Medvedi take their first point against Montpellier 

Injury-hit Montpellier Agglomeration HB needed a Dragan Gajic goal eight seconds from the end to save a point at home against winless Chekhovskie Medvedi. The Russian champions put up a great performance against the home side and picked up a deserved first point in the fifth round. 

VELUX EHF Champions League Group C

Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA) vs Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) 32:32 (15:14)

Although Montpellier were hot favorites to beat Medvedi, who stood without a single point before the fifth round of the VELUX EHF Champions League, the French outfit faced the Russian champions without some key players. Montepellier coach Patrice Canayer could not count on three of his Slovenian stars – Matej Gaber, Jure Dolenec and Borut Mackovsek are all out with injuries – giving Medvedi the chance to catch the home side off-guard. 

However, Montpellier still had their other world class Slovenian players, Vid Kavticnik and Dragan Gajic. Kavticnik and Gajic scored freely to keep the home side ahead, but the visitors held tight and never let the score line get too wide.

Medvedi were boosted by the excellent performances of Dmitry Kovalev and Sergey Shelmenko, who helped keep it a tight game at the half-time break (15:14). 

The 5000 fans in Pérols were shocked to see the Russian underdogs keeping pace with the home side. Alexander Dereven in particular kept Medvedi in the game during the second half with his pinpoint finishes. 

The game was wide open until the very last minutes, when Dragan Gajic’s goal eight seconds from the final whistle sealed a draw, and one point for each team, avoiding an even bigger upset for Montpellier.