17.05.2015, 10:10
A debut duel for the third rank

MATCH PREVIEW: Velenje and Skjern are aiming for a successful happy-end in Berlin

A debut duel for the third rank

To face for the third place in any final four tournament is always a matter of motivation, power and will – so Skjern Handbold and Gorenje Velenje want to prove those three keys on Sunday in Berlin, when they lock their horns for the third position of the 2015 EHF Cup Finals.

EHF Cup Finals, 3/4 placement match:
Gorenje Velenje (SLO) vs Skjern Handbold (DEN)
Sunday, 14:30 hrs. local time, live on www.ehfTV.com

These two teams have never faced each other in any competition as they meet to determine the team which will finish on the third place. Skjern and Velenje gave their German opponents Hamburg and Berlin in their semi-finals on Saturday a great fight, but at the end they were unable to spoil the all-German final.

Both coaches mentioned that they have to get rid of thoughts about disappointment to finish the EHF Cup Finals successfully.

“We have to get our heads free, relax and then go for the victory,” said Gorenje coach Gregor Cvijic.

Skjern team captain Henrik Möllgaard hopes to make their fans happy: “They came such a long way to Berlin and they supported us in a great way. On Sunday we have to pay-back to them.”

From the tactical point of view, Gorenje play more Scandinavian with counter-attacks than Skjern, which count more on powerful shooters and defence.

No matter what the result of this match will be, Velenje playmaker Stas Skube will be probably able to find little solace in an individual achievement as he is with 77 goals all but confirmed as the EHF Cup top scorer leading by 18 goals ahead of Kentin Mahe from Hamburg.

TEXT: Björn Pazen / br