03.10.2014, 05:08
Kielce host the derby match in Group D this weekend

GROUP D PREVIEW: Aalborg are looking to confirm their opening victory against Kadetten Schaffhausen. Who will bounce back in Ukraine, Motor or Dunkerque?

Kielce host the derby match in Group D this weekend

The group favourites Vive Targi Kielce are expecting to continue their unbeaten run this season against Pick Szeged, who nearly dropped points against Motor in the opening round.

The Ukraininan team will welcome Dunkerque in Kiev in a match of redemption for both. Kadetten Schaffhausen travel to Denmark, where Aalborg will be looking to confirm their first round victory at the French champions with an another successful performance.

KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) vs MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN)
Saturday 4 October, 14:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

Szeged travel to Poland hoping to upset the favourites of the group. The teams have met in the Last 16 two seasons ago with Kielce coming out on top on aggregate score.

The Hungarian outfit will have to improve their scoring realisation in order to surprise Talant Dujshebaev and his charges. Kielce are cruising at the moment, having overpowered Kadetten on Matchday 1 and later having comfortably beat Azoty-Puławy (35:24) and Kwidzyn (36:27) in the Polish league.

Their back line is a balanced mix of imagination (Zorman) and execution (Buntic, Jurecki, Bielecki). Add to that the agility of Reichmann and Cupic on the wings and it becomes clear that Szeged will have an extremely tough task in front of the partisan home crowd.

HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) vs Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA)
Saturday 5 October, 18:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

Both teams, who face each other for he first time in VELUX EHF Champions League history, have been left empty-handed at the opening of the season, but their respective defeats were quite different.

While Motor were only a goal away in Hungary after an inspiring second half performance, the French champions succumbed to Aalborg after a 12 minute dry spell in that same period. Motor are playing in Kiev due to safety issues, and home court advantage is certainly diminished, but they have Richard Stochl in goal.

Should he repeat his feat from Szeged, Dunkerque could again be hitting a wall. On the other hand, surely coach Cazal has seen how difficult it was for the Motor back line against a deep 5-1 defence that caused the Ukraininan team to give up the points in Hungary.

Aalborg Handball (DEN) vs Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI)
Sunday 5 October, 16:50 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

Aalborgs coach Jesper Jensen was very happy after his players pulled an away win at the French champions in the opening round, but the road out of the group stage has of course not been paved yet.

Ole Erevik in goal was in fantastic form and Aalborg's defence should ease his burden a bit more against feisty Kadetten Schaffhausen.

The visitors from Switzerland quickly bounced back from the home defeat against Kielce with a league victory in Bern (31:24).

Nikola Portner accumulated 19 saves and he should be once more one of the key players for Kadetten in Denmark, who have fond memories of their last trip to Aalborg. Their group stage match in 2010 had ended in a 30:30 tie.

TEXT: Grega Sever / br