Decisive games ahead in round 5

EHF / Ida Hummeluhr

09 February 2023, 13:00

With only two teams so far – Ikast Håndbold and Thüringer HC – having booked their EHF European League Women quarter-final places, there is all to play for in round 5.

Siófok KC and BV Borussia 09 Dortmund in group A, and Sola HK and DVSC Schaeffler in group C could all book their berths with wins this week, but losses would mean the final round in both groups will be pivotal.

In groups B and D the race for the second quarter-final ticket remains very much alive with no team yet out of the running.

GROUP A

Molde Elite (NOR) vs BV Borussia 09 Dortmund (GER)
Saturday 11 February, 16.00 CET, live on EHFTV

Molde are going for their first win in the group phase; they are out of contention for the quarter-finals
in the reverse fixture in round 1, Dortmund won 33:32
a win would see Dortmund progress to the quarter-finals
Dortmund player Frida Rønning: "I’m very much looking forward to play in my home country in front of my family and friends. It will be special for me, it will be great. I expect a tough match, but obviously we want to win and qualify for the quarter-finals."
Norwegian back Mona Obaidli is the current top scorer for Molde with 24 goals while Dortmund’s captain and centre back Alina Grijseels is their top scorer with 18 goals
Molde have conceded 136 goals in four games, the most of any team in the group phase
Molde coach Tor Odvar Moen: "Our chance to advance is gone, but we will use our two last matches to gain some very valuable international experience. We want to play in Europe every year."

Siófok KC (HUN) vs ES Besancon Feminin (FRA)
Saturday 11 February, 20.00 CET, live on EHFTV

both Siófok and Besancon still have the chance to proceed to the quarter-finals of the EHF European League; however a loss for Besancon this week would put them out of contention
in round 1 Besancon beat Siófok 30:21 at home
last week, Siófok won away against Molde (32:29) and Besancon were beaten by hosts Dortmund (21:31)
Siófok coach Uros Bregar: "In the first round against Besancon they were the better team, for sure. Since then a lot has happened in the group and now we have the possibility to go through with a victory. We will do everything to have a good result in our home."
Siófok’s top scorer is right back Nikoletta Papp, who has scored 23 goals in four games; right wing Sabrina Zazai has netted 20 for Besancon
while Siófok had no domestic matches this week, Besancon lost at home to Dijon 30:35 in the French league
Besancon left back Nada Corovic: "Siófok are a quality team with a lot of good players. We expect a tough game, both mentally and physically. They will have the support of their fans, but everything depends on us, we came here to win and take two points."

We travel to Croatia with the goal of getting two more points in group C. We know it will be a tough game and that we have to play at our best, and are prepared to give it our best. As always, it's important that we get our defence set from the start so we can get to run and play fast handball. It's even in our group and all points count.

Martine Wolff