10.10.2014, 08:20
Scandinavian derby and clash between group phase teams from last year

ROUND PREVIEW: After the last week's prelude Melsungen vs Toulouse the first leg of the Men's EHF Cup will continue with 28 teams in action.

Scandinavian derby and clash between group phase teams from last year

At least one of the participants from the EHF Cup Group Phase last season will have to leave the tournament already after Qualification Round 2 which also includes a Scandinavian derby.

Last season, Sportling Clube de Portugal and HC Sporta Hlohovec both reached the group phase of the Men's EHF Cup, and Sporting even reached the quarter-finals.

This season, one of those teams will not make it nearly that far, as they meet already in Qualification Round 2.

Saturday evening, the Pavilhao Multiusos de Odivelas will be the venue for the first meeting between the Portuguese team and their Slovakian visitors.

Skjern Håndbold also made it to the group phase last season, but the Danish team were not happy with their performance, only finishing third in their group.

They will obviously be eager to make it better this year, but so will their adversaries in this round, Bregenz Handball who only made it exactly to Qualification Round 2 last year.

Saturday evening, the Austrian team will be welcoming Skjern in the Handballarena Rieden-Vorkloster for the first leg of the internal tie between the two teams.

Neither Eskilstuna Guif nor SønderjyskE have been in the group phase before. In SønderjyskE's case, it will actually be their European debut, when the Danish team face the Swedish outfit in an entirely Scandinavian derby.

Which of the teams who has the best chance of making it at least one round further may be indicated when they meet for the first leg in the Eskilstuna Sporthall Saturday afternoon.

One team is already through to Round 3, as Kaustik Volgograd have won 20:0 on aggregate (two times 10:0) against HC Portovik who withdrew from the competition.

One further team for Round 3 will be found this weekend, as Elverum HH and Maccabi Rishon Lezion from Israel meet in Norway for a double header Saturday and Sunday.

This round contains three further double headers, all to take place next weekend.

Click here to see the overview of the first leg fixtures of the Men's EHF Cup Round 2

TEXT: Peter Bruun / br