26.11.2013, 01:40
German quartet can march ahead in step

ROUND PREVIEW: Up to eight teams might clinch their berth for the Last 16 in the ultimate round of the VELUX EHF Champions League before the EHF EURO break.

German quartet can march ahead in step

From Wednesday to Sunday Round 7 will finish the story of the VELUX EHF Champions League in 2013. Afterwards a break for the EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark will start in the flagship competition, which then will continue from 5 February 2014.

All in all eight clubs have the chance to earn a “Christmas present” before Christmas by clinching the berth for the knock-out stage. In Group B even all four participants might be confirmed under certain circumstances.

The last ehfTV.com Match of the Week in 2013 is a real classic, as two traditional arch rivals clash in Celje.

Group A:
Only one more team can follow MKB-MVM Veszprém to the Last 16 already before the break: Rhein Neckar Löwen. If the German side win at Zaporozhye and Zagreb do not win at Celje, Löwen are in the knock-out stage.

HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) vs. Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER)
Thursday, 19:30 hrs. local time at Kharkov, live one ehfTV.com
- first leg: 31:31

It was one of the biggest surprise of Round 1,when Motor (fully deserved) took a draw at Löwen. But afterwards the German side have recovered and took four straight wins to bring them in a perfect position for reaching the Last 16.

After an intermediate downswing Zaporozhye are also back on track with seven points on their account. If the host win, they are equal with Löwen – and would have won the direct encounter. While Löwen count on their fast break experts, Zaporozhye hope for goals of their back court snipers.

MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN) vs. St. Petersburg HC (RUS)
Saturday, 18:15 hrs. local time, live on ehfTV.com
- first leg: 28:15

The base could not be more different: The only team with the optimum of 12 points on their account face one of three teams, which still wait for their first point. The chance for St. Petersburg to be successful is extremely low, though the Russians have stood brave twice against Zaporozhye. It will rather be another lesson for the young Russian team, though Veszprém again have to replace their “spiritus rector” Laszlo Nagy like in the close win against Celje.

Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO) vs. HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb (CRO)
Saturday, 20:30 hrs. local time, live on ehfTV.com - first leg: 21:24

The ehfTV.com Match of the Week (with live commentary of Tom o’Brannaghain) will be the clash of two regional titans, which are hardly fighting side by side for the qualification for the Last 16. After Zagreb had won the first leg, Celje took both points at Ukraine – and both have beaten St. Petersburg.

Being equal by four points this duel can already be path-finding for the composition of the Last 16, as Zagreb and Celje are already three points below Zaporozhye. But both arch rivals made a perfect promotion for this battle – despite defeats. Celje were highly close to be the first team to take the points from Veszprém, while Zagreb were mostly equal with Löwen.

Group B:
Though no team of this group have clinched their berth for the Last 16 after Round 6 by now, all four participants for the knock-out stage can already be confirmed on Sunday. If KIF, Kielce and Plock win their respective matches this trio and THW Kiel are through. If KIF beat Porto, Kiel are already through regardless their result against Plock – and if KIF, Kiel and Kielce win, those three are already confirmed participants of the Last 16.

FC Porto Vitalis (POR) vs. KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN)
Saturday, 16:00 hrs. local time, live on ehfTV.com - first leg: 20:25

KIF are sailing on a wave of success after their double-strike against Kielce despite missing five key players. So the Danes will be boosted by confidence when hosting Porto. Only theoretical they can miss the knock-out stage, and an expected victory could lift them to the top of the group for the winter break in terms of goal difference. As mentioned, Porto might already be eliminated from the Last 16 in case of a defeat.

Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA) vs. KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL)
Saturday, 18:00 hrs. local time, live on ehfTV.com
- first leg: 23:33

Will Dunkerque have to feel Kielce’s lash? After the two close defeats against Kolding-Kobenhavn the Polish champion will arrive full of adrenaline at France to finish the year 2013 successful. Dunkerque played well at their last match at Kiel, and still hope for their first ever point in the VELUX EHF Champions League. A fact, which might grant wings to the French.

THW Kiel (GER) vs. Orlen Wisla Plock (POL)
Sunday, 14:30 hrs. local time, live on ehfTV.com
- first leg: 34:33

In their second straight home match in Champions League, THW Kiel are the clear favourite, though the first leg was only decided by a final hammer of Filip Jicha. THW might be specially motivated on international ground, after losing the first position in Bundesliga due to the defeat at Flensburg.

