GROUPS C/D PREVIEW: The last round of games in the first half of the group phase promises some exciting action as top teams meet each other
Blockbusters in Presov and Bucharest mark halfway point in Groups C/D
Round 5 of the VELUX EHF Champions League 2018/19 is coming up. So after the weekend, all teams in Groups C/D will have played each other once.
The last round before that halfway mark features a full portion of six exciting matches over the two days.
Group C fans will eye on Presov vs Sporting, which can tell a lot about both teams’ chances of progression, while Group D fans will look forward to Dinamo Bucuresti hosting leaders Orlen Wisla Plock.
GROUP C
Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) vs HC Metalurg (MKD)
Saturday, 13 October, 16:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com
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Metalurg travel to Russia to play for their first points in the campaign, while Medvedi surprisingly beat Presov last week
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Metalurg will be without their coach, Danilo Brestovac, who has been suspended for one match by the Court of Handball following his aggressive behaviour during last week's match against BSV
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In the all-time head-to-head stats, Medvedi lead 4:2; last season, both teams shared a group as well and they each won the away game
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Medvedi top their domestic league, while Metalurg have not won a competitive match since May 2018
Besiktas Mogaz (TUR) vs Bjerringro-Silkeborg (DEN)
Saturday, 13 October, 16:00 hrs local time, live on ehftv.com
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Bjerrinbro top the group with six points but Besiktas on four points can close the gap with a win
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Both teams have not met before in a European Cup tie
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Bjerringbro rely on right wing Johan Hansen again, who has 28 goals from four games so far
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Besiktas right back Ramazan Döne will be sitting out a one-match suspension after his expulsion from last week's game against Sporting CP
TATRAN Presov (SVK) vs Sporting CP (POR)
Saturday, 13 October, 18:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com
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Key match between two teams on six points each and with same goal difference of +12
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Carlos Ruesga and Martin Stranovsky have played together for Ademar Leon
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First European Cup meeting between the two meets, though Sporting played (and won) the qualification tournament in Presov last year
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Presov have lost only one game in their last 10 matches in all competitions, Sporting two as they surprisingly lost to Maia-Ismai 26:25 in a midweek match, their first domestic defeat of the season
GROUP D
Wacker Thun (SUI) vs Abanca Ademar Leon (ESP)
Saturday, 13 October, 17:30 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com
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First meeting between the teams since 2002, when Leon won both legs of a Cup Winners’ Cup tie
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Home side Thun are one of just six teams still in search of a victory this season
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The Swiss side lost 33:19 to Otmar St. Gallen on Wednesday, while Leon beat Puente Genil 24:20
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Leon’s win over Plock last week puts them back in the hunt for a play-off place, another win Saturday should see them entering the top two
Elverum Handball (NOR) vs Riihimäen Cocks (FIN)
Sunday, 14 October, 18:10 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com
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This Nordic derby is the first competitive meeting between the two sides
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Following two losses in their opening pair of matches, Elverum have bounced back with consecutive victories
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Cocks are still in search of their first win, having let a four-goal lead disappear for the third time this season in Round 4 against Dinamo
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Cocks have netted only 94 times this season, and just two players scored exactly half of their tally - Nico Rönnberg and Teemu Tamminen
Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU) vs Orlen Wisla Plock (POL)
Sunday 14 October, 21:00 local time, live on ehfTV.com
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Two teams tied at the top of the group on six points clash in Round 5’s final match
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The first competitive meeting of these sides could prove to be crucial as Dinamo aim to capitalise on Plock’s first defeat of the season last weekend
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Both sides have been equally efficient in attack, but Plock’s defence has been superior, conceding just 97 goals, the fewest in the entire competition
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Plock got back to winning ways with a midweek league victory away to Gdynia, while Dinamo beat Bacau 36:28 on Tuesday
TEXT:
Tomas Cuncik, Chris O'Reilly / ew