Anything is possible in Group D

If this Group D had been played two years ago, no one would probably have hesitated to name HC Metalurg as favourites to win it – apart from the fact that the Macedonian club would not even have played in Group C or D back then due to the their strength at the time.

However, after losing more than 20 players, even the charismatic coach Lino Cervar will have his trouble taking the team to one of the two top positions, which would qualify them for the knock out stage. Still, it is hard to point out one or even two obvious favourites in the group, and this may be the Skopje based team’s chance after all.

Two Norwegians and a Swede have reinforced Skjern Handbold who are in the Champions League for the first time since the 2003/04 season. Line player Bjarte Myrhol and goalkeeper Magnus Dahl, both from Norway as well as Swedish left back Marcus Olsson have both strengthened the Danish runners-up from last season.

If Skjern had not loaned out Danish international Henrik Möllgaard to Paris shortly before the start of the season, the third team of the EHF Cup last season would probably have been favourites to win the group. As it is, they are likely to have to struggle for a top two position. HC Motor Zaporozhye are in for their third Champions League season in a row – and the third in history.

Having reached the Last 16 in the debut season in 2013/14, they did not make it any further than the group phase last season. The big question is if they will be strong and consistent enough this season to conquer one of the two positions, which will mean a knock out berth.

Kadetten Schaffhausen definitely do not miss European experience. In fact, the Swiss club have been in a European Cup competition each and every year in the history of the EHF, and this season is their seventh in the Champions League group phase.

Last season, the came close to qualifying for the Last 16, but lost the chance on the last match day of the group phase. However, with players like the experienced left wing Manuel Liniger and the Hungarian playmaker Gabor Csaszar, just to mention a few, the Cadets are certainly among the contenders for the two tickets.

For the first time in three years, Romanian handball is represented in the VELUX EHF Champions League, and at the same time, there is a new kid in the class.Until recently, HCM Baia Mare have been better known for their women’s team, but this season, the men from the club celebrate their Champions League debut.

At the same time, Baia Mare are celebrating their return to European men’s handball after ten years of absence, as their latest European adventure was in the 2005/06 season. Just like Baia Mare, Elverum Handball Herrer are debutants in the Champions League, where they are the first Norwegian team in six years. An impressive first place in the qualification tournament in Bosnian Banja Luka made the group phase berth for the team under the playing Swedish coach Mikael Apelgren.

Already before the qualification tournament, Apelgren stated, that should his team reach the group phase, the Last 16 would not be an unrealistic goal.

The coming months will prove him either right or wrong.

The BBC Arena in Shaffhausen will be the venue of the first match in the VELUX EHF Champions League Group D this season, as Kadetten Schaffhausen and Elverum Handball Herrer meet Thursday evening.

Saturday evening, it will be HC Motor Zaporozhye and HC Metalurg who meet, before the first match day is concluded with the match between Skjern Handbold and HCM Baia Mare.

VELUX EHF Champions League Group D

Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI) vs Elverum Handball Herrer (NOR)
Thursday 17 September 19.00 local time, live on ehfTV

Last season, Kadetten were close to making it to the Last 16 like they have done twice before, but they missed the cut narrowly on the last match day of the group phase.

This season, they will start their hunt for the knock-out matches at home against Champions League debutants Elverum who have joined the group as winners of the qualification tournament.

Kadetten coach Markus Baur is fully aware what awaits his team.

“A typical Scandinavian way of playing with a physically strong 6-0 defence, fast counter attacks and a structured attacking play.

“Nevertheless, we want to play our own game in our own hall, put pressure on our opponents and win the match,” says Baur.

Mikael Apelgren, Swedish coach of the Norwegian team, realises that his man are underdogs in Switzerland.

“It will be an extremely difficult start for us in a group, where it will be a sensation if we take one of the two top positions.

“However, we can play free, as we have nothing to lose. Qualifying for the Champions League has been a dream for us for many years, and now that we are here, we are going to enjoy it,” Mikael Apelgren tells ehfCL.com.

HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) vs HC Metalurg (MKD)
Saturday 19 September, 18.30 local time, live on ehfTV

It will be two teams, who both have happy memories of making it further than the group phase in the past, who meet on Saturday evening in the EksForc Ice Terminal Brovary.

To Motor, it is their third Champions League appearances in succession, having reached the Last 16 two years ago, and narrowly missing the knock-out phase last season.

To Metalurg, the group phase also became the end last year, after having reached the quarter-finals two years in succession.

The charismatic coach Lino Cervar is in charge of the Metalurg team, who have undergone a lot of changes, to say the least, and he expects a tough start to the tournament.

“Motor is a very strong team and they are quite experienced in Champions League and of course they are a real favorite in our upcoming duel. We are trying to create a new team and this match should be a good opportunity for our players to present themselves,” Lino Cervar tells ehfCL.com.

“The new team should produce good results only in few years so this game against the Ukrainian champion will be of great importance for us to gain experience and improve our form. I expect a strong physical game against an exceptionally strong Motor's handball players and I hope we have the opportunity to introduce ourselves in the best light. A good game and a good result  will mean a lot to us for the rest of the season and the next two games at home against Schaffhausen and Elverum,” Cervar adds.

Skjern Handbold (DEN) vs HCM Baia Mare (ROU)
Sunday 20 September, 16.50 local time, live on ehfTV

Two Danish coaches will be meeting in the Skjern Bank Arena Sunday afternoon. Skjen coach Ole Nørgaard will have his fellow countryman Lars Walther as his adversary on the opposite bench.

Walther, who has coached several Eastern European clubs in recent years, led Baia Mare to the Romanian championship last season, but he anticipates a difficult start for his Champions League debutants.

“We expect a difficult match against Skjern. In my opinion, they are one of the favourites to win the group. With players like Myrhol, Søndergaard, Svensson and Mikkelsen, they have a line of very experienced players who are used to playing this kind of games.

“So, to make a surprise in Skjern, we have to have a perfect day,” Lars Walther tells ehfCL.com.

“We know, however, that we can be on this level, and we will obviously do our best to make things go our way,” he says.