been sold in advance for the first leg of this weekend´s double-header against BNTU BelAZ Minsk Reg. who failed to qualify for the EHF Champions League this season, just like the Danes.

And a total attendance of 7,500 is expected for the match in Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning, where the match will be part of a double event, with the match in the Danish men's league between Skjern Håndbold and Team Tvis Holstebro as the other part of the entertainment. Sunday the second leg will then take place on Holstebro's usual home ground in the Gråkjær Arena.

Viborg enter the run for their maiden EHF Cup trophy

Three times have Viborg HK won the European top flight, and three times the EHF Cup – but never the Cup Winners' Cup. After having digested the disappointment from not qualifying for the EHF Champions League Group Matches this season, the ambitious Danes are determined to take the next European trophy they do not have yet.

The first step is to be taken in Serbia Saturday evening, when Viborg face ZORK Jagodina in the Sportska hala JASSA in Jagodina. The Serbian team qualified for this meeting with two big wins against Union Korneuburg from Austria.

Zvezda eager to shine again

Just like Viborg, Zvezda Zvenigorod have also felt the triumph of lifting the EHF Champions League trophy, although only once, in 2008, the year after they won the EHF Cup. This season the Russian side is striving to fulfill their ambitions in the Cup Winners' Cup, where their first opponent is Mecalia Atletico Guardes from Spain. The first leg will start in the Sport hall Zvezda in the late afternoon hours Sunday.

Neither Byasen Trondheim nor LK Zug Handball managed to make it to the group of the Women's EHF Champions League from the qualification tournament earlier this season. However, Zug have managed to qualify for Round 3 of the Cup Winners' Cup, where Byasen are entering the tournament. This weekend, the two teams are deciding which one is to proceed to the round of the Last 16, when the Swiss ladies from Zug are visiting Norway for both matches.

Tertnes Bergen from Norway and Jomi Salerno from Italy are waiting until next weekend to decide their internal tie in a double-header in Salerno.

Further information

Find the complete overview of the Round 3 matches here

TEXT: Peter Bruun / br