02.11.2018, 02:10
Battles for crucial points in Lisbon and Plock

GROUP C/D PREVIEW: With the second half of the group phase starting, this weekend’s matches can give a strong indication about which teams are likely to make it to the play-offs

Battles for crucial points in Lisbon and Plock

VELUX EHF Champions League Groups C/D are throwing off the second half of the group phase this weekend.

Action gets underway with a Nordic derby in Finland, where Cocks host Elverum in Group D on Saturday. A crucial match awaits TATRAN Presov in Lisbon as they take on second-place Sporting CP in Group C that same evening.

Another highly anticipated match awaits fans in Poland on Saturday evening where Group D leaders Dinamo Bucuresti visit third-place Wisla Plock.

GROUP C

Sporting CP (POR) vs TATRAN Presov (SVK)
Saturday 3 November, 18:30 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

  • Presov aim to end a two-game losing streak after their strong start to the season

  • Sporting share the group lead with Bjerringbro-Silkeborg, which have the better goal difference

  • Sporting beat Presov in their first match (30:27) and can now secure a big advantage over their Slovakian rivals

  • Presov are without several key players, including Lukas Urban and Dominik Krok

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (DEN) vs Besiktas Mogaz (TUR)
Sunday 4 November, 15:10 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

  • Bjerrinbro-Silkeborg defend their top spot in the group against fourth-place Besiktas

  • BSV won in Turkey 37:24 three weeks ago, which was the first time both teams met

  • since losing to Presov in September, BSV has won all nine matches in all competitions

  • the Danish side will count on the competition’s top scorer Johan Hansen (37) once more

HC Metalurg (MKD) vs Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS)
Sunday 4 November, 17:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

  • Metalurg, boosted by a recent SEHA league win over Presov, are after their first points of the campaign

  • Medvedi lead Metalurg 5-2 in their head-to-head statistics

  • Metalurg are without Halil Jaganjac, who moved to Croatian side Nexe

  • The Bears clearly prevailed in the first match between these team in Russia, 33:25

GROUP D

Riihimäen Cocks (FIN) vs Elverum Handball (NOR)
Saturday 3 November, 16:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

  • the Round 5 clash was the Nordic sides’ first competitive meeting

  • Cocks led for most of their clash, before Elverum snatched a 28:27 victory

  • Elverum currently on a three-game winning streak, Riihimäen a three-game losing streak

  • a 31:25 win over Drammen saw Elverum go top of the Norwegian league on Wednesday

Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) vs Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU)
Saturday 3 November, 18:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

  • Dinamo’s 24:21 win in the reverse fixture saw them leapfrog Plock at the top of the group

  • two consecutive losses have seen Plock drop to third and they are in desperate need of a win to stay in touch at the top

  • the Polish side have a perfect winning record at home this season, while Dinamo’s only loss came away from home

  • both sides lie second in their domestic league, but only Plock played in midweek – beating Szczecin 31:23

Abanca Ademar Leon (ESP) vs Wacker Thun (SUI)
Saturday 3 November, 20:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

  • Leon almost let a six-goal lead slip in the 26:25 win away to Thun in Round 5

  • the Spanish side is currently on course for the Group C/D play-offs for the second consecutive yearWacker are still in search of their first win in the competition after 15 attempts

  • Both sides won their midweek domestic league matches – Leon 34:16 over Alcobendas and Thun 27:23 against Suhr Aarau

TEXT: Tomas Cuncik, Chris O'Reilly / ew
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