Vardar save point in Montpellier

Rhein-Neckar Löwen reported back in the bunch of team who aspire to the top positions in Group C of the VELUX EHF Champions League, as they defeated Chekhovskie Medvedi 34:29 at home due to a fine second half.

Montpellier Agglomeration HB also proved that they are still in business for the top positions, as they got themselves a 34:34 draw at home aganst HC Vardar from Skopje, for a great part thanks to 11 goals from left back Mathieu Grebille.

GROUP C

Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA) vs HC Vardar (MKD) 34:34 (19:17)

The half-time result (19:17) would have been a fair final result for any other game, which showed that both teams maintained emphasis on their attacks. The teams fought toe-to-toe and it was an upfront battle for most of the game as the two outfits gave and received punches in breathtaking speed.

It was such an even game that both teams were lead by a wing and a back: Igor Karacic and Timur Dibirov were Vardar’s most prolific players while Dragan Gajic and Mathieu Grébille proved to be the most efficient weapons of the home side with the four players scoring 34 goals altogether.

Montpellier had a two goal lead at the break (even Venio Losert got his name on the scoreboard with a goal) but Vardar came back in the second half. The largest margin between the teams was four goals but one could tell that the game was going to be decided in the very last seconds.

And so it happened. Montpellier rode the waves well in the endgame and as Igor Gorbok received a red card the home side managed to maintain their narrow lead to the last two minutes . But Vardar grabbed their last chance and equalized 20 seconds before the final whistle.

The battle of nerves continued to the very end. Four seconds from the buzzer Ilija Abutovic got his red card for a vicious foul on Grébille, who noneteless took the responsibility of the last shot two seconds from the end but Árpád Sterbik made a great save and the teams finally settled for a draw.

Montpellier remain third while Vardar had to surrender their leading spot to MKB-MVM Veszprém.

"I’m a bit tired tonight. I’m pleased with the players’ commitment and concentration during this match. We were very poor at Lowen. Today, we were playing at the same level as the other teams and I’m delighted with the work and progress that has been made," coach of Montpellier Patrice Canayer.

Montpellier winger Dragan Gajic said: "We’re a bit disappointed with the result because we really wanted to win. We showed we can play as well as our opponents. There’s just a little thing missing but we have a squad that can go further in this competition. We still have six matches to play so everything’s still to play for."

"We started well with a 5-1 defence, but Montpellier adapted to this. They changed strategy and the match didn’t turn in our favour. Kavticnik played a really good match and he caused us real problems. We’re very pleased with the result because we know it’s difficult to play and win here," coach of Vardar Skopje Raul Gonzalez.

Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) vs Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS 34:29 (16:16)

Rhein-Neckar Löwen got two crucial points and doubled their score to four, while Chekhovskie Medvedi are still last without any points.

Those are the facts after last season's runners-up in the German Bundesliga defeated the 13 double Russian champions in the SAP Arena in Mannheim.

After two away defeats in a row, Rhein-Neckar Löwen were under pressure in the hunt for a favourable position in the group – or to qualify for the knock-out rounds for that matter.

In the first half they did not impress much, though, and the visitors, who had lost their first three matches, managed follow them throughout the first half which ended in a stand-off at 16:16.

At that point, the serious situation seemed to have become clear for the hosts, though.

A brilliant performance by Niklas Landin in goal and a more determined effort form the field players soon resulted in an eight goal lead for the home team.

Kim Ekdahl du Rietz has said goodbye to the Swedish national team, but he is still going strong by the Rhein-Neckar Löwen, and this Sunday evening he contributed a lot to the Lions' taking the deciding lead in the second half.

A couple of mistakes in the Löwen attack enabled Medvedi to crawl a bit closer towards the end, but there was never any real doubt about the outcome of the match anymore.

The win makes Rhein-Neckar Löwen advance two positions in the group, where they are now on third position.