19.03.2015, 04:20
Norwegian-Israeli encounter in Stord

ROUND PREVIEW: A double-header in Norway and three second legs of ongoing quarter-final tie will decide the semi-finalists of the Men's Challenge Cup.

Norwegian-Israeli encounter in Stord

While three of the four encounters in the quarter-finals of the Men's Challenge Cup will be decided in the second leg this weekend, Stord Sportsenter in the Norwegian town Stord will be the venue of a double-header between the local heroes from Stord Handball and Ramat Hashron HC from Israel.

The first match it throwing off already on Friday night at 20.30, with the second leg on Saturday afternoon.

The three remaining ties all have clear favourites, judging by the results in the first legs.

Handball club Odorhei receive ZTR Zaporozhye with an eight-goal lead from their 26:18 win on their visit to Ukraine last weekend, so anything else than a Romanian semi-final berth would be a substantial surprise ahead of the return game Sunday.

SL Benfica are also up with eight goals after winning 37:29 in Poland against KS Azoty-Pulawy. This obviously also makes the Portuguese team clear favourites before taking on the Polish team in Lisbon Saturday afternoon.

Portugal is very likely to be represented by two teams in the semi-finals, as Liberty Seguros ABC/UMinho won 27:22 away against a team, whose name the announcer in the Pavalho Flavio Sa Leite will probably not like: Käsipalloseura Riihimäen Cocks ry from Finland.

The second leg of that tie is commencing on Saturday afternoon at 16.00 local time.

Find all the fixtures of the Men's Challenge Cup Quarter-finals here

TEXT: Peter Bruun / br