GROUP A PREVIEW: German champions out for their first win against the Oilers in the only midweek match of Round 2
Löwen ready for Plock after confidence-boosting Match of the Week
Round 2 of the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase begins in St. Leon-Rot, Germany on Wednesday, where Rhein-Neckar Löwen will look to build on Sunday’s draw against Barcelona and their opponents Plock know another daunting task awaits.
• Both teams searching for their first victory of the season in Europe.
• Löwen won both previous encounters nine seasons ago.
• Icelandic left wing Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson is still an injury concern for the home side.
GROUP A
Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) vs. Orlen Wisla Plock (POL)
Wednesday, 18:30 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com
Rhein-Neckar Löwen will have their second VELUX EHF Champions League home match in the space of three days.
With their great comeback against FC Barcelona Lassa (31:31) fresh in the memory, Nikolaj Jacobsen’s team will be seen as favourites at home in St. Leon-Rot.
“Plock have a physical strong defence and they are not easy to move around, but our approach is to win all home matches,” said Rhein-Neckar team manager Oliver Roggisch.
The Polish runners-up expectedly lost their opener against defending champions Vardar, but fought bravely in a respectable 26:22 scoreline. Löwen won both previous encounters with the Oilers, 38:25 and 37:23, back in the 2008/09 season.
“We travel to Germany without any pressure,” says Plock's club president and former player Adam Wisniewski.
“We are young and ambitious, but we also know that there are other places we have better chances to take points and proceed to the Last 16.”
TEXT:
Björn Pazen / cor