26.01.2018, 09:20
Boost from Barcelona for Bjerringbro

EHF Cup countdown #4: Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (DEN): BSV are appearing in the group stage of a European competition for the third consecutive season, and are looking to make it at least to the quarter-finals

Boost from Barcelona for Bjerringbro

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg have settled in international competitions. For a third straight year, the Danish side are part of a group stage: twice in the EHF Cup, once in the VELUX EHF Champions League.

In the last two years, BSV gained recognizable success. They made it to the quarter-finals of the EHF Cup 2015/16 and only missed the EHF Cup Finals on away goals against Granollers (Spain).

Last season, they qualified for the Last 16 of the Champions League, where they were eliminated by EHF Cup 2014 winners Pick Szeged (Hungary).

Backed by this international experience and boosted by the signing of Danish two-time Champions League winner Jesper Nøddesbo from FC Barcelona, BSV again hope to clinch the berth for the knock-out stage.

The club was bidding to host the EHF Cup Finals but the EHF selected Bjerringbro’s group phase opponents SC Magdeburg as organisers.

Apart from SCM, Bjerringbro will face Minsk and Presov in the Group A.

Coach Peter Bredsdorff-Larsen expects a hard fight between for the quarter-finals.

“We are facing tough, very professional and experienced teams in our group, but we are still looking for the opportunity to proceed from the group stage,” Bredsdorff-Larsen said.

For the coach, the three German teams are the main contenders, and “of course, as the hosts, Magdeburg will have a good opportunity to win the tournament.”

Except the two Slovenians Aljosa Rezar and Sebastian Skube, BSV count on an all-Danish squad.

“We are always very happy and motivated for the chance to represent Denmark in international games,” Bredsdorff-Larsen said. “We are lucky that we can offer very attractive international games in our hall to our sponsors and spectators.”

In the qualification, they had a duel with Swedish neighbours Malmö, which BSV clearly decided on home court.

“Now we are proud to be a part of the group phase after the great experience of being among the 16 best Champions League teams last season,” Bredsdorff-Larsen said.

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (DEN)

Qualification for the EHF Cup Group Phase 2017/18: Round 3: 23:25, 36:25 against Malmö (SWE)

Newcomers: Jesper Nøddesbo (Barcelona), Mads Øris Nielsen (Skive FH), Lars Skaarup (Randers HH), Martin Risom (Odder), Aljosa Rezar (Nimes)

Left the club: Allan Damgaard (Göppingen), Kristian Ørsted (Elverum), Kristian Klitgaard (Tønder), Rasmus Kier (Skive FH)

Coach: Peter Bredsdorff-Larsen (since July 2014)

Team captain: Michael V. Knudsen

Opponents in the group matches: Magdeburg, Presov and Minsk in Group A

EHF Champions League records:
Last 16: 2012/13, 2016/17
Group Phase: 2011/12
Qualification: 2010/11

Other European Cup records:

EHF Cup:
Quarter-finalists: 2002/03, 2008/09, 2015/16
Last 16: 2010/11

Cup Winners’ Cup:
Quarter-finalists: 2006/07

Danish champions: 2015/16
Danish cup winners: -

TEXT: Björn Pazen / ew