12.02.2016, 06:40
Bjerringbro-Silkeborg look forward to top match

BACK TO NANTES: Danish side face St. Raphael Var Handball on Sunday and are expecting a true challenge

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg look forward to top match

Both Bjerringbro-Silkeborg and St. Raphael Var Handball are setting themselves up for their first international game since 2013, when the Danish and the French side face each other in the EHF Cup Group C.

The hosts of Bjerringbro-Silkeborg look forward to their comeback on the European handball scene. It means a lot to the club to play in the EHF Cup and they expect a true battle against St. Raphael on Sunday in JYSK Arena in Silkeborg.

“We are happy to present a top European match on our home court for the first time in a couple of years. We look forward to the challenge St. Raphael bring and we will need a top performance to win a match like the one on Sunday,” Peter Bredsdorff-Larsen, the head coach of Bjerringbro-Silkeborg said.

A win will bring smiles to Bjerringbro-Silkeborg


Bredsdorff-Larsen expresses his respect for the French opponent and expects a difficult game:

“St. Raphael will challenge us in several areas, which we are not used to being challenged in the Danish league.

"We face a very experienced French team, where many of the players have played together for many years, and are very skilled when in one-against-one situations,” Bredsdorff-Larsen commented.

“It is a European top team with top class players in every position – even two top class players in most positions. We expect a true challenge in our first match.”

“The thought of staring out the EHF Cup Group Phase with a win against St. Raphael makes us smile. It would be a great performance and we hope that we can play on this level,” the coach stated.

Exciting match for St. Raphael’s Lynggaard



One of the French side's players is the Danish international Alexander Lynggaard.

He plays his first match in Denmark since he left Nordsjælland Handbold for St. Raphael in 2013 and he has had his eyes on this match since he saw the draw.

“It is exciting to play in Denmark and I have been looking forward to that since I saw our opponents in the group. I hoped that we would draw a Danish team, so I am happy that it happened,” Alexander Lynggaard commented.

The Danish pivot expects a tough game in Denmark and thinks it will be important to be able to break though the opponent’s defense.

“Bjerringbro-Silkeborg are sharing first place in the Danish league, so of course they are a strong opponent.

"There are many current and former internationals and the quality of their squad is great. They have many experienced players who have played in the Champions League and in the best leagues around the world,” Lynggaard said.

“I think that the team, who first finds the way through the opponent’s defense, has a good chance of winning the game. Both teams have a strong defense and are great on the counter, so I think it will be decisive, which team finds the right offensive solutions first.”

Lynggaard will be coming into the game in high spirts after he scored one of the most amazing buzzer-beating goals ever scored; the Dane threw in this rocket with just three seconds left on the clock in their last domestic legaue game against Montpellier - they won the tie 28:27.

L'incroyable but victorieux du milieu de... von LNH

The game between Bjerringbro-Silkeborg and St. Raphael Var Handball throws off at 18.00 CET and will be live at TV3 Sport 1 Denmark and on ehfTV.com

TEXT: Jonas Løytved / bc