01.11.2015, 12:17
Group B giants seek consistency in Round 3

GROUP B PREVIEW: All four teams have shown periods of brilliance and impotence at equal measure but one good half will not be enough for either of them in Round 3

Group B giants seek consistency in Round 3

The most balanced group’s first four games brought three draws as HC Podravka Vegeta, Fleury Loiret Handball, Thüringer HC and FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria all seek consistency. Fleury are looking for their first ever Champions League win at Podravka while Thüringer could break loose on top of Group B with a win against Ferencvaros.

Group B

Thüringer HC (GER) vs FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN)
Sunday 1 November, 14:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV

One thing is for sure in this clash of Women’s EHF Champions League heavyweights; both parties will take good care of how they start the game as a disastrous first half cost Ferencvaros a point at Fleury while Thüringer were trailing Podravka even at half-time in the last round.

However, if both teams continue where they left off, the enthusiastic German crowd are in for a great spectacle. Thüringer got their act together for the second half and proved they were the better team in Koprovnica while gritty Ferencvaros fought extremely hard to snatch a point in Orleans by a buzzer beater.

As previously sidelined players slowly start to get more time on the court, this match offers a unique chance to finally see the true colours of the German and the Hungarian champions. The clash in Nordhausen will almost certainly be an even encounter of the two Main Round contenders.

Shaking off bad periods, shown by both outfits in the two previous rounds will be key as this time there might not be a way back to the game after a lucklustre 10-minute period. 

Thüringer can rely on Romanian sensation Eliza Buseschi and Svenja Huber while Ferencvaros’s old guard Nerea Pena and Zita Szucsanszki are helped by the accurate finishing of seven-meters by young newcomer Luca Szekerczes.

HC Podravka Vegeta (CRO) vs Fleury Loiret Handball (FRA)
Sunday 1 November, 17:30 hrs local time, live on ehfTV

Croatian champions Podravka showed strength against Thüringer in the first half but the young outfit eventually went down against the accomplished German side. This weekend’s visitor Fleury Loiret also lack considerable Champions League routine but not quality.

The lack of Women’s EHF Champions League experience might have cost Fleury a point against Ferencvaros but for 45 minutes the French champions showed great skill and looked extremely confident, especially Alexandria Cabral Barbosa, who racked up 11 goals against FTC.

Podravka will have to work hard defensively to stop the heavy shooters of their visitors and also do something about the huge amount of penalties awarded against them (15 in two games). Fleury Loiret can not afford to let any more points slip from their hands, their draws against Thüringer and FTC can by justified but a point from Koprovnica would certainly cause an upset in Orleans.

TEXT: Bence Martha / ec