13.04.2017, 02:25
Buducnost flying to Norway to finish the job

QUARTER-FINAL PREVIEW: Buducnost right back Katarina Bulatovic and Larvik coach Tor Odvar Moen agree that the second leg between the two teams is somewhat a formality.

Buducnost flying to Norway to finish the job

As they are 14 goals up before the second leg of their quarter-final, there is little doubt that Buducnost will make it to the TIPPMIX EHF FINAL4.

However, Katarina Bulatovic, right back for the Montenegrin team, will only be content with another win. On the other hand, Larvik's head coach Tor Odvar Moen will only be content if his team restore some of their honour.

• Buducnost are very close to their fourth FINAL4 in a row, Larvik have been there twice
• Buducnost have won the Women’s EHF Champions League twice, Larvik have won it once
• For the second year in a row, Larvik are 14 goals down before the second leg of the quarter-final

QUARTER-FINAL, SECOND LEG

Larvik (NOR) vs Buducnost (MNE)
Saturday 15 April, 17.00 local time, live on ehfTV.com.

Buducnost’s 14-goal win at home against an injury-ridden Larvik team last Sunday (31:17) has made the second leg feel like a formality.

Both parties have agreed on this point before they meet in Larvik’s Boligmappa Arena this Saturday.

“I cannot imagine us losing by 14 or 15 goals in Larvik.

“However, we do not want to speculate about a defeat of any size at all.

“We want to win the second match as well,” said Katarina Bulatovic to ehfCL.com.

“We may be a bit relaxed in our approach to the away match, but we won´t be too relaxed, as we want to take another two points in that game as well, in order to prove that we are worthy of our fourth FINAL4 in a row,” she added.

Familiar feeling for Larvik

For Larvik, being 14 goals down before the second leg of an EHF Champions League quarter-final is not a new experience.

Last year, they lost 34:20 away to HC Vardar before getting some consolation by winning 28:26 at home.

This time, however, the big defeat is easier to explain, as head coach Tor Odvar Moen was missing so many players due to injury that he only had 11 players at his disposal in Podgorica.

He realises that his team’s Champions League adventure is coming to an end Saturday.

“There is no point in even talking about a chance to proceed in the tournament.

“This tie was more or less decided after 20-25 minutes of the first match.

“When you are virtually out of options for substitutions, the physical pressure become too big,” said Tor Odvar Moen.

“All we can aim for is restoring our honour by giving a good performance at home, but I find it sad that all these injuries are hitting us now after we did very well in the main round.

“If we had not been missing seven players, the first match would have turned out completely different.

“It is really a pity that our Champions League season has to end this way,” he added.

TEXT: Peter Bruun/kc