Women's EHF Cup Group Phase begins in Larvik
Sixteen teams from ten countries are set to start in the third ever Women's EHF Cup Group Phase.
The opening match will take place on Friday 4 January in Larvik between the local team Larvik HK and Danish side Viborg HK. Four matches are scheduled for Saturday, while three more games will be played on Sunday.
No fewer than six matches of the opening round will be streamed live on ehfTV.
GROUP A
SG BBM Bietigheim (GER) vs Storhamar Handball Elite (NOR)
Saturday 5 January, 19:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com
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Bietigheim enjoy a perfect record of nine wins from nine matches in the German Bundesliga
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The German side cannot rely on centre back Kim Naidzinavicius and right wing Daniela Gustin; both are out with serious injuries
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Storhamar returned to European Cup competition this season after an eight-year absence
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Storhamar beat fellow Norwegian team Byasen Handball Elite and Hungary’s ÉRD HC in qualification
Team Esbjerg (DEN) vs Sports Club Magura Cisnadie (ROU)
Sunday 6 January, 12:30 hrs local time
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Esbjerg are now fourth in the Danish league
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Esbjerg have recently signed previously retired 33-year-old Norwegian line player Marit Malm Frafjord
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Magura Cisnadie are in third place in the Romanian league behind SCM Ramnicu Valcea and CSM Bucuresti
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The Romanian team eliminated DHC Slavia Praha in Qualification Round 2 and Zvezda Zvenigorod in Qualification Round 3
GROUP B
Siófok KC Hungary (HUN) vs Herning-Ikast Handbold (DEN)
Saturday 5 January, 18:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com
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Siófok are among the favourites for the Women's EHF Cup after greatly bolstering their squad in summer
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Siófok eliminated strong Russian side Handball Club Lada in Qualification Round 3
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Herning-Ikast were named FC Midtjylland before this season and intend to progress to at least the EHF Cup quarter-final this season
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The Danish side are in fifth place in their domestic league
IK Sävehof (SWE) vs TusSies Metzingen (GER)
Sunday 6 January, 19:00 hrs local time
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Sävehof lost all six matches played in the Women’s EHF Champions League this season
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At almost 30, Sävehof’s Rasmus Overby is the youngest coach of the teams participating in the competition
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Metzingen are in third place in the German league
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The German side, who were EHF Cup finalists in 2015/16, won all six of their matches in three qualification rounds
GROUP C
Larvik HK (NOR) vs Viborg HK (DEN)
Friday 4 January, 18:30 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com
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Viborg won both legs when the two teams met in the Women's EHF Cup quarter-final last season (28:21 and 27:26)
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After elimination from the EHF Champions League, Larvik have moved to the EHF Cup for the second straight year
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Viborg reached the group phase from Qualification Round 1, winning all six matches
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The Danish team have won the EHF Cup three times (in 1993/94, 1998/99 and 2003/04)
E.S Besancon Feminin (FRA) vs Kuban (RUS)
Saturday 5 January, 20:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com
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French club Besancon start their maiden journey in the Women’s EHF Cup Group Phase
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In contrast, Kuban are the only team to have played in the group phase in every season since the change of format in 2016/17
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Kuban are also the only Russian side remaining in the competition
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Krasnodar-based team Kuban are currently in third place in the Russian league behind Lada and Rostov-Don
GROUP D
SCM Craiova (ROU) vs Nykøbing Falster Håndbold - NFH (DEN)
Saturday 5 January, 19:15 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com
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Current title holders Craiova narrowly beat Borussia Dortmund in Qualification Round 3 (38:35 on aggregate)
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The Romanian runners-up are currently fifth in their domestic league
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Nykøbing are in third place in the Danish league
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Nykøbing beat Slovakian club IUVENTA Michalovce and Swedish club H 65 Höörs HK in qualification
HC Podravka Vegeta (CRO) vs Super Amara Bera Bera (ESP)
Sunday 6 January, 18:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com
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Podravka narrowly missed out on progressing to the main round of the Women’s EHF Champions League
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The Croatian club are making their debut in the Women's EHF Cup Group Phase
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Bera Bera are also debuting in the group phase after two previous unsuccessful qualification attempts
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The Spanish side are now in third place in their domestic league
TEXT: Sergey Nikolaev / jw
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