EHF Champions League

Veszprém and Barça put their invincibility to the test

Björn Pazen & Kevin Domas

04 October 2022, 10:00

Veszprém and Barça are the only two teams in the Machineseeker EHF Champions League with maximum points. Can they keep their winning streak alive?

In group A, Veszprém will defend top spot away to GOG. Paris and Plock will try to keep up the pace of last season’s semi-finalists. PSG host Zagreb, who enjoyed their first win last week, while Plock face a tough trip to Magdeburg. Porto, the only team without a point will try open their record in Bucharest.

In the last round before the first break of the group phase, Barça are favourites in the Match of the Week at Elverum, having six points from three matches on their account. At Kielce, the four-time champions Kiel must stand a tough test like Aalborg at Szeged and Nantes at Celje.

GROUP A

CS Dimano Bucuresti (ROU) vs FC Porto (POR)
Wednesday 5 October at 18:45 CEST, live on EHFTV

the two teams are currently bottom of the table in group A. Dinamo are seventh with one point, while Porto are eighth with no points
last week, Dinamo lost by three in Veszprém (33:30) while Porto were defeated in Plock (32:27)
with 74 goals scored across the first three games, Porto currently have the least efficient attack of the competition
Dinamo and Porto played each other in the group phase last season with both team winning their away game by one goal
last weekend, Porto took the points in the Portuguese league in Avanca (28:23) while Bucharest did not have a game

GOG (DEN) vs Telekom Veszprém HC (HUN)
Wednesday 5 October at 20:45 CEST, live on EHFTV

Veszprém are currently one of the only two teams to have taken the maximum of six points after three rounds
the Hungarian side currently tops group A while GOG are fifth, with three points
GOG head coach Nicolej Krickau: "We are ready to fight the entire game and do our best. We know, that if we do our best, we have a chance against all the teams in the group."
the two teams have not played against each other since 1992 in the Cup Winners’ Cup. Back then, Veszprém won both confrontations by five goals
for the first time this season, GOG scored fewer than 30 goals in a game last week in Plock. On the other hand, no team has been able to contain Veszprém below 30 goals
last weekend, Veszprém added a fourth win to their streak against Gyongyosi (39:30) while GOG lost the top game in the Danish league against Aalborg (35:29)

SC Magdeburg (GER) vs Orlen Wisla Plock (POL)
Thursday 6 October at 18:45 CEST, live on EHFTV

after three rounds, Magdeburg and Plock are tied third in the group with four points
with 82 goals conceded, Magdeburg have the best defensive record while Plock have only let in five more in the first three rounds
Magdeburg lost their first home game since April 2022 last week against Paris Saint-Germain
Plock head coach Xavier Sabate: "For us, it is not important that Magdeburg lost their last matches, it only shows how strong their opponents were. We know it will be difficult because Magdeburg are playing very well, but we trust in our self, in our job and we will try to go there to get the victory"
the last time Magdeburg and Plock faced each other was in the European League semi-final in 2021, when Magdeburg qualified for the final after a 30:29 win
prior to that, the two teams faced each other in the 2002 Champions League, when Magdeburg won both confrontations
SCM suffered their first defeat in the Bundesliga this season last weekend in Flensburg (35:34) while Plock remain on top of the Polish win after beating Piotrkow (37:21)

Paris Saint-Germain HB (FRA) vs HC PPD Zagreb (CRO)
Thursday 6 October at 20:45 CEST, live on EHFTV

Zagreb took their first points this season last week by defeating Porto at home
the Croatian side is currently sixth in the group with two points, four spots and two points behind Paris Saint-Germain
Zagreb have not won an away game in the Champions League since September 2018 in Flensburg. Since then, they drew four times away and lost 24 times
the two sides faced each other ten times since 2014. Paris won eight games, while one resulted in a draw (in 2016) and Zagreb took the win once (in 2014)
many players in history have worn both clubs’ jerseys, the most famous being Marko Kopljar and Igor Vori
PSG right wing David Balaguer: "The victory in Magdeburg gave us a lot of good vibes after a very frustrating loss in the French league. We will need it because Zagreb will come with the intention of creating a surprise and bringing us down at home."

Every match is a learning experience for us. We fought bravely in Barcelona last week, and are very much looking forward to our next match. We all know how good a team Nantes is, but on the other hand, we also believe in our qualities. Our goal is to give our best, and with help of our fans from the stands, who always give us that extra percent, I believe we can reach another positive result.

Gal Gaberšek

Celje goalkeeper

Everybody can see how deep we are now in the Champions League. Obviously, it wasn't our wish to start the season like this, it was exactly the opposite. Now the most important is to do everything to come back and get better results. We can win matches against tough opponents, we showed it last season and now we have to find a way to come back. I hope it'll be in the next game against Aalborg which is a great team.

Bogdan Radivojevic

Szeged right wing