Pots for the Qualification and the Group Phase draw confirmed

Everything has been set for next week’s 2013/14 VELUX EHF Champions League draws as the EHF Executive Committee in Herning, Denmark on Friday confirmed all participating teams for the new season, the qualification system and the seeding of teams.

The qualification draw will take place on Thursday, 27 June 2013 at 14:00 hrs at the EHF Office in Vienna, the Group Phase draw will follow on Friday, 28 June 2013 at 20:15 at the Gloriette in Vienna.

Three teams eligible to enter the competition based on the rankings have not registered for the new season – Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS 1), Hapoel Rishon le Zion (ISR 1) and SSV Bozen (ITA 1).

Qualification

The Qualification will be played in two formats. HK DROTT Halmstad from Pot 1 will take on Handball Esch from Pot 6 to battle for one ticket to the Group Phase. Winners of three qualification tournaments will be also awarded with places in the Group Phase.

The matches from each tournament will be played in one venue with two semi-finals, where teams from Pot 2 will meet teams from Pot 5 and teams from Pot 3 will face teams from Pot 4, followed by finals. The pairings and the right to organise tournaments will be drawn on 27 June.

Wild Card

One place will be decided in a two-legged KO round between the defending champions HSV Hamburg and fellow German club Füchse Berlin. The home right will be drawn on Thursday, 27 June.

The further ticket will be awarded for the winner of the Wild card Tournament. The right to organise this tournament will be handled in a separate procedure.

Read more about Wild Card entries here

All playing dates will be individually planned in the upcoming days.

Seeding of teams for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2013/14 Group Phase Draw:

POT 1: THW Kiel (GER), FC Barcelona (ESP), Aalborg Hanbdall (DEN), MKB Veszprém KC (HUN)
POT 2: KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL), HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb (CRO), PSG Handball (FRA), RK Gorenje Velenje (SLO)
POT 3: SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER), BM Atlético Madrid (ESP), St. Petersburg HC (RUS), HC Vardar Skopje – PRO (MKD)
POT 4: KIF Kolding København (DEN), Wacker Thun (SUI), Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER), Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP)
POT 5: Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral (FRA), Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO), 2 qualifiers
POT 6: 2 qualifiers, Wild card Tournament, Wild card KO Match

Seeding of teams for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2013/14 Qualification Draw:

POT 1: HK DROTT Halmstad (SWE)
POT 2: HC Dinamo Minsk (BLR), Borac m:tel Banja Luka (BIH), HCM Constanta (ROU)
POT 3: HC Vojvodina (SRB), Tatran Prešov (SVK), FC Porto Vitalis (POR)
POT 4: Alpla HC Hard (AUT), Elverum Handball (NOR), Besiktas JK (TUR)
POT 5: HC Motor (UKR), AEK Athens (GRE), HV KRAS/Volendam (NED)
POT 6: Handball Esch (LUX)

Wild Card Tournament:
Pick Szeged (HUN)
SPR Wisła Płock S.A. (POL)
Montpellier Agglomération Handball (FRA)
HC Metalurg (MKD)

Semi-finals: Pick Szeged vs HC Metalurg, SPR Wisła Płock S.A. vs Montpellier Agglomération Handball

Wild Card KO Match:
HSV Hamburg (defending champions), Füchse Berlin (GER)