20.02.2015, 10:20
Jostling for position in Group B

GROUP B PREVIEW: Second and third position still at stake in the final round of matches

Jostling for position in Group B

FC Barcelona secured first place in Group B of the VELUX EHF Champions League thanks to their 33:27 home win against KIF Kolding Kobenhavn on Sunday.

Although it has been known for quite some time which teams will proceed to the Last 16, there is still plenty to be decided. Second and third place are still at stake this Sunday.

VELUX EHF Champions League Group B

Besiktas MOGAZ HT (TUR) vs FC Barcelona (ESP)
Saturday 21 February, 19:15 hrs local time live on ehfTV

Barcelona secured the group win through their 33:27 win against Kolding Kobenhavn on Sunday, leavingthe Spanish top team with only pride to play for in Istanbul on Saturday night.

There is no doubt, however, that Barcelona will do everything to finish the group phase in style and live up to their status as favourites.

Besiktas have lost their chance to qualify for the knockout stages long ago, but the Turkish champions still have the chance to avoid finishing last in the group and they will be keen on at least finishing their first group phase campaign by making a good impression on the 7-8,000 expected fans.

KIF Kolding Kobenhavn (DEN) vs Alingsas HK (SWE)
Sunday 22 February, 16:50 hrs local time

KIF saw their hopes of winning the group fall by the wayside with the defeat in Barcelona, but are determined to at least take second position, which will give them a third-placed team in the Last 16 and the second leg on home court.

The Danish champions have their fate in their own hands. A home win against the Swedish champions, who have long been out of contention for the Last 16, will secure KIF second position in their group for the second year in succession.

All Alingsas have at stake, is prestige and keeping Besiktas behind them in the battle to avoid the group’s wooden spoon.

Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)
Sunday 22 February, 19:30 hrs local time - ehfTV Match of the Week

Unlike the two other games in the group, this is an encounter in which both teams have something at stake.

Flensburg can still take the second place from KIF Kolding Kobenhavn, if the Danish champions stumble against Alingsas, but the defending champions can also lose the third place.

Lying just one point behind both Flensburg and Kolding, Wisla Plock could just two places with a win in the Orlen Arena.

When the two teams enter the court Sunday evening, they will obviously know the outcome of the match in Kolding earlier that day.

TEXT: Peter Bruun / cor