First six stops of MOTW announced

The Match of the Week has become already a traditional feature on ehfTV.com and all handball fans can already look forward to a new series as the schedule for the first six rounds of the VELUX EHF Champions League 2015/16 has been announced.

The ehfTV commentator Tom O’Brannagain, who guides the viewers through the MOTW games with his unique way of commentating, will not be able to complain for a lack of adventure as he is to visit six handball arenas in five countries in just a five-week span.

After a big premiere in Mannheim, Germany where he will follow the first steps of the defending champions on their title-defence path as FC Barcelona Lassa undergo a more than challenging  opening test with the hosts Rhein-Neckar Löwen.

Matches in Veszprem, Hungary (Round 2), Montpellier, France (Round 3), Skopje, FYR Macedonia (Round 4), Kielce, Poland (Round 5) will follow. The first stage of the European top flight will culminate in Paris in Round 6 as the home star-studded team of Paris Saint-Germain Handball receive last season’s runners-up from Veszprem.

Matches of the Week in Rounds 1-6

Round 1
Sunday, 20 September 2015 (19:30 hrs), SAP Arena (Mannheim, GER)
Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs FC Barcelona Lassa

Tom’s quote: “We can only hope for a reprise of the classic from two seasons ago. Barca won't relish this as their first trip. Everyone will want to beat the champs. It'll be interesting to see how Jicha replaces Kara, but on the flip side Stanic has a big job between the sticks and Schmid will miss his old buddy on the line.”

Round 2
Saturday, 26 September 2015 (17:30 hrs), Veszprem Arena (Veszprem, HUN)
Veszprem Handball Club vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt

Tom’s quote: “V is for victory or Veszprém. The last two seasons has seen a marked improvement in the Magyars and their summer signings has placed them in a favourites position. Flensburg has bought well, but suffered defeat to Kiel in the German Super Cup. It takes time to gel and in this group there is no time. Palmarsson might be giving the low down on a team he knows well to his new boss.”

Round 3
Sunday, 4 October 2015 (17:00 hrs), Palais des Sports Rene Bougnol (Montpellier, FRA)
Montpellier HB vs KIF Kolding Kobenhavn

Tom’s quote: “Great attack versus great defence if we take it on last year's merits. Difficult to call and we'll have to see how "Tino" is settling in. Montpellier was getting better and better in CL last season, but the Danes are always very strong at the start.”

Round 4
Saturday, 11 October 2015 (18:00 hrs), SC Jane Sandanski (Skopje, MKD)
HC Vardar vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen

Tom’s quote: “Vardar's squad is getting younger and faster. There are no excuses now. The squad is stronger with RB Maqueda. He will add to their potential. This arena is already becoming a stronghold for them and RNL haven't looked great on the road in previous seasons.”

Round 5
Saturday, 17 October 2015 (18:00 hrs), MOSIR Hala Legionow (Kielce, POL)
KS Vive Tauron Kielce vs FC Barcelona Lassa

Tom’s quote: “Mouth watering. I mean to have a match like this so early shows the power of the group. Two old foes in the coaches and an arena that knows its H-Ball. All depends on how much Barcelona want it. But Kielce won't roll over easily. Jurkewicz knows his old boss and this is the fifth game in.”

Round 6
Sunday, 25 October 2015 (17:00 hrs), Halle George Carpentier (Paris, FRA)
Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs Veszprem Handball Club

Tom’s quote: “Ooooh la la. Remember last year. My highlight of the season. The recipe has changed in PSG. Add in a coach who has the loyalty of the stars and the Kara Boys are back on home soil. How the team has gelled will be obvious from the early rounds, but the tea-leaves tell me that this could be a prelude to a final.”

All times are local.