Telekom Veszprem hit the road, Vardar 1961 welcoming Montpellier

Veselin Vujovic

Wednesday and Thursday are traditionally reserved for European competitions. This week EHF Champions League, in which SEHA – Gazprom League has five representatives, will be fully in focus.
 
In Group A, Vardar 1961 will welcome French Montpellier. Veselin Vujovic and his guys are doing great so far with two wins three rounds into the group stage. Montpellier, which was in the last round dominant at home versus THW Kiel (37:30), will however surely be a tough nut to crack but we all know there is not a team Macedonians can’t beat in their fully-crowded Jane Sandanski Arena.

After two losses and a draw at home against Elverum, PPD Zagreb will be looking to deliver high-quality performance and try to surprise highly-favored THW Kiel away from home. Germans will surely be motivated to prove last round’s tough loss in Montpellier was nothing but a coincidence and it will be interesting to see whether coach Obrvan and his players will find a way to hurt the German giant.

Meshkov Brest will, as the only remaining team still without a point in Europe’s elite club handball competition, look for one in Denmark against Aalborg. Danes finished third on the Super Globe tournament last week falling short against Magdeburg in the semis which means Belarussians will certainly have a chance. In the last round, they were close to defeating Szeged at home which means their form is clearly on the rise.
 
In Group B four teams have 2-1 score: Barcelona, Telekom Veszprem, Kielce and Porto. Hungarians will on Thursday evening in Porto have a chance to open the gap between themselves and the Portuguese side. They’ve already managed to defeat both PSG and Barca so far this season which means they will once again be one of the main favorites to go all the way in Cologne.

Motor Zaporozhye will on the other side have a harder task traveling to France to meet PSG. The French squad is surely not happy with a 1-1-1 score three rounds into the group stage and they will, without doubt, be motivated to come out on top versus coach Gintaras Savukinas and his players. However, Motor have already on a few occasions this season proved they can deliver a great, strong performance and it will be interesting to see whether they’ll manage to stun favored hosts away from home.
 
GROUP A:
Wed, Oct 13 (20.45 CET) Vardar 1961 – Montpellier
Wed, Oct 13 (18.45 CET) THW Kiel – PPD Zagreb
Wed, Oct 13 (18.45 CET) Aalborg – Meshkov Brest
Thu, Oct 14 (18.45 CET) Szeged - Elverum
 
GROUP B:
Wed, Oct 13 (20.45 CET) Kielce – Flensburg
Thu, Oct 14 (20.45 CET) Barcelona – Dinamo Bucuresti
Thu, Oct 14 (20.45 CET) Porto – Telekom Veszprem
Thu, Oct 14 (20.45 CET) Paris Saint Germain – Motor Zaporozhye