Kiel out to book the early semi-final ticket

Never before, since the Men’s EHF Cup merged in the 2012/13 season, could a team book their ticket to the semi-final as soon as group phase round 4. This season, THW Kiel, host of the Akquinet EHF Cup Finals on May 17 and 18, can take this step in Odense – if they record a victory over GOG on Sunday, they will be the group winners. 

In the second Group D match, Fraikin BM. Granollers and KS Azoty-Pulawy SA are both out for their first victory in the group phase.

GROUP D
GOG (DEN) vs THW Kiel (GER)
Sunday 3 March, 15:00 local time, live on ehfTV.com

• Kiel have won all three group matches, including the dominant 37:23 result in the first leg against GOG

• The hosts of Sunday’s encounter beat Granollers and Pulawy in the previous rounds

• More than 500 THW fans will travel to the match. Because of the huge interest in Denmark, the game will take place in the arena in Odense

• GOG head coach Nicolej Krickau just extended his contract until 2022

• THW won their dress rehearsal in the Bundesliga at Melsungen on Thursday, while GOG lost at Sonderjyske

Fraikin BM. Granollers (ESP) vs KS Azoty-Pulawy SA
Sunday 3 March, 19:30 local time, live on ehfTV.com

• In the first leg, Pulawy let a 34:30 advantage slip in the last two minutes, for a final result of 34:34

• Out of three Spanish EHF Cup participants, Granollers are the only side without a victory so far

• The hosts have lost both home matches in this EHF Cup season, against Velenje (qualification) and Kiel (group phase)

• Both teams are on one point, and both are close to elimination from the quarter-final race

• Granollers’ wing Adrian Figueras is currently the second top scorer in the EHF Cup, with 37 goals in his tally