MIDWEEK PREVIEW: Key clashes in the race for the Last 16 in Mannheim and Bucharest get Round 9 off to a flying start
Löwen return home to face resurgent Veszprém
Round 9’s midweek matches feature matches between third and fifth place in both Group A and D and both will have a big impact on the race to the VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16
GROUP A
Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) vs Telekom Veszprém HC (HUN)
Wednesday 21 November, 19:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com
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Löwen must win to protect third place, fresh off a surprising loss last week against Montpellier and a heavy defeat in the Bundesliga, 27:20, against champions Flensburg on Monday
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the German side will earn their 70 ever win in the VELUX EHF Champions League in 127 games, provided if they manage to overcome the Hungarian powerhouse
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Veszprém stopped a three-game skid last week and will be confident to take on a challenge, after losing the reverse fixture 29:28
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the two teams are almost deadlocked in previous encounters with Veszprém taking four wins, Löwen three, while two games ended in a stalemate
GROUP D
Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU) vs Riihimäen Cocks (FIN)
Wednesday 21 November, 19:30 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com
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must-win match for the hosts, who find themselves one point outside the play-off places with two rounds remaining
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the reverse fixture in October saw Dinamo come from behind to snatch a 32:31 win
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Bucharest clearly missed top scorer Amine Bannour in the weekend loss to Elverum as he stayed home to recover from injury and his fitness for this match remains in doubt
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Cocks’ Nico Rönnberg is joint top-scorer of the competition with 55 goals
TEXT:
Adrian Costeiu, Chris O'Reilly / cor