Türkiye aim for milestone as EHF European Cup Men approaches Last 16

Attention turns to Lithuania for the first throw-off of the weekend, as the Norwegian side Runar Sandefjord will try to hold on to their six-goal advantage from the first leg (36:30) against VHC Sviesa on Saturday 22 November at 13:30 CET.

• BK-46 and Pölva Serviti have the closest margin, being separated by just one goal; Pölva travel to Finland after winning 28:27 in Estonia last weekend, where they benefited from an ineffective BK-46 side, who should feel comfortable turning the tie around at home
• the battle between the two teams with the second closest margin will take place in Luxembourg, as HB Dudelange meet HC Izvidac after losing by two goals (29:27) in Bosnia and Herzegovina last Sunday; last season’s top scorer Diano Cesko proved his qualities once more, netting nine times; Dudelange’s top scorer was left back David Ojié Etute, who scored eight goals
• HC Vojvodina and RK Celje Pivovarna Laško delivered a thrilling contest last weekend: the former EHF European Cup winners from Serbia crawled back from an early six-goal deficit and turned it into a two-goal advantage for the second leg in Slovenia (34:32); RK Celje Pivovarna Laško need to end their two-match losing streak against Vojvodina if they want to progress to the Last 16
• another two-goal gap promises fireworks in Luxembourg as HC Berchem welcome SKKP Handball Brno after losing the first leg 27:25 in Czechia; goalkeepers on both sides left a lasting impression — Brno’s Marco-Jan Terlecki made 17 saves (40.48 per cent efficiency) and Berchem’s Grzegorz Czapiewski saved 13 shots (32.5 per cent efficiency)
• even though Balatonfüredi KSE enjoy a three-goal advantage (34:31) against HC Fivers WAT Margareten and will play the return leg at home, the Austrian side will be a tough challenge; last weekend, the Hungarian club boasted a stunning 76 per cent shot efficiency, compared to Fivers’ 63 per cent
• RK Trimo Trebnje (33:23 against RK Budvanska Rivijera), HCB Karvina (43:25 against Sparkasse Schwaz Handball Tirol), and GRK Ohrid (37:19 against MRK Sloga Doboj) enjoy double-digit advantages going into the second leg

Historic day for Turkish handball?

For the first time in the history of the competition and its predecessors, two teams from Türkiye could qualify for the Last 16. Besiktas JK travel to Greece to face A.C. PAOK with a five-goal advantage (30:25), while Nilüfer BSK have a slightly higher advantage facing HB Red Boys Differdange in Luxembourg after winning 35:29 in the first leg.

Besiktas have been to the Last 16 in the two previous seasons but were not able to progress any further after tight battles. Nilüfer BSK have not qualified for the Last 16 since the Challenge Cup 2013/14. On Saturday, 22 November, this could change, and a new milestone for Turkish handball could be ingrained in history.

Photos © Besiktas JK (main); MOL Tatabanya KC (in-text)