26.08.2019, 04:30
Three European clubs seek Super Globe glory

PREVIEW: Barça, Vardar and Kiel take part in this week’s revamped annual event, which has been moved from Qatar to Saudi Arabia

Three European clubs seek Super Globe glory

Together they have won 13 EHF Champions League titles, and now they hope for some more international silverware: EHF Champions League record winners Barça, VELUX EHF Champions League 2018/19 winners HC Vardar, and EHF Cup 2018/19 winners THW Kiel represent Europe at this week's 2019 edition of the IHF Super Globe, the unofficial club World Championship.

Barça are the defending Super Globe champions, after beating Füchse Berlin in the final last year, and they are the record winners of the event with four trophies: 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018.

Kiel have also won this title before, in 2011, while Vardar finished third upon their debut at the event in 2017 and now have another chance to become the first European winners of the event not from Spain or Germany.

Competition format has changed to 10 teams

After nine editions in Doha, Qatar (2010-18), the IHF Super Globe has been moved to Damman, Saudi Arabia for the next four editions (2019-22). From Tuesday until Saturday, the matches will take place in the Green Halls in Damman.

Not just the venue, also the competition format has changed. For the first time 10 teams are taking part, so two qualification matches will open the tournament on Tuesday, a day before the quarter-finals.

Kiel, as one of the wild-card entries, will lock horns with Oceania champions Sydney University. The other wild-card team, Al Mudhar from Saudi Arabia, will duel with debutants New York City Team Handball from the United States, the North-America and the Caribbean Club Championship winners.

In the quarter-finals, Kiel or Sydney will face African club champions Zamalek from Egypt, and Vardar will be up against Al Mudhar or New York. Also, Barça will start their title defence against Asian club champions Al Duhail from Doha, while Saudi Arabian hosts Al Wehda play Brazilian side Taubate, winner of the South and Central America Men’s Club Championship, in the remaining quarter-final.

Since 2010, only Spanish and German teams have won the IHF Super Globe. Apart from Barça and Kiel, also Füchse Berlin (2015/2016) and Ciudad Real/Atletico Madrid (2010, 2012) have lifted the trophy.

More infomation on the IHF Super Globe 2019 can be found on the dedicated IHF micro website.

IHF Super Globe 2019 (all times CET):

Tuesday, 27 August: qualification:
- 15:15 hrs Syndey Uni vs THW Kiel
- 19:00 hrs Al Mudhar vs New York City

Wednesday, 28 August: quarter-finals:
- 11:15 hrs Al Wehda vs Taubate
- 13:30 hrs Zamalek vs Sydney/Kiel
- 16:20 hrs Barça vs Al Duhail
- 19:00 hrs HC Vardar vs Al Mudhar/New York City

Thursday, 29 August: semi-finals/placement round

Saturday, 31 August: placement matches, final

TEXT: Björn Pazen / ew