Plock have nothing to lose after their two clear wins against Porto – but having in mind that a victory at Sparkassenarena can clinch them the berth for the Last 16 might be an extra motivation.

Group C:
If Minsk do not beat PSG Handball, Barcelona are already part of the Last 16, regardless their result against Vardar. No other team of this Group can definitely qualify for the knock-out stage in this group in Round 7, but in case of a Minsk defeat and a Metalurg win against Wacker, the Macedonians need only one more point from three matches.

FC Barcelona (ESP) vs. HC Vardar – Skopje (MKD)
Saturday, 16:15 hrs. local time, live on ehfTV.com
- first leg: 29:29

A draw is enough to march ahead to the next stage – but looking upon the previous results, Barcelona should be out for more than a draw. Especially, as Vardar were the only team by now to take a point from the VELUX EHF FINAL4 contender. But Barcelona is not Skopje –home right is different to away matches – as proofed by the 35:17 Barca win against Vardar’s rival Metalurg. And the Macedonians will have to show a clearly better performance like in the second leg of the city duel to have something like a chance at Palau Blaugrana.

HC Dinamo Minsk (BLR) vs. PSG Handball (FRA)
Sunday, 17:00 hrs. local time, live on ehfTV.com
- first leg: 30:34

Are Minsk able to manage a huge surprise? In the first leg in Paris the team of coach Boris Denic were highly close to take at least a draw from the French champions – but now the ways have split. With seven points on their account after two easy-going wins against Thun, Paris are on the fast lane, but Dinamo are a completely different opponent compared to the Swiss champions. Despite the two 10-goal-defeats against Barca, Minsk have the abilities to break the PSG series.

HC Metalurg (MKD) vs. Wacker Thun (SUI)
Sunday, 18:00 hrs. local time, live one ehfTV.com
- first leg: 23:22

The first leg was something like a warm-up for Metalurg and proofed what might happen, if underestimating an opponent. After the close opening victory both teams went separated ways – Wacker still waiting for their first ever Champions League point and Metalurg ranking on second position even ahead of Paris. Metalurg have beaten Paris, Minsk and Vardar on home ground – showing the strength of the Cervar team, which is boosted by the lesson they had taught to their city rivals Vardar on Sunday.


Group D:
If HSV Hamburg (against La Rioja) and SG Flensburg-Handewitt (at Aalborg) win their respective matches, both are qualified for the Last 16.

HK DROTT Halmstad (SWE) vs. RK Gorenje Velenje (SLO)
Wednesday, 18:00 hrs. local time, live on ehfTV.com
- first leg: 33:35

If there shall be a theoretical chance for reaching the Last 16, Halmstad must take their first victory. In case of a defeat the dream for marching among the 16 best European teams is already over for the Swedish champions, currently having one point on their account. Velenje hope to make another step towards the knock-out stage after winning the direct encounter against their big rivals La Rioja.

HSV Hamburg (GER) vs. Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP)
Wednesday, 19:15 hrs. local time, live on ehfTV.com
- first leg: 33:24

A draw is already enough for Hamburg to clinch their berth for the Last 16, but a victory would enable Flensburg to follow them four days later. After losing the second leg at Flensburg after a weak final stage, the defending Champions League champions want to conciliate their fans on Wednesday.

In the first leg La Rioja were chanceless, but up to now the Spanish team settled in the competition, like shown in the draw against Flensburg. But three of their currently four points La Rioja took on home ground – and Hamburg did not give one single point from their hands in their arena.

Aalborg Handball (DEN) vs. SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)
Sunday, 16:00 hrs. local time, live on ehfTV.com
- first leg: 27:31

More than 200 fans of SG Flensburg-Handewitt will cross the German-Danish border to support their team at Aalborg. And if they (and before Hamburg) win, SG are among the best 16 teams of this competition. Flensburg are boosted by their last three of four results.

In Bundesliga and Champions League they beat Hamburg twice by three occasions, and on Sunday evening they dethroned THW Kiel as Bundesliga table topper by a clear win on home ground. Aalborg had no problems in beating Halmstad twice to consolidate the currently third position below the German duo.

But in case of a victory they would pass Flensburg to be on the second spot. Announced by Danish media, Aalborg might have found the successor for coach Nikolaj Jacobsen, who will transfer to Rhein Neckar Löwen after this season – in Jesper Jensen.

TEXT: Björn Pazen / br