ROUND PREVIEW: Women's EHF Cup matches this coming weekend should see more teams secure their progress to the quarter-finals
Four quarter-final spots left to fight over
Last week’s matches saw as many as four teams booking early tickets to the Women’s EHF Cup Quarter-finals, as Siofok KC Hungary, Herning-Ikast Handbold, Viborg HK and HC Podravka Vegeta all went through.
That leaves four more berths in the next round up for grabs and some more quarter-finalists may be determined in Round 5’s encounters, six of which will be streamed live on ehfTV.com.
GROUP A
Sports Club Magura Cisnadie (ROU) vs Team Esbjerg (DEN)
Sunday 3 February, 11:30 local time, live on ehfTV.com
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Esbjerg are group leaders with seven points; Magura have lost all four games
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Even a draw is enough for the Danish side to grab a quarter-final ticket
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In the reverse fixture, Esbjerg left Magura no chance, winning 41:18 at home
Storhamar Handball Elite (NOR) vs SG BBM Bietigheim (GER)
Sunday 3 February, 15:00 local time, live on ehfTV.com
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Both teams are direct rivals for a quarter-final spot, with Storhamar on five points, and Bietigheim four
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A home win will secure a quarter-final spot for the Norwegian team
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Storhamar improved their position by beating Magura twice; Bietigheim lost both games to Esbjerg
GROUP B
TusSies Metzingen (GER) vs IK Sävehof (SWE)
Saturday 2 February, 20:00 local time, live on ehfTV.com
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Both sides no longer have a chance of progressing from the group
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Metzingen lost their chance after two defeats against Herning-Ikast
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Sävehof have lost ten straight games in European club competitions this season, including six in the Women’s EHF Champions League
Herning-Ikast Handbold (DEN) vs Siofok KC Hungary (HUN)
Sunday 3 February, 14:00 local time
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Both Herning-Ikast and Siofok are through to the next round
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Group leaders Siofok boast a perfect record; second-placed Herning-Ikast are on a three-game winning run
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The game will feature a duel of the competition’s top two scorers, as Siofok’s Andrea Kobetic scored 35 goals and Herning-Ikast’s Helene Fauske has 31
GROUP C
Viborg HK (DEN) vs Larvik HK (NOR)
Saturday 2 February, 16:00 local time, live on ehfTV.com
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Viborg are already through to the quarter-finals with four victories in four games
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Following two wins against Kuban, Viborg are certain to finish first in Group C
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Last week, Larvik beat Besancon and thus claimed their first points in the competition
Kuban (RUS) vs E.S.Besancon Feminin (FRA)
Sunday 3 February, 16:00 local time, live on ehfTV.com
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Kuban are second-placed with four points; Besanson sit third with two points
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Victory will see the Russian team go through unless Larvik win at Viborg
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Kuban’s Diana Golub is the third highest scorer in the competition with 28 goals
GROUP D
Super Amara Bera Bera (ESP) vs HC Podravka Vegeta (CRO)
Sunday 3 February, 12:00 local time, live on ehfTV.com
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Podravka are already through with a perfect record, four wins in four games
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Bera Bera are in third place in the group with two points
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The Spanish side hope to fight back after two straight defeats against Nykobing
Nykobing Falster Handbald-NFH (DEN) vs SCM Craiova (ROU)
Sunday 3 February, 18:00 local time
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Both teams are fighting for the second quarter-final spot in Group D
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Nykobing are now second with four points; Craiova sit bottom of the group with two points
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Nykobing claimed two straight wins against Bera Bera; title holders Craiova are on a three-game losing streak
TEXT:
Sergey Nikolaev / cor