20.02.2015, 08:50
Quarter-final lineup to be completed

ROUND PREVIEW: The remaining four spots for the quarter-finals of the Men’s Challenge Cup will be contested this weekend

Quarter-final lineup to be completed

With four teams already having qualified for the Men's Challenge Cup Quarter-finals last weekend, the remaining half of the places among the last eight are to be filled out this weekend by one double-header and three second leg matches.

The only double-header this weekend is taking place in Finland, where Käsipalloseura Riihimäen Cocks host H.C. Holon from Israel in two Last 16 matches.

The first leg will be played on Saturday afternoon and the return match will take place the following day.

Having comfortably won the first leg at home 42:27, Liberty Seguros ABS/UMinho from Portugal are virtually through to the next round before visiting the Czech Republic for the return match against HC Dukla Praha on Sunday afternoon.

KS Azoty-Pulawy also have a great chance to proceed to the quarter-finals. The Polish team won their first match away against HC Vise BM 32:30, putting them in the position as favourites when their Belgian adversaries are visiting Pulawy for Saturday’s second leg.

Things look considerably more open in the last tie, in which ZTR Zaporozhye welcome Pölva Serviti for the second leg on Saturday in the late afternoon.

Pölva Serviti won the first leg at home in Estonia 24:21, so the Ukrainian hosts will have to use their home advantage to its full potential in order to close down the three-goal deficit.

The four winners will join Ramat Hashron HC, Stord Handball, S.L. Benfica and Handball club Odorhei in the next round.

TEXT: Peter Bruun / cor