Summary: Barça join Kielce in the quarter-finals
In the final round of the EHF Champions League Men 2021/22 group phase, Lomza Vive Kielce and Barça both earned valuable victories in group B to join Aalborg Håndbold and THW Kiel in the quarter-finals.
23:25
To close the blog for this evening, here is the final goal of the group phase – Yahia Omar's winning goal for Veszprém – and an overview of the round 14 results. Live blog coverage of the EHF Champions League Men will return for the play-offs on 30/31 March.
23:13
The EHF Champions League Men will return on 30/31 March for the first leg of the play-off matches.
SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) vs Pick Szeged (HUN)
Elverum Handball (NOR) vs Paris Saint-Germain Handball (FRA)
FC Porto (POR) vs Montpellier HB (FRA)
HC Vardar 1961 (MKD) vs Telekom Veszprém (HUN)
Indeed, Elverum have already described their home match against PSG as the biggest in their 76-year history.
23:05
A selection of the best images from Thursday's matches can be viewed in the gallery below.
Even if this match means nothing for the standings in our group, we couldn’t see that and feel that tonight. Each team gave everything, and each team wants to win every game. I’m very happy to came back from Paris with the win. As our coach said, these two points mean nothing in the standings, but they are very important for us and for our self-confidence.
22:45
Rasmus Lauge scored three goals in the final quarter for Veszprém. His footwork and improvisation enabled him to score this goal in the 52nd minute.
22:37
Here is a look at the EHFTV statistics for Match of the Week between PSG and Veszprém. Petar Nenadic finished as the top scorer of the match, with nine goals, while Nikola Karabatic was PSG's highest scorer.
22:32
Rasmus Lauge has received the award as the player of Match of the Week. Officially, he scored seven goals and provided one assist, though his impact on Veszprém's attack might have been greater than the assist column implies.
22:28
RESULT | Paris Saint-Germain Handball 39:40 Telekom Veszprém HC
Drama is guaranteed in the EHF Champions League! Mikkel Hansen equalised for PSG from the seven-metre line with 14 seconds remaining, but Yahia Omar's only goal of the game, scored with two seconds left on the clock, gives Veszprém the victory.
22:16
With the pressure being off – at least to some degree – we have seen both teams showcase their skills in attack. This PSG move is a fine example of what we have witnessed tonight.
22:09
Rasmus Lauge is making the difference in attack for Veszprém as Match of the Week reaches its climax in Paris. The Hungarian side lead 36:32 with seven minutes remaining.
22:04
Nedim Remili, who has scored five goals for PSG this evening, has become the second player to receive a third suspension. In between the flurry of goals, the referees have been extremely busy.
21:55
Adrián Sipos had some difficulty defending against Luc Steins earlier in the match. The Veszprém line player has now received his third suspension and his game is over.
21:48
It is fair to say that Yann Genty was involved in one of the more unusual moments of the first half.
21:44
Yann Genty made eight saves from 28 shots in the first half, but Vincent Gerard has replaced him in the PSG net at the start of the second half. After Gasper Marguc beat Gerard with a shot on a fast break, the French goalkeeper has stopped shots from Rasmus Lauge and Yahia Omar.
21:38
Here is double helping of Petar Nenadic at his best for Veszprém in the first half! Empty net goals are not always the most entertaining goals in handball, but Nenadic's interception was, as Chris O'Reilly rightly said, "brilliant".
21:32
HALF-TIME UPDATE | Paris Saint-Germain Handball 19:20 Telekom Veszprém HC
After a high-scoring 30 minutes in Paris, Veszprém have a one-goal lead at the break. Aside from the number of the suspensions that they received in the first half, the Hungarian side will probably be reasonably content with how the match has gone so far.
Luc Steins has arguably been PSG's main danger in attack, while the combination of Petar Nenadic and Manuel Strlek have shone for Veszprém.
21:24
Petar Nenadic steps up to covert a penalty for Veszprém, his seventh goal of the game, and the Hungarian side lead 20:18 with 30 seconds remaining in the first half.
21:13
Fast breaks have featured heavily for both teams in the first 20 minutes. Nikola Karabatic, however, showed that he still has the moves to breakthrough a top defence.
21:06
Well, after PSG made a solid start, Veszprém have enjoyed a 5:0 run and now lead 12:10 after 15 minutes. If both teams continue to score at this rate, we will be in for an entertaining match to close the group phase.
Both teams did a great game in defence and both (teams) also had a good goalkeeping performance. Playing at home and for the two top spots made us stronger today and more focused. At the end we had a bad period in attack ,but we solved it with a great defensive performance from the team.
