18.02.2014, 03:40
Final decisions in the final round

ROUND PREVIEW: Duel for final Last 16 spot between Zagreb and Zaporozhye, while Hamburg and Flensburg fight for the top of Group D

Final decisions in the final round

Almost everything in the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase has been decided after nine rounds. Only the final Last 16 participant from Group A and the remaining group winner in Group D will be decided.

However, eight of the 12 matches have relevance for the final ranking positions, which is crucial for the rest of the competition.

The Last 16 draw will take place in Vienna on Tuesday 25 February and will be broadcast live on ehfTV.com.

The four group winners will face a fourth ranked team, having the home right in the second leg. The second ranked teams will face a third ranked team and take the home right in the second leg.

No teams from the same group can be drawn in one Last16 pairing, but there is no country protection for teams from the same nations – but the only possible option of a game between two teams from the same league can contain the Danish sides KIF Kolding-Kobenhavn and Aalborg Handball.

The four German teams cannot face each other as they either finish first or second ranked, the each two Polish and Macedonian teams played in the same groups and the two Slovenian teams Celje (confirmed third ranked) and Velenje (third of fourth) will not have a domestic duel in the Last 16.

Nine nations will be represented by those 16 teams, which already have qualified or will qualify for the Last 16 – regardless if Zagreb or Zaporozhye take the last open spot in group A: Germany (four), Denmark, Poland, FYR Macedonia, Slovenia (two each), Spain, France, Hungary and Croatia or Ukraine.

Group A

The only open spot for the Last 16 will be decided in Group A. When the starting whistle in Zagreb is blown, the hosts will know exactly what they need, whether it is worth fighting for a draw or a victory or not at all.

If Zaporozhye (seven points) lose against Veszprem, Zagreb (six points) only need a draw to book their ticket for the knock-out stage after winning the direct encounter against the Ukrainian champions. If Zaporozhye tie, Zagreb need to win, if Zaporozhye win, the Ukrainians are through to the Last16 regardless the result in Zagreb.

The match of Rhein Neckar Löwen vs Celje has no relevance in the table, as the hosts are already confirmed runners-up and the Slovenian side will definitely finish this group ranked third.

Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) vs. Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO)
Thursday, 19:00 hrs. local time in St. Leon-Rot – reverse fixture: 28:25

HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) vs. MKB-MVM Veszprém (HUN)
Saturday, 17:00 hrs. local time in Kharkov – reverse fixture: 27:44

HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb (CRO) vs. St. Petersburg HC (RUS)
Saturday, 19:00 hrs. local time – reverse fixture: 35:24

Group B

While the match Kiel (confirmed group winner) vs. Porto (confirmed fifth place) is something of a friendly, the two remaining fixtures decide the positions two and three. If KIF Kolding-Kobenhavn (11 points) at least tie against already eliminated team of Dunkerque, they secure the second spot.

If the Danish side lose and Kielce (10 points) beat Plock in the ehfTV.com Match of the Week, the new team of Talant Dujshebaev finish second. If KIF and Kielce are equal on points, Kolding-Kobenhavn are ahead after winning both matches between the sides. Plock will definitely finish in fourth position.

THW Kiel (GER) vs. FC Porto Vitalis (POR)
Wednesday, 19:30 hrs. local time – reverse fixture: 31:27

KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN) vs. Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA)
Sunday, 16:55 hrs. local time in Kolding  – reverse fixture: 20:18

KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL) vs. Orlen Wisla Plock (POL)
Sunday, 19:00 hrs. local time – reverse fixture: 30:28

Group C

For PSG Handball (11 points) a draw against Vardar is enough to secure second position below group winners FC Barcelona. Metalurg (10 points) can only finish second if they beat the unbeaten team of Barcelona and their local rivals Vardar win at Paris – in this constellation the French champions would only finish fourth below the two Macedonian sides.

If Vardar and Metalurg lose their matches, Metalurg finish third ranked after winning the direct encounter against Vardar. The match Wacker vs. Minsk will be purely a match for pride, as both are out of the race for the knock-out stage.

PSG Handball (FRA) vs. HC Vardar – Skopje (MKD)
Saturday, 18:00 hrs. local time  – reverse fixture: 24:24

Wacker Thun (SUI) vs. HC Dinamo Minsk (BLR)
Sunday, 17:30 hrs. local time in Bern  – reverse fixture: 20:27

HC Metalurg (MKD) vs. FC Barcelona (ESP)
Sunday, 18:00 hrs. local time – reverse fixture: 17:35

Group D

Hamburg (16 points) need at least a draw to secure top spot in the group, while Flensburg only can top the group if they win at Velenje and Hamburg lose against Aalborg.

If the Danish and the Slovenian sides (both on 8 points) end on level points, Aalborg are ahead after winning the direct encounter by the higher number of away goals. However, if Naturhouse La Rioja joins them on eight points, Velenje will go third and Aalborg fourth. The match of La Rioja (6 points) and Halmstadt (1 point) will influence the teams in third and fourth, as mentioned above, but will not change their own final ranking.

Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) vs. HK DROTT Halmstad (SWE)
Thursday, 19:30 hrs. local time  in Logrono  – reverse fixture: 35:35

RK Gorenje Velenje (SLO) vs. SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)
Saturday, 20:30  hrs. local time– reverse fixture: 31:35

HSV Hamburg (GER) vs. Aalborg Handball (DEN)
Sunday, 14:15 hrs. local time  – reverse fixture: 28:26

TEXT: Björn Pazen / cor