Buducnost and Bucuresti aim to get back to winning ways
As CSM Bucuresti snatched a very important point last Sunday in Moraca, after an entertaining draw, no miracle can happen in Group D.
Buducnost, the Romanian champions and Savehof are the teams who will proceed to the next round, as MKS Selgros Lublin is eliminated.
There are still four matches to be played and Buducnost and Bucuresti will go for the win in both of them to assure the points for the next phase.
MKS Selgros Lublin (POL) vs CSM Bucuresti (ROU)
Friday 13 November, 19:00 local hrs, live on ehfTV.com
There are more than two and a half years since Buducnost have lost in their Moraca Hall. Cristina Neagu or Katarina Bulatovic were not part of the Montenegrin powerhouse’s roster, as Gyor was leaving victorious, 22:21.
However, the times have changed and Buducnost managed a 14-game winning streak on their home court.
No team could come close of beating Buducnost. But the ambition and sheer desire was enough for CSM Bucuresti to test the current title holders’ to the limit. The newbies led almost the entire game, but Buducnost showed their class and came back to snatch a point.
“It was a huge result for us and that motivates us even further. The girls were amazing and gave their all on the court”, said Kim Rasmussen, CSM’s coach.
But the Romanian side had little time to rest after Sunday’s game. CSM flew back to Bucharest on Monday, just to leave again for Cluj-Napoca, where they disposed of Universitatea Alexandrion, 27:20, on Tuesday.
It is no rest for the wicked, however, as CSM will play Polish champions, MKS Selgros Lublin, on Friday.
With the second worst goal difference, and the third worst attack and defence in terms of goals, Lublin has no points and no chance to proceed to the next round.
But it does not mean that Lublin will not test Bucuresti and Rasmussen, who is the Polish national’s team coach.
“We know they are a good team and can inflict damage if not treated professionally. We are going there for the win”, concluded Rasmussen.
IK Sävehof (SWE) vs Buducnost (MNE)
Sunday, 15 November, 17:00 local hrs, live on ehfTV.com
With the youngest team in the competition, Sävehof shocked MKS Selgros Lublin in both games and won convincingly, earning a main round berth for the third season in a row.
This means, however, that Buducnost will come to Sweden at full strength, after losing a point in one of the season’s most exciting games, a draw against CSM Bucuresti.
“There are days in our career that the game does not pan out as we wish. But we should not live in the past and we are already thinking about the future,” said Cristina Neagu, after a disappointing outing, with only four goals from nine shots.
Buducnost mounted a comeback in the last 15 minutes and managed to save their unbeaten streak in the European premium competition, which stands now at 20 games.
The guests will be heavily favoured in Sunday’s game, after an exciting 33:20 win against the Swedish side on their home court, in the first game of the group.
The Swedish side are getting better and better and the wins against Lublin will have surely boosted their morale.
But Buducnost’s experience, depth, their stellar 9-meter line and stout defence are the main reasons that the current champions should extend their streak.
TEXT: Adrian Costeiu / br
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