26.02.2019, 12:06
Midweek knockout tie hangs in the balance

MIDWEEK PREVIEW: Wednesday and Thursday’s matches are two of the most important in Round 14 of the VELUX EHF Champions League

Midweek knockout tie hangs in the balance

Flensburg host Nantes on Wednesday evening in their final group phase match, which will decide who finishes third in Group B, a crucial match for the Last 16 and beyond.

The first of the Group C/D knockout ties will be decided on Thursday evening as Sporting CP attempt to hold on to their one-goal advantage in Bucharest.

GROUP B
SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) vs HBC Nantes (FRA)
Wednesday 27 February, 19:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

• the winners will finish in third place, but Flensburg would stay third if there is a draw
• in the reverse fixture, Flensburg won 34:31 in Nantes
• Nantes won their first away game of the season two weeks ago in Skjern
• Best scorer for Nantes is Kiril Lazarov with 62 goals while Hampus Wanne has scored 47 for Flensburg

GROUP C/D KNOCKOUT
Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU) vs Sporting CP (POR)
Thursday 28 February, 20:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

• Sporting won the first leg 32:31 at home on Saturday
• Ivan Nickcevic’s 11-goal performance for Sporting saw him named in the Best 7 last week
• both sides aiming to become the first club from their country to reach the Last 16 in the competition’s current format
• the reward for the winners is a Last 16 clash with European heavyweights Vardar or Veszprém

TEXT: Chris O'Reilly, Kevin Domas