Restart with 2004 finals rematch
After a two-week break, the VELUX EHF Champions League curtain will be lifted in Flensburg on Wednesday, when SG host RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko.
• The opening Round 6 game is a rematch of the EHF Champions League 2004 Finals, won by Celje
• The top scorers for both teams are right backs: Ziga Mlakar and Holger Glandorf
• Flensburg want to keep their clean home record
• Celje have not won a VELUX EHF Champions League match away since 13 February 2016
GROUP B
SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO)
Wednesday 1 November, 18:30 local time, live on ehfTV.com
In the previous season, Flensburg were quite weak at home, losing three of seven group matches. In 2017/18, the German runners-up have a clean record of two wins in their territory, against Aalborg and PSG.
Celje have never won a match in Flensburg – the only draw occurred 14 years ago. But still, Celje have great memories with SG, as they made history against the German side in 2004, when they claimed their one and only Champions League trophy in the two-leg final.
The rejuvenated Celje team have not taken any away points so far this season. Their most recent away victory in the VELUX EHF Champions League dates to 2015/16, when they won in Plock. But the Slovenian record champions have proven their strength on home ground, beating Kielce in Round 3.
Flensburg have to be aware of Celje’s right side, as the competition’s current top scorer Ziga Mlakar (36 goals) and right wing Gal Marguc (24) are by far the most dangerous attackers for the visitors.
SG’s top scorer is another left-handed ace: right back Holger Glandorf (24 goals), who will play his 300th match (in all competitions) for Flensburg on Wednesday.
Both sides drew in their Round 5 matches – Flensburg in Kiel, Celje against Brest. The last time these teams met was in the 2015/16 group matches, when Flensburg took two clear wins.
On SG’s side, goalkeeper Kevin Möller’s comeback following his adductor surgery over the summer might happen on Wednesday.
TEXT: Bjorn Pazen / cg
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