21.07.2015, 12:50
Tough draws for Most, Höör and Mios

NEWS REPORT: The winners of the past three Challenge Cup seasons face stern tests in the new season of the Women's EHF Cup

Tough draws for Most, Höör and Mios

DHK Banik Most from the Czech Republic, H 65 Höör and Union Mios Biganos Begles have two things in common after the draw at the EHF Office in Vienna has determined all pairings for the first two playing rounds in the Women's EHF Cup.

They won the last three editions of the Challenge Cup and they all will face tough challenges in the early stage of the competition this season.

The 2013 Challenge Cup winners from Most might be considered favourites against Italy's Cassano Magnano in the Round 2, but if they live up to the expectations and proceed to the Round 3, they will face Dinamo-Sinara, the 2008 EHF Cup Winners and the participants of the last MVM EHF FINAL4.

Höör, who won the Challenge Cup one year later, are to lock horns with a French team Nantes Loire Atlantique HB, while the current Challenge Cup holders Union will meet Norwegian side Tertnes Bergen.

As Holstebro are playing in the Cup Winners' Cup in the 2015/16 season there will be a vaccant throne in the EHF Cup. In total there are 15 national champions and taking part in Round 2 and Round 3 and three former winners (1998 Dunaujvarosi KKA, 2008 Dinamo-Sinara, 2010 Randers HK) will also be back in action.

Dunaujvaros, who can also boast the EHF Champions League trophy from 1999, will play against the winner of the Round 2 match between Israeli champions HC Holon and Italian title holders Indeco Conversano. Randers will start their campaign in the Round 3 against the winners of the Round 2 Benelux derby encounter between HC Femina Vise from Belgium and the Dutch club Succes Schoonmak VOC Amsterdam.

In last nine years only one club (Itxako Navarra) could break the combined Russian-Danish hegemony in the EHF Cup as only teams from these two countries were taking trophies in turns.

Women's EHF Cup

Round 2

(playing dates - 1st leg: 17/18 October 2015, 2nd leg: 24/25  October 2015)

London GD Handball Club (GBR) vs O.F.N. Ionias (GRE)
HZRK Grude Autoherc (BIH) vs Fram (ISL)
RK Zagorje (SLO) vs A.C. Latsia Nicosia (CYP)
H.C. Holon (ISR) vs Indeco Conversano (ITA)
DHK Banik Most (CZE) vs Cassano Magnago (ITA)
Pogon Baltica Szczecin (POL) vs LC Brühl Handball (SUI)
IUVENTA Michalovce (SVK) vs  HC Standard (LUX)
SPONO Eagles (SUI) vs ACME-Zalgiris Kaunas (LTU)
KHF Kastrioti (KOS) vs Hubo Initia Hasselt (BEL)
ZRK Ilidza (BIH) vs Alavarium Love Tiles (POR)
HB Dudelange (LUX) vs WHC Zamet (CRO)
ZRK Naisa Nis (SRB) vs A.C. Loux Patras (GRE)
Galytchanka (UKR) vs KHF Prishtina (KOS)
Femina Vise (BEL) vs Succes Schoonmaak VOC Amsterdam (NED)

Round 3

(playing dates - 1st leg: 14/15 November 2015, 2nd leg: 21/22  November 2015)

Randers HK (DEN) vs Winner R2 Femina Vise/Succes
Muratpasa Belediye SK (TUR) vs Winner R2 Galytchanka/Prishtina
Siófok KC (HUN) vs Winner R2 Ilidza/Alavarium
Winner R2 Michalovce/Standard vs Balonmano Bera Bera (ESP)
Winner R2 Zagorje/Latsia vs HC Leipzig (GER)
Astrakhanochka (RUS) vs Winner R2 London GD/Ionias
Winner R2 Dudelange/Zamet vs HC Odense (DEN)
HBC Nimes (FRA) vs Winners R2 Kastrioti/Hubo
Winner R2 Naisa/Loux Patras vs TuS Metzingen (GER)
H.C.M. Roman (ROU) vs Winner R2 Grude/Fram
Winner R2 SPONO/Zalgiris vs Silkeborg-Voel KFUM (DEN)
Dinamo-Sinara (RUS) vs Winner R2 Most/Cassano
Tertnes Bergen (NOR) vs Union Mios Biganos-Begles (FRA)
Dunaujvarosi KKA (HUN) vs Winner R2 Holon/Conversano
Nantes Loire Atlantique HB (FRA) vs H 65 Höörs Handbollsklubb (SWE)
ASC Corona 2010 Brasov (ROU) vs Winner R2 Pogon/Brühl

Playing and draw dates of the Women's EHF Cup

TEXT: EHF / br