EHF European Cup Women marathon continues

• ZRK Borac lost by a single goal (23:24) away to HC Dalmatinka Ploce last weekend, making the return leg in Banja Luka extremely open
• Slovenian side ZRK Mlinotest Ajdovscina have a four-goal gap to close up at home after their 30:34 loss to DHC Slavia Praha in the first leg
• last year’s runners-up MSK IUVENTA Michalovce took a 27:24 victory over HSC Kreuzlingen in the first leg, giving them a slight advantage ahead of their home match on Saturday
• Handball Erice SSD ARL secured an easy win (34:21) against Cascada HC Garliava SM in the first leg, so it is only the aggregate that remains in question
• ZRK Zeleznicar’s progression to round 3 seems almost certain, after they took a 38:27 victory against UHC Müllner Bau Stockerau in the first leg

Debutants start their campaigns

While Bursa Büyüksehir BS begin this weekend’s action, they are not the only side making their European debuts in the EHF European Cup Women this year.

Kosovan side KHF Samadrexha and Poland’s MKS Urbis Gniezno are also newcomers to European club competitions this year.

KHF Samadrexha are the most international of the three sides starting their European journeys this weekend, with players drawn not just from Kosovo but also Georgia, North Macedonia, Tunisia and Türkiye. Some of the side’s roster have played in the EHF European Cup previously, for other clubs.

Urbis Gniezno’s team are almost entirely Polish, save for goalkeeper Alina Ruda who hails from Ukraine. The roster boasts experience in the form of centre back Malwina Hartman, who has played in the EHF European Cup and EHF European League for KGHM MKS Zaglebie Lubin, and line player Martyna Matysek who has featured on numerous club and national sides in beach handball tournaments.

Bursa’s all-Turkish team is headlined by former Kastamonu Belediyesi line player Ceren Demircelen, who brings experience of the EHF Champions League and EHF European League to her new side.

Photos © Felix Walker, Elvis Zaldaris