GROUP B/C PREVIEW: While some teams have the chance to clinch their main round berths this weekend, others are under pressure as they have yet to collect any points this season
Györ and Rostov eye the main round
In Women’s EHF Champions League Group B, Rostov-Don, Kobenhavn Handball and Brest Bretagne all have a chance to book their tickets to the main round this weekend, while last-placed IK Sävehof will try to claim their first points in the competition.
Thüringer HC are still waiting for their first point in Group C, but the title holders Györi Audi ETO KC can also secure their spot in the main round. In the other Group C clash, HC Podravka Vegeta visit Ljubljana to play RK Krim Mercator.
GROUP B
Rostov-Don (RUS) vs Kobenhavn Handball (DEN)
Saturday 3 November, 16:00 local time, live on ehftv.com
• A victory will see Rostov sure of progression to the main round
• Kobenhavn may also secure their main round berth, if they get more points in Rostov than Sävehof do in Brest
• The Danish champions will try to take revenge for the home defeat (27:21) in round 3
• Rostov’s Anna Vyakhireva enters the clash in joint second place on the competition’s top scorer chart, with 25 goals
Brest Bretagne Handball (FRA) vs IK Sävehof (SWE)
Sunday 4 November, 15:00 local time, live on ehftv.com
• Brest claimed their first victory at this level in the previous round, against Sävehof, 39:27
• Another victory will earn the French team a main round spot
• Sävehof sit at the bottom of the group with three defeats in as many games
• Brest’s Ana Gros is on par with Vyakhireva on the top scorer list, with 25 goals
GROUP C
RK Krim Mercator (SLO) vs HC Podravka Vegeta (CRO)
Saturday 3 November, 19:00 local time, live on ehftv.com
• In Croatia the sides finished with a draw. Now, both have three points after one win, their mutual draw and one loss
• Tamara Mavsar from Krim is fifth on the top scorer list, with 22 goals
• The Slovenian side are absolutely dominant in the domestic league. They have won five from five and scored 203 times
• Podravka lead the Croatian league, most recently beating Murvica 44:16
Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN) vs Thüringer HC (GER)
Monday 5 November, 19:00 local time, live on ehftv.com
• With a win, Györ can look ahead to the main round
• The Hungarian side are the only one to have scored more than 100 goals after three rounds in the group phase. They are now at 110, which means an incredible average of 36.6 goals per game
• THC remain without points in the Champions League however, they are still unbeaten in the German championship
• In the last rendezvous between these sides in the previous round, Györ won easily, 38:22
TEXT:
Béla Müller / Sergey Nikolaev / cg