29.03.2019, 02:10
GOG just need a draw - or not even that

GROUP D PREVIEW: If Holstebro do not win their last match in Group C, GOG will already have qualified for the Men’s EHF Cup Quarter-final even before throw-off of their own match against Granollers

GOG just need a draw - or not even that

The final match of Men’s EHF Cup Group D is supposed to be decisive for the last of the six spots in the quarter-finals. Two Danish sides - TTH Holstebro in Group C and GOG in Group D - are after this spot.

As Holstebro play on Saturday, GOG will exactly know what to do the following day: if Holstebro (currently on four points) beat Liberbank Cuenca on Saturday, GOG (six points) just need a draw against Granollers the following day to be among the three best-ranked second-place teams.

But if Holstebro do not beat Cuenca, then GOG have already secured a quarter-final berth even before their match against Granollers throws off.

The other match in Group D will not affect the standings: KS Azoty-Pulawy SA will finish bottom of the table and THW Kiel have been confirmed as group winners since Round 4. As the hosts, Kiel have already qualified for the AKQUINET EHF Cup Finals on 17/18 May.

GROUP D

KS Azoty-Pulawy SA (POL) vs THW Kiel (GER)
Saturday 30 March, 15:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

• Kiel struggled in the home match but ultimately won 26:23

• Kiel have won all five group matches and are eager to add a sixth win

• Pulawy have one point from five matches - a home draw against Granollers

• with 45 goals, Pulawy left wing Pawel Podsiadlo is ranked fifth on the competition’s top scorers list

Fraikin BM. Granollers (ESP) vs GOG (DEN)
Sunday 31 March, 19:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com

• GOG comfortably won the reverse fixture by eight goals, 34:26

• it is GOG’s first EHF Cup match in Spain since their quarter-final defeat against BM. Galdar in 2001/02

• last season GOG ended the group phase with six points but missed the quarter-finals, finishing third behind eventual finalists Füchse and Saint-Raphaël

• GOG have not been in the quarter-finals since 2005/06

• Granollers line player Adrian Figueras is runner-up in the top scorers list with 54 goals, six short of Holstebro’s Magnus Bramming

TEXT: Björn Pazen / ew