01.03.2019, 11:40
Kiel out to book the early semi-final ticket

GROUP D PREVIEW: A victory this weekend will earn THW Kiel the title of group winners, while Granollers and Pulawy are both on the hunt for their first win of the phase

Kiel out to book the early semi-final ticket

Never before, since the Men’s EHF Cup merged in the 2012/13 season, could a team book their ticket to the semi-final as soon as group phase round 4. This season, THW Kiel, host of the Akquinet EHF Cup Finals on May 17 and 18, can take this step in Odense – if they record a victory over GOG on Sunday, they will be the group winners. 

In the second Group D match, Fraikin BM. Granollers and KS Azoty-Pulawy SA are both out for their first victory in the group phase.

GROUP D
GOG (DEN) vs THW Kiel (GER)
Sunday 3 March, 15:00 local time, live on ehfTV.com

• Kiel have won all three group matches, including the dominant 37:23 result in the first leg against GOG

• The hosts of Sunday’s encounter beat Granollers and Pulawy in the previous rounds

• More than 500 THW fans will travel to the match. Because of the huge interest in Denmark, the game will take place in the arena in Odense

• GOG head coach Nicolej Krickau just extended his contract until 2022

• THW won their dress rehearsal in the Bundesliga at Melsungen on Thursday, while GOG lost at Sonderjyske

Fraikin BM. Granollers (ESP) vs KS Azoty-Pulawy SA
Sunday 3 March, 19:30 local time, live on ehfTV.com

• In the first leg, Pulawy let a 34:30 advantage slip in the last two minutes, for a final result of 34:34

• Out of three Spanish EHF Cup participants, Granollers are the only side without a victory so far

• The hosts have lost both home matches in this EHF Cup season, against Velenje (qualification) and Kiel (group phase)

• Both teams are on one point, and both are close to elimination from the quarter-final race

• Granollers’ wing Adrian Figueras is currently the second top scorer in the EHF Cup, with 37 goals in his tally

TEXT: Björn Pazen / cg