20:50
Chris O'Reilly is in full voice on EHFTV for Match of the Week between PSG and Veszprém. As he said just before the throw-off, when giants like these two teams meet in European handball, they will always want to perform.
20:43
Earlier this evening, we mentioned Barça showing their support for International Women's Day.
In round 14, the EHF Champions League has partnered with Plan Global to promote equality in sport.
20:36
With Barça's place in the quarter-finals now confirmed after their victory against Flensburg, a win for PSG in Match of the Week against Telekom Veszprém HC will not be enough for the French side to reach the quarter-finals without playing in the play-offs.
20:33
Here is a look at the top scorers for Barça and Flensburg. Aleix Gómez was the top scorer of the match, with nine goals, but four players for the Spanish side scored four times: Dika Mem, Timothey N'Guessan, Ludovic Fabregas and Haniel Langaro.
Hampus Wanne finished the game as Flensburg's top scorer, although he didn't score in the second half.
20:28
RESULT | Pick Szeged 29:29 Montpellier HB
Meanwhile, in group A, Pick Szeged have drawn with Montpellier. Although Szeged might be disappointed that they allowed a four-goal lead (27:23) to slip in the second half, they will be pleased that they have finished third in the group.
20:23
RESULT | Barça 29:22 SG Flensburg-Handewitt
There was no doubt about who the Barça players thanked at full-time for their victory against Flensburg: Gonzalo Perez de Vargas. The Spanish goalkeeper finished with a total of 18 saves from 40 shots faced.
20:11
A tense finish is guaranteed in Szeged. The Hungarian hosts have a one-goal advantage with four minutes remaining against Montpellier, 29:28.
Meanwhile, Barça have extended their lead to six goals once again. Flensburg have called a timeout.
20:08
This game might not be over! Flensburg have reduced Barça's lead to three goals, 24:21, with five minutes to play.
20:04
While Perez de Vargas has been outstanding in goal, Aleix Gómez has delivered at the other end for Barça. Barça's prolific right wing has already scored eight times, including this in-flight effort.
20:00
We have mentioned more than once how good Gonzalo Perez de Vargas has been for Barça this evening – and here are the pick of his saves from the second half.
19:56
Barça's lead against Flensburg now stands at six goals after 47 minutes (23:17). Unless Flensburg can produce a miraculous comeback, Barça will book their place in the quarter-finals of this season's EHF Champions League.
19:42
Sebastian Frimmel was the top scorer for Szeged in the first half against Montpellier, but Mirko Alilovic had the crowd chanting for him in the first 10 minutes.
19:35
When you look at the match statistics provided on EHFTV at half-time, Gonzalo Perez de Vargas' impact in the first half of the Barça vs Flensburg game becomes clearer. The Spanish goalkeeper has made nine saves from 20 shots.
With the exception of goals from nine metres, most of the categories are relatively even. Indeed, both teams have scored one fast break goal, which is perhaps surprising, and Flensburg have only made one more turnover than Barça.
19:28 | HALF-TIME UPDATE
It is half-time in both of our matches that started at 18:45 CET. Barça lead 15:11 against SG Flensburg-Handewitt in Spain, while Pick Szeged have a narrow 17:16 advantage against Montpellier.
19:18
How did Ludovic Fabregas get this shot away? There is a lot of handball left to play this evening, but this will be one of the best goals that we see.
19:08
As per the match stats, Gonzalo Perez de Vargas has made seven saves from 14 shots. He has saved the last six shots that he has faced! Barça have taken advantage of his strong performance to build a three-goal lead, 10:7, which has prompted Flensburg to call a timeout.
19:02
After Aleix Gómez and Hampus Wanne scored the first three goals for their respective sides in the first seven minutes, other players are now making an impact on the game. Ludovic Fabregas produced an outrageous behind-the-back flick to level the score at 4:4 in the eighth minute, and Gonzalo Perez de Vargas has made three saves in quick succession in the Barça goal. Barça lead 8:7 after 16 minutes.
18:47
Live coverage of the match is now underway on EHFTV!
18:40
Earlier in the week, Barça coach Carlos Ortega offered his thoughts on the Flensburg team.
"(Jim) Gottfridsson is a very important piece, but at right back they have recovered (Franz) Semper and it is giving a good result. They also got (Gøran Søgard) Johannessen back. They have great wingers who can score from no angle and a very strong 6-0 defence."
