26.12.2018, 09:44
Same procedure as last year for Larvik

Women's EHF Cup Countdown #8: Just like last season, Larvik HK are continuing their European adventure in the Women's EHF Cup after finishing fourth in their group in the Women's EHF Champions League.

Same procedure as last year for Larvik

For Larvik HK, life in European Cup handball has been the same as last year so far.

Last season, the 19-time former Norwegian champions, who won the Women's EHF Champions League in 2010/11, finished fourth in their EHF Champions League group and continued in the Women's EHF Cup, where they reached the quarter-final and lost to Viborg HK.

This season, the pattern has repeated itself as Larvik finished fourth in Group A of the EHF Champions League and they are now entering the EHF Cup Group Phase.

In Group C of the EHF Cup, Larvik will be up against Danish club Viborg HK, whom they have met in many an EHF Champions League match in the past, as well as Russian club Kuban and French club E.S Besancon Feminin.

Missing key players

New head coach Geir Oustorp, who took over from Tor Odvar Moen before this season started, is missing two key players – as he has been from almost the start of the season. Early in the season, playmaker Cassandra Tollbring tore her anterior cruciate ligament, while veteran Tine Stange, who is another crucial back court player for Larvik, is pregnant.

This situation makes the coach cautious, but he remains rather optimistic before the group phase.

“We are in a strong group with good opponents. We lost against Viborg in the quarter-final last year, and they still have a very strong team.

"Kuban have a young team and a good coach. They are a team for the future.

"Besancon play a 5-1 in their defence, and we will have to see how we handle that," said Oustorp about Larvik's rivals in Group C.

“Still, our goal is to be one of the two teams who go to the quarter-finals,” said Geir Oustorp, who also has the objective of winning the Norweigan league this season.

EHF Cup good for young players

He is very aware of the value of continuing in the EHF Cup after being eliminated from the EHF Champions League.

“Larvik also played in this group stage last year, so it is not new to us."

“However, for our young team, it is very important to play at least six more games in the EHF Cup after the Champions League,” said the Larvik coach.

Oustorp also sees one clear favourite to win the EHF Cup this season: “I think Siófok is the favourite,” he said about the Hungarian club, who are coached by Larvik's former head coach Tor Odvar Moen.

Larvik HK (NOR)

Qualification for the EHF Cup 2018/19 Group Phase: 4th place in Group A of the Women's EHF Champions League

Newcomers: Mari Molid (Randers HK), Karoline Lund (Aker), Yesminee Gluic, Sara Møller (both Follo)

Left the club: Kristine Breistøl (Team Esbjerg), Thea Mørk (Kobenhavn Handball – recently retired)

Coach: Geir Oustorp (since 2018)

Team captain: Emilie Christensen

Opponents in the group phase: Kuban, Viborg HK and E.S Besancon Feminin in Group C

Women's EHF Champions League records:
Winner (1): 2010/11
Runners-up (2): 2014/15, 2012/13
Semi-final (4): 2001/02, 2003/04, 2009/10, 2011/12
Quarter-final (5): 2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07, 2015/16, 2016/17
Group matches (8): 1994/95, 1997/98, 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2013/14, 2017/18, 2019/19

Women's EHF Cup records:
Runners-up (1): 1995/96
Quarter-final (1): 2017/18

Other European Cup records:

Champions Trophy:
Third place (1): 2007/08

Cup Winners' Cup:
Winner (2): 2004/05, 2007/08
Runners-up (1): 2008/09
Semi-final (2): 1996/97, 2005/06
Quarter-final (1): 1998/99
Last 16 (1): 1999/00

Norwegian league: 19 titles
Norwegian cup: 17 titles

Read about the other Group C clubs featured in the Women's EHF Cup countdown series here:
#4 E.S Besancon Feminin
#9 Viborg HK
#12 Kuban

TEXT: Peter Bruun / jw