Preview of VELUX EHF Champions League Round 6

Usually the time for calculations or math starts at the end of a competition – but a brief look upon the tables of the four groups of the VELUX EHF Champions League shows, that under certain circumstances the first three teams can book their ticket to the Last 16 already in Round 6 with four more rounds still coming.
 
In Group B MKB Veszprém qualify for the Last 16, if they beat Sävehof IK and HCM Constanta will not succeed against Atlético Madrid.

In Group C Vive Targi Kielce clinch their berth in the next stage, if they defeat Metalurg Skopje and HC St. Petersburg do not beat Bjerringbro Silkeborg.

And in Group D FC Barcelona Intersport can also make it through to the knock-out phase, if they win against Pick Szeged and Dinamo Minsk do not lose against Kadetten Schaffhausen.

In Group A no decision about the first Last 16 participant can be made yet.

Round 6 of the VELUX EHF Champions League will bring a quick rendezvous of all teams, as the same fixtures will be played with the different home right.

Group A:
Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) vs. Reale Ademar León (ESP)
Thursday, 20:30 hrs local time
First leg: 29:22

Medvedi have won both previous home matches and can consolidate their second position in the ranking or even take the lead if they beat León and Hamburg fail against Flensburg. On the other hand, León have proved their away strength by taking the points from Montpellier. But not only due to the clear away victory in Spain the Russian club is supposed to be the favourite.

Montpellier Agglomération HB (FRA) vs. RK Partizan Beograd (SRB)
Sunday, 19:00 hrs local time
First leg: 32:29

The loyal spectators in Montpellier did not see any home point of their team in the VELUX EHF Champions League since March 2012, when they defeated Barcelona in the first leg of the Last 16. In the current season the French champions lost both home matches against León and Hamburg – but now the time might have come to break the spell.

After winning in Serbia – and the return of players like Nikola Karabatić, Dragan Gajić and Issem Tej - Montpellier can make a major step towards the Last 16 and decrease the gap to the top trio. Partizan have taken their only two points on home ground – and seem to be the underdogs in Montpellier.

SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) vs. HSV Hamburg (GER)
Sunday 17:15 hrs local time
First leg: 28:31

The ehfTV.com Match of Week – live streamed and free of charge with English commentary – might already bring a hint about the group winner. Hamburg are still unbeaten, but had a tough task to handle to win the first leg on Sunday. If they win the re-match too, the distance to their German rivals would increase to already five points. On the other hand Flensburg can grab their chance to catch-up to HSV and Medvedi. The hosts are unbeaten on home ground, HSV have won both away matches.

Group B:
THW Kiel (GER) vs. RK Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO)
Wednesday, 19:00 hrs local time
First leg: 28:31

The opener of Round 6 is the chance to take revenge for THW or the chance to cause an even bigger surprise as they did on Saturday for Celje. The Slovenian team will arrive with a full bunch of confidence after beating the defending champions and having the chances to overtake Kiel in the table, while Kiel will be bent on revenge. Another defeat would nearly eliminate all THW chances to win the group.

MKB Veszprém (HUN) vs. IK Sävehof (SWE)
Saturday, 19:00 hrs local time
First leg: 32:22

Veszprém are flying on the wings of success and have taught a lesson to the Swedish champions on Sunday. So the constellation for this match is clear. Like Kielce and Barcelona they have ten points on their account. By four points, Sävehof are on par, knowing that they need to take the points against other opponents.

Atlético Madrid (ESP) vs. HCM Constanta (ROU)
Sunday, 17:00 hrs local time
First leg: 28:23

Atlético can not only step closer towards the knock-out stage, but also might take the profit of defeats of those teams equal in points in Round 6. On home ground the Spaniards are the clear favourite against the Romanians, who are on the bottom line of this group. If Madrid and Veszprém win or at least draw, the Hungarians have already managed to proceed to the Last 16.

Group C:
Gorenje Velenje (SLO) vs. Chambéry Savoie (FRA)
Saturday, 16:30 hrs local time
First leg: 31:20

No one could expect that the “wasps” would be the clear favourite against the French runners-up and would already be six points ahead after only five rounds. But as Chambéry still have zero on their account, Velenje can make sure that they will not be overtaken in the upcoming rounds by Chambéry by a winning the re-match too. Chambery need to clutch at the last straws, as another defeat would mean the end of their hopes for the Last 16. In the ideal case, if they win and Kielce beat Metalurg, Velenje can even reach the second rank after Round 6.

Vive Targi Kielce (POL) vs. Metalurg Skopje (MKD)
Saturday, 18:00 hrs local time
First leg: 23:21

Another victory could already indicate the decision about the group winner after Kielce had proved their current strength in Metalurg’s cauldron. But if the Macedonian title holders take the points everything is open again. Like in the first match a defence battle is expected – and another great atmosphere, as now the Polish fans will stand as one behind their team like their Macedonian counterparts did on Sunday.

Bjerringbro Silkeborg (DEN) vs. HC St. Petersburg (RUS)
Sunday, 17:00 hrs local time
First leg: 35:23

Bjerringbro have tasted blood with their first ever two victories in the VELUX EHF Champions League in the past three matches. Another win against the Russian runners-up could already pave their way for the Last 16, as then St. Petersburg would be below the Danes by four points and having ahead only home matches against Metalurg and Velenje.

Group D:
Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI) vs. Dinamo Minsk (BLR)
Thursday, 20:00 hrs local time
First leg: 23:33

It is not the final chance, but one of the last for Kadetten to show they are eager to proceed to the knock-out stage. Another defeat against Minsk would bring them already five points below their opponent. The Belarusian champions have been improving from match to match and do not seem that they give their Last 16 ticket from their hands away. But the home right can be an advantage for the Swiss team, as Minsk took all their five current points on home ground.

RK Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb (CRO) vs. Füchse Berlin (GER)
Saturday, 18:00 hrs local time
First leg: 27:29

Füchse had enormous problems to take the victory in the first leg – and they need to be aware that Zagreb are playing much stronger in their home arena. So the outcome of this match is quite open, as Füchse current are not playing that dominant than in the previous season. But if they win at the Croatian capital, they can pull clear from Zagreb by already seven points.

FC Barcelona Intersport (ESP) vs. Pick Szeged (HUN)
Saturday, 16:15 hrs local time
First leg: 33:28

Since their past home match against Minsk, which ended with a highly lucky victory, Barcelona know that they cannot underestimate any opponent in the VELUX EHF Champions League.

And they know from their match at Szeged on Sunday that the Hungarians could have much more points on their account as they currently have. If Barcelona are aware the winner should be clear – and if Minsk take at least a draw two days before, they can become the first participant of the Last 16.