Round 6 starts with reverse ties
All teams in Group D have now met each other once, and this weekend the reverse matches of these games take place.
HC Motor Zaporozhye are trying to hold on to second position at home against Elverum, while Kadetten Schaffhausen are chasing their last hope of a playoff berth away against top team Skjern; HC Metalurg are in need of a win at home against Baia Mare.
GROUP D
HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) vs Elverum Handball Herrer (NOR)
Saturday 24 October, 18:30 local time, live on ehfTV
Elverum were leading for great parts of the match, when the two teams met in Terningen Arena in Elverum.
However, Motor managed to take both points with thanks to a narrow 30:29 win.
When the teams meet again in Brovary in the outskirts of Kiev, Motor are in need of two further points in order to maintain their current second position in the group and to keep in touching distance of Skjern Handbold, who are two points ahead of them in first position.
Elverum have only three points so far, and it is last call for the Norwegian team if they plan on qualifying for the playoffs.
“There is no doubt, that our home match against Motor was our best performance so far this season, and we hope to top that in the Ukraine, but of course we realise that it will be a very tough game.
“However, we are honoured to be the first Norwegian team in the Champions League Group Phase in six years, and we will do our utmost to collect some more points in the competition,” Elverum coach Mikael Apelgren tells ehfCL.com.
Skjern Handbold (DEN) vs Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI)
Sunday 25 October, 16:50 local time, live on ehfTV
Skjern are number one in the Champions League group, while Schaffhausen are number one in the Swiss league, despite a 26:24 away defeat to EHF Cup participants TSV St. Otmar St. Gallen.
“Maybe the players were thinking about Sunday match,” Kadetten manager Gabor Vass told his club’s website, where he also admits that an improvement will be necessary for the match in Skjern.
He is probably right, as Skjern won the first meeting between the two teams clearly 30:24 in Schaffhausen.
“However, that result is a bit deceptive, as it was only in the last minutes that we pulled away - mainly due to some fantastic saves by Magnus Dahl,” Skjern coach Ole Norgaard tells ehfCL.com.
“There is no doubt, though, that the home ground is so important in this group, that a win for us this weekend is a simple must,” adds the coach.
HC Metalurg (MKD) vs HCM Baia Mare (ROU)
Sunday 25, October 17:30 local time, live on ehfTV
In spite of several three and four-goal leads along the way, Baia Mare ended by only winning 21:20, when the two teams met in Romania.
With six points, Baia Mare will need a further win in order to stay in touching distance, while Metalurg, who only have four points, are close to being in desperate need of a win to still have a chance to reach the playoffs.
Of course, Metalurg coach Lino Cervar is aware of this:
“After the two consecutive narrow defeats, this game is extremely important for us and for our self-confidence.
“We are aware that it will be another tough game for us, and that is what we prepare for.
“I hope we will extend our winning streak at home and that we will come back in the calculation of taking one of the two first places in the group.
“I also hope that we will not repeat the mistakes that we made in the last duel with Romanians. That it will be the key factor in the outcome of the match which I hope will be in our favor,” says Lino Cervar.
TEXT: Peter Bruun / bc
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