Larvik Return to Champions League  

Larvik HK – eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Women’s Champions League this year – are ready to return to CL after claiming the Norwegian championship title again this weekend. Larvik won the title with a 33-29 home victory against the other CL team, Byåsen, in the second leg of the play-off finals. As Larvik won the first match 33-30 away, they won everything they possibly could this season in Norway: the Norwegian Cup and now the championship. On top of all this, their goalkeeper Lene Rantala was awarded Player of the Year in the Norwegian league.

Hope for better CL performance next season

Many had great expectations from Larvik in this year’s Champions League. The team of Karl Erik Bøhn won their CL group in convincing style beating title holder Viborg HK as well.

In the quarterfinals, however, Hungarian Győri Audi ETO turned out to be too strong for the Norwegian champions. Norway’s strongest female team may have good hope for better luck next year.

“Even though we played a lot of matches during the season, we proved that we can keep focused all the way to the end of the season. Now we go on vacation until 11 June where we start training for next season,” said Norwegian international Heidi Flaatnes.

While Larvik’s Champions League adventure ended in March, their opponents in the Norwegian championship are still playing in Europe. Byåsen’s third place in the Champions League group was enough to continue in the European Cup Winners’ Cup, where they will face Romanian Oltchim Valcea in the first leg of the finals this Saturday.