Szeged make it to the play-offs

Group B
Pick Szeged (HUN) vs. THW Kiel (GER) 36:33 (14:17) 

• with the score tied 4:4, Kiel took the upper hand, and eventually pulled ahead for a four goal lead, 14:10, thanks to an improved defensive effort that managed to stop Szeged’s strong back court shooters 
• right after the break, the visitors had another strong period and were leading 20:16 - line players Patrick Wiencek and Hendrik Pekeler were unstoppable – but, then Szeged managed to get back into the match 
• thanks to a 4:0 run, the hosts managed to level the score several times - but, Kiel consistently took the lead back
• However, with the score tied at 28:28 with 11 minutes remaining, Szeged seized the lead and never looked back - when Mario Sostaric scored to make it 35:32, the deal was sealed – even the red card against line player Bence Banhidi (after three suspensions) did not have an impact  
• top scorers were Imanol Garciandia with eight goals for Szeged and Sander Sagosen, who scored seven times for Kiel. 

Szeged back in the knock-out stage 

Like the past two years, Pick Szeged have made it to the knock-out stage of the EHF Champions League.   The Hungarian champions have been regular participants in the Last 16 (13 times) and have also been quarter-finalists five times.  After a weak start to the season with four defeats in a row, Pick have managed to turn the tide this season, taking four victories in the next six matches.  Thanks to their home victory over Kiel – like in the previous season – Szeged have now confirmed their participation in the knock-out stage.  Seventh ranked side Celje cannot pass them anymore, as Szeged won both matches against the Slovenian record champions.  This means, five teams for the next stages from group B are confirmed as Celje can only pass the currently sixth ranked team, Aalborg.