Race to European Cup Women final reaches climax

ATTICGO Bm Elche and MKS IUVENTA Michalovce both won the first leg by just two goals, so their opponents Rocasa Gran Canaria and Sport Lisboa e Benfica still have all to play for as both ties are very open.

• Elche, who took a 26:24 win at Gran Canaria last week, will host their domestic rivals on Saturday
• 11 goals by Danila So Delgado played a major role in her team's victory in the first leg, and the left back tops the competition’s scoring chart with 62 goals
• in the other semi-final, Michalovce beat Benfica at home 30:28, as Veronika Habankova and Iryna Kompaniiets scored seven goals each
• the second-leg encounter of this tie will be played on Sunday in Lisbon
• Michalovce won all nine matches in the current European Cup season, starting from Round 2; Benfica won all four home encounters, so one of the streaks will come to an end

Elche take nothing for granted

In the Spanish league this season, Elche won both matches against Gran Canaria (25:23 and 32:16) and finished first in the regular season, while Gran Canaria ranked only ninth and failed to reach the quarter-finals.

However, even after the away victory in the first leg, Elche won’t take anything for granted. In the previous round of the European Cup, Gran Canaria mounted a strong comeback in another Spanish derby, beating KH-7 BM. Granollers 32:20 following a 30:20 defeat, so this team certainly have enough mental strength and determination to turn things around – especially with the difference being only two goals this time.

photos © 2024 San Acosta