04.11.2016, 08:00
Krim chasing third straight win

GROUP D PREVIEW: After a poor start, RK Krim Mercator are chasing their third successive win in a group, where all four teams may be on four points after this weekend, though

Krim chasing third straight win

Round 4 in Group D see the 'return legs' of Round 3; interestingly enough if both matches this weekend end with home wins, all four teams will be on four points after four matches - leaving the group wide open.

• RK Krim Mercator are chasing their third win in a row
• Team Esbjerg players Emily Stang Sando and Ida Björndalen Karlsson are visiting their former home court, both having a past career in Larvik
• Sävehof and Larvik are both chasing their first home win in the Women’s EHF Champions League this season

GROUP D

IK Sävehof (SWE) vs RK Krim Mercators (SLO)
Saturday 5 November 16:00 local time, live at ehftv.com

Krim got off to a very bad start in their Champions League campaign this season, as they lost 35:25 away to Team Esbjerg.

Since then, however, the Slovenian runners-up from last season have improved their position with two home wins in a row.

First, Larvik were defeated 24:22, and then Sävehof were beaten 32:29, but only after Krim had been close to losing a 10-goal half-time lead.

Saturday afternoon, Sävehof get the chance to revenge the defeat, when the two teams meet again in the Partille Arena, where Krim coach Uros Bregar is expecting a tough match.

“Sävehof are clear favourites to win. In their team, they have Swedish national team players who are among the best in the world, and furthermore, they are playing on home court.

“We believe that good defence and the performance of the goalkeepers will be decisive things in the game,” expects Uros Bregar.

According to Sävehof coach Henrik Signell, Bregar and his team may expect tough resistance in Sweden.

“Our team wants revenge, and we have shown before that we can lift our level when being under pressure, and that is exactly what we must do now.

“Krim are good, but it has to be a win for us Saturday,” says Henrik Signell.

Larvik (NOR) vs Team Esbjerg (DEN)
Saturday 5 November 18:30 local time, live on ehftv.com

After opening their group matches with two surprising defeats, Larvik got their game going in Esbjerg last Sunday, when they won as big as 31:24.

Playing with seven players in the attack for the start, Larvik coach Tor Odvar Moen obviously stunned his opponents who also had a lot of trouble with Larvik’s Danish goalkeeper Sandra Toft throughout the match.

“We knew that we had to win in Esbjerg and we did, as we followed our tactics completely.

“If we can also defeat Esbjerg on home court, we will have as many points as them, and then things will begin to look really promising,” finds Sandra Toft, while Esbjerg coach Lars Frederiksen realises that Larvik are favourites after their clear win in Esbjerg.

“They must be favourites now, that is obvious, but we have some things we can improve on, and we are definitely going to work on that,” says Lars Frederiksen.

TEXT: Peter Brunn / bc