27.03.2017, 05:00
Extra MOTW coverage awaits in the second leg

NEWS REPORT: Two instead of one. Matches of the Week for Last 16 second leg will be Rhein-Neckar Löwen against Kiel and defending champions Kielce versus Montpellier.

Extra MOTW coverage awaits in the second leg

Following all the thrilling results of the first leg in the VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16, fans can look forward to an extra portion of the Match of the Week special coverage in the second leg after not one like usually but two games have been confirmed as the Match of the Week.

While ehfTV commentator David Bregazzi will head for Mannheim's SAP Arena on Thursday for the all-German clash Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs THW Kiel, Chris O' Reilly will guide the fans on a thorny path the defending champions Vive Tauron Kielce have to walk on their home court on Sunday following the biggest surprise of the first leg - their five-goal defeat at Montpellier.

Having their sensational second half run from the last season's final against Veszprem still fresh in mind a five-goal deficit against Montpellier should not be an insurmountable hurdle for Kielce and all is still open.

With four narrow away wins for Veszprém, Szeged, Flensburg and Rhein-Neckar Löwen and a draw in the all-French duel between HBC Nantes and Paris SG nothing has been decided so far in other duels either.

MOTW, Last 16 - second leg:

Rhein Neckar Löwen vs THW Kiel
Thursday, 30.03.17 at 19:00 (CET), live on ehfTV.com

Defeating THW Kiel by one goal, it was for the first time in history that Rhein-Neckar Löwen won an international match at the Sparkassen Arena.

Kiel was facing the Lions without top stars Domagoj Duvnjak and Rene Toft Hansen due to injuries and it’s still doubtful that they will return for the second leg in Mannheim. Although there is an advantage for Rhein-Neckar Löwen playing the rematch in front of the home crowd, the way to the quarter-final is still open for both teams.

"Kiel have never been knocked out at the last 16 stage of the Champions League," David Bregazzi reminds before his trip to Mannheim.

"There is only one goal in it and both coaches know that nothing has been decided yet. Kiel and the Lions know each other very very well and the Mannheim Arena is no unknown court for Kiel.

"It is all to play for on the road to Cologne and I am sure it is going to be a thrilling battle of these two German giants"
 

KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs Montpellier HB
Sunday, 03.04.17 at 18:00 (CET), live on ehfTV.com

Defending champions Kielce struggled in France when Montpellier beat the Polish title holders 33:28 in the first leg. With a comfort four-goal lead at the beginning of the second half for Kielce, Montpellier turned the match completely winning the first leg by a five-goal win what gives them a promising start for the second leg.

"Who would have thought we would find defending champions Kielce in such a precarious position this early in the season?" Chris O'Reilly asks.

"The pressure is on Talent Dujshebaev’s men to chase down this five-goal deficit against a Montpellier side with nothing to lose and nothing to fear as they go in search of a historic win on behalf of teams in Groups C and D.

"This fascinating encounter is certain to keep us entertained for the entire 60 minutes."

TEXT: EHF / si