EHF Champions League’s eighth round was probably the least successful one for SEHA Gazprom representatives in it so far this season with only Celje PL and Meshkov grabbing a point each in their mutual encounter considering CL’s strongest groups. Fans in Zlatorog sports hall were given a chance to witness a true spectacle with much more than a thriller ending. Hosts were down by one with less than a minute to go with David Razgor leveling it up at 35:35. After that Janc has managed to grab a decisive steal to put them up by one with 15 seconds left to play but Vukic was cold-blooded bringing Meshkov a point with the buzzer and a perfectly placed spin-shot for 36:36. Razgor and Janc were dominating the match for Celje scoring 9 goals each and on the other side Ostroushko scored 8, Stojkovic added 6, Kristopans 5.

Other three SEHA teams in groups A and B were not as lucky to grab points in this round. PPD Zagreb were however not far away from stunning reigning CL champions Kielce on their court losing with 29:25 after being one goal up after first 30. Rocket shooter Mandalinic was once again leading the team with 7. Jotic and Vori have managed to add 4 each but that was not enough to bring title holders down away from home.

Vardar did not manage to beat Rhein Neckar Löwen (26:29) at home in Jane Sandaski sports hall which puts their leading role in jeopardize especially after Kielce’s win over Zagreb. Borozan and Canellas were leading Gonzales’ boys scoring 6 each but Löwen’s strong finish secured them 2 points in Skopje.

In group A Telekom Veszprem have once again fallen short against PSG losing 28:24 away from home. Palmarsson scored 5, Nagy added 4 but team from Paris was for the second time in a week a too big obstacle for reigning SEHA Gazprom League champions. 

In the next round Meshkov will play Kristianstad away from home, PPD Zagreb will host Löwen, Celje will travel to Hungary to meet PICK Szeged and Vardar will have a chance to make up for hom-court loss against Rhein Neckar Löwen playing away against Kielce. In group A Telekom Veszprem will play Silkeborg away from home.

STANDINGS IN GROUPS A AND B AFTER ROUND 8:

GROUP A: PSG 14, Barcelona 14, Flensburg 9, Telekom Veszprem 8, Kiel 8, Wisla 5, Silkeborg 4, Kadetten Schaffhausen 2.

GROUP B: Vardar 12, Kielce 12, Szeged 11, Rhein Neckar Löwen 11, Meshkov 8, Celje PL 5, Kristianstad 3, PPD Zagreb 2.

Second SEHA derby of the round was the one between Metalurg and Tatran in Skopje in group C with hosts managing to grab dominant 26:20 victory. Cervar’s boys were up by only one after first 30 but in the end, with a strong finish they have managed to enlarge the gap and secure a clear win. Taleski was once again dominating the encounter scoring 10, Gugleta added 5 for Metalurg and on the other side Rabek scored 8 for Tatran.

In the next round both teams will play away from home with Metalurg traveling to Spain to meet La Rioja and Tatran playing in Norway against Elverum.

STANDINGS IN GROUPS C AND D AFTER ROUND 8:

GROUP C: Montpellier 12, La Rioja 9, Metalurg 8, Elverum 7, Chehovskie Medvedi 6, Tatran 6.

GROUP D: Nantes 13, Motor 11, Besiktas 9, Dinamo Bucuresti 6, Holstebro 5, ABC/UMinho 4.