Third round of EHF Champions League group phase is behind us and it has, without doubt, been the best one so far for our SEHA – Gazprom League representatives in the competition. All four teams have managed to deliver solid outings and we’re now bringing you our weekly recap of their performances.

Group A

Meshkov Brest – PSG 32:31

Meshkov Brest have managed to produce the biggest stunner of the round defeating one of Europe’s strongest teams PSG in Brest. Belarusians were splendid in the first half already opening the gap to five (19:14). However, against such teams, you can never allow yourself to slow down and lose focus. Guests managed to get back into this one levelling the result in the middle of the second but Meshkov proved to be a great team staying focused and clinching an important win in the end. Mikita Vailupau was once again flying all over the court finishing the match with seven goals while Marko Panic added six. One of the biggest stars that have ever played in SEHA – Gazprom League – Latvian giant Dainis Kristopans led PSG with seven in this one but that wasn’t enough to defeat highly-motivated hosts. Three rounds into the competition Meshkov are third in group A with four points. In the next round Raul Gonzales and his guys will travel to Poland to meet Kielce.

Group B

PPD Zagreb – Aalborg 26:27

PPD Zagreb were just a step away from reaching first CL points, falling one goal short against Danish Aalborg in Arena Zagreb. Hosts were playing really good in the first half, slowly widening the gap to three goals until the half-time buzzer (15:12). Danish defense, however, worked a lot better in the second helping them completely get back into this one and eventually take what was their first lead in the second half at 26:27 which eventually turned out to be the final result with ‘Lions’ failing to find the net in the final minute of the encounter. Milos Bozovic netted seven for Zagreb while Mario Vuglac finished the match with six goals. In the next round PPD Zagreb will travel to Spain to meet Barcelona.

Motor Zaporozhye – Telekom Veszprem 34:37

In what was an unusually high-scoring match for both sides, Telekom Veszprem managed to secure two new points in a SEHA derby of the round in Zaporozhye against Motor. Match was very close throughout its entire course with offences working perfectly on both sides. However, Telekom Veszprem managed to come out victorious in the end led by our Final4 MVP from Zadar Petar Nenadic who finished the match with 10 goals. Rogerio Moraes added six. Artem Kozakevych on the other side finished the match with eight for Motor. After three rounds Veszprem are second in group B with six points and Motor are sixth yet having to win their first points. In the next round Motor will play Kiel in Germany and Telekom Veszprem will welcome Celje.

EHF European League qualifications are also over and we can proudly say we’ll have three of our SEHA – Gazprom League teams in the group stage. And while Tatran Presov and Eurofarm Pelister qualified for the group stage directly, Croatian vice-champions Nexe had to go through qualification round 2. Coach Hrvoje Horvat and his guys were in the second leg played in Nasicewith 29:24 better than Spanish Bidasoa overcoming three-goal deficit from Irun and securing their place in the competition.

EHF European League – Group Stage

Group A: Chehovskie Medvedi, Ademar Leon, Metalurg Skopje, Wisla Plock, Toulouse, Aon Fivers

Group B: Füchse Berlin, Sporting, Tatran Presov, Nimes, Kristianstad, Dinamo Bucuresti

Group C: Magdeburg, Alingsas, Montpellier, Bestiktas, Nexe, CSKA Moscow

Group D: GOG, Rhein-Neckar Löwen, Tatabanya, Trebnje, Kadetten Schaffhausen, Eurofarm Pelister