08.01.2016, 12:50
"We have a 10 per cent chance against Viborg," says Gabrielsen

ROUND PREVIEW: Glassverket coach not over-optimistic ahead of Scandinavian derby in the Cup Winners’ Cup

"We have a 10 per cent chance against Viborg," says Gabrielsen

Kenneth Gabrielsen, head coach at last season’s runners-up in Norway Glassverket, does not have high hopes before his team is taking on Danish Viborg HK in Drammenshallen Sunday evening for the first leg of the two teams’ tie in the Last 16 of the Women´s Cup Winners’ Cup.

“Viborg have an extremely strong team with a lot of experience in Europe.

“With a team built around the experienced Rikke Skov, they have international top players in nearly all positions, so I only see our chance to proceed to the quarter-final at 10 per cent,” Kenneth Gabrielsen tells eurohandball.com.

Earlier this season, Glassverket were in the Women’s EHF Champions League qualifiers, where they offered quite good resistance for large parts of the final against Györi Audi ETO KC.

“Our performance back then will not help us much this time, though. Several of our key players are injured, so we are in for an extremely tough challenge against Viborg,” expects Kenneth Gabrielsen.

If you ask Feri Kovacs, head coach by Hypo Niederösterreich, the odds are not better in his team’s away match against ruling EHF Cup champions Team Tvis Holstebro on Sunday afternoon.

“We are obvious underdogs in this match.

“Holstebro have two ruling World Champions in their team as well as three key players from the Swedish national team,” the coach told his club’s website.

“However, we are not going to give in, but we will try to surprise our opponents and maybe create the sensation and qualify for the quarter-finals,” added Kovacs.

In the previous round, GSK Ardesen made one of the most remarkable performances, as they sent the Danish top team Esbjerg out of the competition through a win by no less than nine goals in the second leg at home.

On Saturday afternoon, the Turkish team will get the chance to measure themselves against the winners of the EHF Cup from 2012 and 2014, Handball Club Lada.

With players such as Russian international Daria Dimitrieva, Irina Bliznova and Olga Akopian in the team, the Russian hosts will be a handful for Ardesen.

All Cup Winners' Cup Round 3 match details here.

TEXT: Peter Bruun / cor