18:30
With the match between Barça and Flensburg approaching, the Spanish side have welcomed back goalkeeper Kevin Møller to the Palau Blaugrana.
Møller spent three seasons in Barcelona and was part of the Barça team that triumphed in the EHF Champions League last season.
18:16
While most of the focus at 18:45 CET will be on Barça's clash with Flensburg, the match between Pick Szeged and Montpellier will decide third place in group A. Szeged currently have a two-point lead over Montpellier, but with the first match this season between the two teams ending in a 29:29 draw, the French side can take third place if they win in Hungary.
18:05
There is less than an hour to go until the throw-off in our first two games of the evening. As we mentioned earlier, Barça can seal their place in the quarter-finals if they beat Flensburg at 18:45 CET.
Ahead of the match, Barça have also been showing their support (via Twitter) for International Women's Day, which took place two days ago.
When we started the Champions League, we lost in Bucharest and no one would say we would finish as first or second in the group. It was an amazing match of Andy (Andreas Wolff). Thanks to him we could score easy goals. I'm not satisfied with our performance from the 29th minute of the first half to the 12th minute of the second half.
19:24 HALF-TIME UPDATE | KIELCE VS C.S. DINAMO BUCURESTI 20:13
Dinamo face a difficult task for the second period in Poland, as they have a seven-goal deficit to overcome in order to finish their Champions League season strong.
It is a vastly different match from when these two sides met in the opening round back in September, when the Romanian side won 32:29.
19:20 HALF-TIME UPDATE | AALBORG VS ZAGREB 16:13
Aalborg retain a not decisive but relatively clear advantage as we go to the break in Denmark.
Below, check out Zagreb wing Ivan Cupic's run of goals early in the game.
19:17
We edge closer to half-time with Aalborg having reasserted their lead versus Zagreb at 16:13 with less than three minutes to the end of the period.
In Kielce, Dinamo Bucuresti have found their way and are more competitive, but the Polish side still enjoy a commanding advantage at 18:11 in the 26th minute.
Two individuals are standing way out for Kielce: wing Arkadiusz Moryto, with six goals at 100 per cent accuracy and Andreas Wolff with six saves at 35 per cent.
19:04
Driven by five goals from five shots by Ivan Cupic, Zagreb have reeled Aalborg in for a level game in Denmark, 9:9 in the 17th minute.
In Poland, Dinamo Bucuresti are facing a tough task against a Kielce motivated to grab a direct quarter-final spot, with the home team in front 11:4 in the 16th minute.
18:51
Round 14 begins! Both home teams have had a strong start, with Aalborg creating an early lead at 4:2 against Zagreb while Kielce have powered to a 4:0 advantage versus Dinamo Bucuresti.
18:40
Just five minutes until round 14 gets underway! Tune in on EHFTV now and/or follow the match stats and live scores right here:
18:28
Aalborg may not have quite as much on the line as their opponents Zagreb, but they can lock up first position in group A with a victory.
The Danish team have had a stellar season once again, following their breakthrough appearance at the EHF FINAL4. With a 33:31 victory in Montpellier last round, Aalborg extended what is their longest winning run ever in the competition to six. Aalborg seem to be peaking just at the right time in the season.
Aalborg's Felix Claar enters the round as top scorer in the Champions League 2021/22, with 75 goals.
18:17
There are two teams in particular with a lot on the line in tonight's opening games: While Zagreb need a point more than Elverum tonight, in order to reach the play-offs, Kielce are in a three-way contest for one of group B's direct quarter-final tickets. Their rivals are PSG and Barça, who will both play their last group phase games on Thursday night.
PSG rely on Kielce and Barça's results as well as their own, whereas the Polish and Spanish sides control their fate. A win for Kielce as they host Dinamo Bucuresti at 18:45 CET will take them to the quarter-finals.
Dinamo Bucuresti are out of the play-off race ahead of the round 14 match.
We have one of the hardest matches in front of us. We are playing against Aalborg, who were at the EHF FINAL4 last season. That says enough about them. However, we will give our best to win. It is a downside we do not play at home but we will show our fighting spirit in Denmark.
16:22
Click here to see how the standings in both groups are, heading into that final playing round. We are still looking for two teams from group B that are going to skip the play-offs and advance to the quarter-finals directly, and for one team from group A that grabs the last ticket to the play-offs.
16:15
Good afternoon, and welcome - for one more time - to a group phase round in the EHF Champions League Men this season. Round 14 on Wednesday and Thursday is closing this group phase and determining the final standings in the two groups.
Here is the schedule:
