16.11.2017, 01:06
Last 12 tickets for the Last 16 at stake

ROUND PREVIEW: With four teams already qualified for the Last 16 of the Women's Challenge Cup, there are 12 tickets for the remaining 24 teams in the tournament to fight about this weekend.

Last 12 tickets for the Last 16 at stake

With Rincon Fertilidad Malaga, MKS Selgros Lublin, ADA CJ Barros and Zagnosspor already in the Last 16 after winning double-headers last weekend, there are 12 tickets left for the Last 16 of the Women's Challenge Cup to fight about this weekend.

Five of these tickets are going to be decided in double-headers, and the action is starting Friday evening.

In the Sport Hall “Cair” in Nis, one of the venues of the Women's EHF EURO 2012, ZRK Naisa Nis are hosting two matches against Maccabi Arazim Ramat gan from Israel. Naisa Nis are back in the Challenge Cup after two years in the EHF Cup, while Ramat gan will try to make it one step further compared to the past two seasons, where they had to leave the Challenge Cup after Round 3.

After the match Friday evening, the second leg is scheduled exactly 24 hours later.

So far, Kristianstad has been known for the men's team IFK Kristianstad who are in the VELUX EHF Champions League for the third year in a row.

This weekend, however, the women's team from the town in the south of Sweden are entering Europe. Kristianstad Handball Klubb are playing the first European matches in their history at home against Femina Vise from Belgium, who have a long and proud history in Europe already.

Two Last 32 berths in the Women's EHF Champions League are among the greatest achievements for the Belgian club who has spent the past four years in the EHF Cup.

Another team, who was in the EHF Cup that past four years, is Alavarium/Love Tiles. This season, the Portuguese side is back in the Challenge Cup, though, and here, their Round 3 opponent are ZJRK Bor RTB from Serbia who are debutants in Europe this season.

The first leg is taking place in the Pavilhao Alavarium in Aveiro, Portugal late Saturday night, the return match is then taking place Sunday evening.

However, not everything is double-headers this weekend.

In Bosnian Tuzla, OZRK Jedinstvo Tuzla are chasing a seven-goal deficit against AC PAOK who won the first leg at home 24:17.
The Greek side will be trying to defend their lead Sunday night in the KSPC Mejdan in Tuzla.

Find the overview of all matches here

TEXT: Peter Bruun / br