FIRST LEG
IK Sävehof (SWE) vs KGHM MKS Zaglebie Lubin (POL) 30:28 (14:14)
In an exciting match full of turnarounds, the winner was decided within the final 180 seconds as the reigning Swedish and the Polish champions, respectively, entered the 57th minute with the result tied (28:28). Ultimately, the young and talented right back Thea Kylberg scored the penultimate goal and then Elin Ernelind added another one to settle the final score. Furthermore, the goalkeeper - Elin Lindblom made 16 saves (36 per cent of save efficiency) and played a pivotal role in helping the determined hosts to celebrate a two-goal win in the end.
Sola HK (NOR) vs LC Brühl Handball (SUI) 33:23 (15:12)
LC Brühl Handball (SUI) vs Sola HK (NOR) 32:37 (15:13)
Sola HK win (70:55) on aggregate
New season and fresh Camilla Herrem's brilliance as the veteran played a crucial part in helping Sola HK secure a place in the EHF European League's group stage with the 38-year-old scoring surreal 18 goals over the double-header against LC Brühl Handball in Norway. In the return leg, LC Brühl Handball fought hard to demonstrate that they were much better than the first leg's scoreline showed, but ultimately, Sola HK upped the tempo towards the end of the match and celebrated a second victory in a span of 24 hours in Norway.
Larvik (NOR) vs KPR Gminy Kobierzyce (POL) 30:29 (15:16)
Despite the Arne Senstad-led squad holding a five-goal lead on a couple of occasions early in the first half, KPR Gminy Kobierzyce fought hard to get back in the match and even mount a comeback just before the break. The dramatic second half turned into a contest between Maja Furu Sæteren (Larvik) and Magdalena Drazyk (Kobierzyce), who ended the match with 10 and nine goals, respectively, but the Norwegian left back was more successful as Larvik celebrated a minimal one-goal win with Sæteren scoring two of the final three goals for the hosts.
HC Lokomotiva Zagreb (CRO) vs ATTICGO Bm Elche (ESP) 21:28 (10:11)
The reigning EHF European Cup winners ended Lokomotiva's six-match winning streak with an impressive all-round performance on both ends of the court to celebrate a decent first leg's win in Croatia's capital. Spanish goalkeeper Nicole Alejandra Morales Claure made 13 saves and recorded 39 per cent of save efficiency during the relentless run, while on the other side of the court Carmen Filipa Claudino Figueiredo scored eight goals and was the first leg's top scorer.
JDA Bourgogne Dijon Handball (FRA) vs ZRK Zrinski Cakovec (CRO) 43:12 (24:9)
The Dijon-based club was no match for the debutants in the EHF's club competitions as JDA Bourgogne Dijon Handball demonstrated quality to secure a dominant first leg win. The Clement Alcacer-led squad scored impressive 24 goals over the course of the opening half and allowed only three goals during the entirety of the second half to cap off an excellent performance on both ends of the court.
BV Borussia Dortmund (GER) vs DHK Banik Most (CZE) 36:32 (18:14)
The reigning leaders in Germany's top-tier did not let any surprises in the first leg as BV Borussia Dortmund extended their unbeaten streak in all competitions this season with an assured performance in front of their own supporters. The confident hosts even held a seven-goal lead on a few occasions in the second half, but the Czech club successfully narrowed down the difference in the final 10 minutes of the match to leave Germany only four goals short of Dortmund's advantage ahead of the return leg next week.
Thüringer HC (GER) vs Vác (HUN) 34:22 (17:11)
The Hungarian club's bright start to the match was halted quickly by Thüringer HC as Dinah Eckerle & co. established full control over the match's result and their lead only grew as the minutes went by. The German goalkeeper put in a brilliant performance between the posts as she made incredible 17 saves accompanied by 44 per cent of save efficiency, while Sára Afentaler was the match's top scorer with seven goals for the visitors
HSG Blomberg-Lippe (GER) vs TUSSIES Metzingen (GER) 30:21 (14:9)
The Blomberg-based club made a victorious comeback in the EHF European League by taking a comfortable win in the first leg against TUSSIES Metzingen in the Germany derby. Additionally, it was HSG Blomberg-Lippe's second win against the Péter Woth-led squad already this season after defeating them in Germany's top-tier last month, which aids further the hosts' confidence ahead of the return leg next week.
The spectators saw in the first few minutes that we still had Wednesday's game in our heads. That's why we found it so difficult to get into the game today. After we shook ourselves up a bit, we were able to act more flexibly. In the end, we won this important game despite a few mistakes. The size of the win is particularly important, because the second leg in Metzingen won't be easy.
