Barça and Veszprém's invincibility put to the test

Björn Pazen & Kevin Domas

25 October 2022, 12:00

Veszprem, the team that is currently on top of group A, will try to snatch a fifth straight win against SC Magdeburg, after the German side won the IHF Super Globe. Among other undecided games feature the clash between Dinamo Bucuresti and Paris, while Plock will try to win their first away game of the season in Zagreb. Porto, who remain without points, need a crucial win to launch their season, against GOG.

Group B sees pathfinding matches ahead – for both sides of the table: While top-ranked side Barça face runners-up Aalborg, the two bottom-ranked sides Szeged and Elverum aim for their first points of the season in the EHF Machineseeker Champions League. Celje host Kielce in this week’s MOTW, while Kiel are challenged by Nantes.

The game against Zagreb will be tough: they play at home and on their court they are tough rivals to beat. This game is crucial for us and if we win, we will score two valuable points.

Kristian Pilipović

Orlen Wisla Plock goalkeeper

We are not in a good situation. It is clear that we need a win so much – and we need it immediately. The second half of our game against Veszprém in the Hungarian championship was promising, we have to build on that.

Juan Carlos Pastor

Pick Szeged head coach

We need to forget the Super Globe game and focus on Aalborg. The best way to forget a loss, is to play again. It is an important game for us. If we win in Aalborg, we would be in a good position to finish among the first two in the group. Aalborg had more rest than us but this is not an excuse – when you play at Barça, you know this happens.

Carlos Ortega

Barça head coach

MOTW: RK Celje Pivovarna Laško (SLO) vs Lomza Industria Kielce (POL)
Thursday 27 October at 18:45 CEST, live on EHFTV

Both sides duel for the ninth time in the Machineseeker EHF Champions League: Celje took six victories, Kielce two - both in the last two home matches; Celje have won all four home matches by now against Kielce
In the current season, both sides have two results in common: both beat Kiel, both lost against Barça; the home victory against Kiel are the only points earned by Celje, while Kielce have six points from four matches on their account
Celje play their 27th EHF Champions League season - and are back after a one-year absence - and are 51 goals shy of their 7500th goal in the EHF Champions League
Celje’s new arrival Aleks Vlah tops the overall top scorer list of the Machineseeker EHF Champions League by 33 goals, Kielce’s best striker is Arkadiusz Moryto by 23 goals
Kielce just finished third at the IHF Super Globe last weekend after losing the semi-final against Barça and beating Al-Ahly (Egypt) in the bronze final

HBC Nantes (FRA) vs THW Kiel (GER)
Thursday 27 October at 20:45 CEST, live on EHFTV

after their opening defeat at Kielce, Nantes have won all remaining three group matches – and rank two points ahead of THW
Kiel did not take any point in away matches, after losing at Celje and at Kielce – and have four points on their account
Nantes are unbeaten against Kiel after their 35:27 away win at Kiel and the 24:24 at home in the 2020/21 group phase
top scorers so far are Aymeric Minne with 27 goals for Nantes and Patrick Wiencek by 21 strikes for THW
Nantes head coach Gregory Cojean: "Kiel are a monument, one of the best team of the world. They won the EHF Champions League two years ago. It is going to be tough during 60 minutes against a strong team. They have got amazing players on the court, and can shoot from everywhere. We have to give everything and play our best handball, in front of our fans, to make this game a great one."
after beating the previous top side Rhein-Neckar Löwen 32:29, Kiel are second-ranked in German Bundesliga now with seven victories from eight matches
Nantes are second in the French league after beating Cesson-Rennes, their sixth win in the same number of matches