25.09.2018, 06:18
Buoyant Brest face tough trip to Germany

MIDWEEK PREVIEW: On the back of beating the champions, the Belarusian club face a midweek clash against wounded Löwen in Group A, while four Group D sides face-off

Buoyant Brest face tough trip to Germany

Just four days after beating defending champions Montpellier in Match of the Week, HC Meshkov Brest face another big test of their credentials in Germany.

Rhein-Neckar Löwen will look to bounce back from their loss to Kielce by ending Brest’s unbeaten start to the VELUX EHF Champions League.

Elsewhere in Round 3’s midweek fixtures, a pair of Group D fixtures. Dinamo Bucuresti welcome Wacker Thun, while two unbeaten sides clash in Orlen Wisla Plock vs Riihimäen Cocks.

GROUP A
Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) vs HC Meshkov Brest (BLR)
Wednesday 26 September 19:00 local time, live on ehfTV.com

• Brest are enjoying their best start in the VELUX EHF Champions League, going two-for-two against Kristianstad and Montpellier
• Veterans Andy Schmid (35), Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson (39 years old) and Alexander Petterson (38 years old) scored 35 goals between them, 52% of Löwen’s goals in this season
• Löwen have the second best attacking record in Groups A/B, with 67 goals scored, one fewer than PSG, but also the second worst defence, with 69 goals conceded, three fewer than Motor Zaporozhye
• The two sides had met two years ago in the group phase of the European top competition, splitting the wins between them

GROUP D
Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU) vs Wacker Thun (SUI)
Wednesday 26 September 19:00 local time, live on ehfTV.com

• All of Dinamo’s Champions League victories have come at home
• Bucharest’s only victory in last season’s campaign came against a Swiss team, 29:28 against Kadetten Schaffhausen
• Wacker Thun have yet to pick up a win in Europe’s top flight, going 12 matches without a victory.
• The Swiss side will be full of confidence after coming from behind to draw with Cocks in Round 2.

Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) vs Riihimäen Cocks (FIN)
Wednesday 26 September 19:00 local time, live on ehfTV.com

• Two unbeaten sides meet, but with very different records – Plock with two wins and Cocks with two draws
• Polish side’s first season in Groups C/D has begun perfectly, but they were pushed hard by Elverum in Round 2
• Cocks yet to taste defeat, but have their eyes on a first victory at this level, which will be tough to come by away to this seasoned Champions League club
• The Finnish champions have seen four-goal leads disappear in both of their matches so far this season

TEXT: Chris O'Reilly, Adrian Costeiu