12.02.2015, 05:50
Györ can make quarter-final berth complete

GROUP 2 PREVIEW: Home win against Metz will make Györi Audi ETO KC sure of quarter-final.

Györ can make quarter-final berth complete

Back-to-back Women's EHF Champions League winners Györi Audi ETO can remove the last bit of doubt about their participation in the quarter-finals with a home win against Metz Handball Saturday. The French champions, on the other hand, are in need of points in Group 2.

So are IK Sävehof who take on Larvik in a Scandinavian derby Friday, where Larvik, already in the quarter-finals, will be trying to secure their first place in the group.

Viborg HK and HCM Baia Mare are in more or less desperate need of points before their meeting in Viborg Stadionhal Sunday afternoon.

GROUP 2

IK Sävehof (SWE) vs Larvik (NOR)
Friday 13 February, 19.00 local time, live on ehfTV.com

Already having qualified for the quarter-finals last weekend, Larvik have least at stake in the Scandinavian derby in Partillebohallen by Gothenburg.

Still, the Norwegian team also have the group win to fight for, as the first place will lead to a potentially easier opponent in the quarter-final than second position will.

Being two points ahead of Györ and so far better internally than their Hungarian rivals, Larvik can take a major step towards the group win through a victory in Sweden.

Sävehof´s quarter-final dreams got new life through the 25:22 win in Metz last weekend, but with only three points so far, the Swedish record champions are in need of more points to keep those dreams alive, but those points can be hard to get against Larvik.

In spite of playing away, Larvik are still clear favourites in this neighbour duel.

Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN) vs Metz Handball (FRA)
Saturday 14 February, 17.15 hours local time, live on ehfTV.com

A win in the Audi Arena of Györ will make it all clear regarding the quarter-finals for the Women's EHF Champions League winners from 2013 and 2014.

Apart from securing their position among the last eight in the tournament, Györ will also keep up with Larvik in the race for the group win in case of a victory which they are favourites to get.

Metz have got a bad start to the main round, losing 27:26 away to Viborg and 25:22 at home to Sävehof.

Being fourth, the French champions are still in position for the quarter-final, but they are under pressure from behind from Sävehof as well as from Baia Mare, so the ladies in the skirts will need to start collecting points rather soon.

However, it is a big question if the points will start coming in Hungary on Saturday.

Viborg HK (DEN) vs HCM Baia Mare (ROU)
Sunday 15 February, 15.10 hours local time, live on ehfTV.com

Due to injury and illness, Viborg could only send eight players, two of which being goalkeepers, on for their away match against Larvik on Saturday.
A disqualification for right wing Louise Lyksborg even forced goalkeeper Rikke Poulsen to play the right wing for the last 17 minutes.

Poulsen did score a spectacular goal from the right wing position as Viborg lost 31:18, but for the Sunday match against Baia Mare, she is expected to be back in her usual position in goal, as Viborg expect to have more than eight players fit this time.

This will probably be necessary in order to fight off Baia Mare. At the moment, Viborg are third with five points and well on their way towards the quarter-finals, but with Baia Mare on two points in sixth position, things can get very tight all of a sudden in case of an away win for the Romanian champions.

TEXT: Peter Bruun / br