Champions League 2016/17

[MAFAN]

After qualification draw I think that Glassverket, Leipzig and Lublin will play in group phase

[jensm]

Go Ankara.......

...This a shout from the Tertnes grandstand or so..?

Hehe noo, In my opinion Glassverket with this years squad ain´t good enough. And they ain´t champions either. They would maybe reach quarterfinals in EHF Cup, but it would stop there too.
If Ankara qualifies it would first time (I think?) a womens team from Turkey in CHL. And Ankara have invested some money in this team, and it would be fun to see them in best league. + They have one very good player, one of the best some years ago, Yeliz Ozel. Good for Ankara and Turkish handball if they qualifies.

[tavy oltchim]

Ankara looks good this year with: Maja Zebic Sokac on LW, Armelle Attingre as a Gk, Olga Laiuk on RB and amazing Yeliz Ozel as a CB.

[swarthofole]

Group A: Buducnost, Thuringer, Metz, QT
Group B: Vardar Skopje, Astrakhanocka, Ferencvaros, QT
Group C: Gyor, CSM Bucureşti, FC Midtjylland, Rostov
Group D: Larvik, Esbjerg, Savehof, QT

[swarthofole]

Hard for Ikast this, over before it started....

I think Rostov stays home.

[jensm]

Group C very hard Larvik will have a hard time in main round for sure

[John]

I'm happy with the draw even if i wanted Esbjerg and Rostov in our group.. And MR with Gyor.
A walk in the park for Buducnost dare i say till F4

I also think Rostov will continue their journey in EHF cup.. But hard for FCM too.

Larvik was lucky, but still i would say no chance for them to reach the 1/4. Or let me put it this way very very very very very slim chances.

[John]

This has nothing to do with the group matches but i'm surprised that EHF manages to write all names of teams correctly except one.
Budućnost. If they can write Thüringer and Győr with ü and ő that don't exist in english alphabet they can write Budućnost with Ć.
I know i write here Buducnost but my keyboard is set on english and i'm lazy to change it every single time. Because Buducnost doesn't mean anything and a lot of people can read it as BuduKnost or BuduTZnost.

[LucianK]

This has nothing to do with the group matches but i'm surprised that EHF manages to write all names of teams correctly except one.
Budućnost.

Well, except two ... Budu & CSM București. It kinda bothers me that they still don't know how to pronounce it. Buchare-steee all over the place. Andrea Lekić pronounced it right after the game against Vardar. If she can say BucureȘti, what's your excuse, EHF?

[John]

Rostov will be just as strong this season. There was only a goal difference between them and Bucharest into the final4. And there form will shift. Bucharest entered the quarters as 4th, they had a shitty mid season. Hard main round for any team in c/d. But these are old derbys with a lot of history and the clubs know eachother well. Every game live it´s own life.

For me Rostov is not a strong team, i only see them as stronger than THC and other similar teams. Their backline is not impressive, Ilina had so much space, that won't happen this season. Vyakhireva is a nice addition but still for me a team made mostly of russians is not a contender for a high place. They can threaten a strong team (BUD, GYO) for like 25 minutes - one half maximum after that it all comes to it's place.
BTW i'm interested how will CSM look like with Vestergaard as coach.

[swarthofole]

I totally subscribe to what John says. Even if Rostov was very close to F4, I remember that CSM Bucureşti didn't push so hard on the last minutes of the game. Definitely not a F4 candidate in my opinion...

[scipio]

I also think Rostov will continue their journey in EHF cup.. But hard for FCM too.

Larvik was lucky, but still i would say no chance for them to reach the 1/4. Or let me put it this way very very very very very slim chances.

Rostov will be just as strong this season. There was only a goal difference between them and Bucharest into the final4. And there form will shift. Bucharest entered the quarters as 4th, they had a shitty mid season. Hard main round for any team in c/d. But these are old derbys with a lot of history and the clubs know eachother well. Every game live it´s own life.

CSM had way too many injuries mid season. And that only 1 goal difference was at the end of the game in Russia. Midway of the second half, CSM had 7 goals advantage over Rostov; from that point on it was only about securing the qualification.

[dydiana]

Well,well..hey guys! Long time no see
So I guessed 2/3 teams from our group: Gyor and Rostov
Only I thought we'd get one of the newbies of this season, Metz.
Buducnost having the easiest group ever, the scandinavian group is pretty balanced, and Vardar also has a sunny way through Main round. București will have a hell of a group, but it is better off this way I believe. They showed they are really strong just at the end of Main round..so let's say that's our rhythm
Plus, we have to see how Vestergaard will change our tactics and how the girls respond..I guess it will be a couple months of hot-cold play so I won't expect to be fire from the start. I only hope the girls won't get serious injuries in Rio.

[Flavius]

I guess it will be a couple months of hot-cold play so I won't expect to be fire from the start. I only hope the girls won't get serious injuries in Rio.

Hi, Diana!
I hope that the couple of months that you are talking about can be transformed in only a month, you understand what I want to say.

[Mariusmm]

I believe CSM have the power to finish above Rostov, a win at home and draw in Russia are very accesible. Then with Gyor it's so hard to say, we've all seen how balanced the final was, now both teams have strengthened, it will be interesting. Of course it also depends on the schedule, București might not be at their best in the first weeks, until they will get used to the coach and his style.
But group D is so hard to predict, still CSM can beat all those Scandinavians, so 2nd place in the MR should be a fair and reachable target, maybe they will get some weaker team from A+B in the QF, we'll see.

[heavenly]

Helle Thomsen (FCM coach) and Stine Jørgensen (FCM LB) are clearly not happy with the CL draw:
http://fcm-haandbold.dk/ndefault.asp?id=9334

While Team Esbjerg chairman is very joyful :
http://www.jv.dk/artikel/2335955:Sport- ... ons-League

And Line Jørgensen reaction after the draw is funny to read too :
http://www.eurohandball.com/article/26262

[MAFAN]

I think that Budućnost and Vardar will be first in A and B group without defeat.This C group is so strong and I think that Midtjylland or Rostov will be 4. In group D Larvik is favourite. In main round battle for first position in first group (A&B) will be between Budućnost and Vardar, second group (C&D) will be unpredictable with four or five strong teams. That is my prevision

[Doru Delavale]

Concerning the group of Death anyteam can leave sooner as we expect the Competition . From start some groups were favourised because CSM B was not consider Head of one group as deserved as Champion Team en titre. (instead of Larvik for ex) My sight of view is that the F4 team must be heads of 4 groups at least they fully deserved this advantage.

[Maestral]

gyor, vardar, rostov and buducnost to F4

[bajkalb]

Well, it can be a huge battle to win the (second) main round of A-B groups, as the team, which will finish in nr 2. spot, could have a battle against CSM or Rostov or Győr in quarterfinal, while the winner of A+B groups can be in a better situation, unless, Larvik or FCM makes a miracle.

On the other hand, for teams from C/D groups, nr 1. spot means an almost sure f1 spot, but Nr2. is also very good, unless the achievement of FTC will be above the expectations, which makes us rethink our power rankings

At this stage, my prediction is the same as the above one. So Rostov, Győr, Buducnost and Vardar.

[heavenly]

The tournament 1, 2 and 3 of the CL qualifications will be streamed live on ehftv.com. Here's the schedule:

On friday, 9th september
"Semifinals" from Tournament 2:
HC Leipzig (GER) vs HC Gomel (BLR) at 16.00: http://www.ehftv.com/int/livestream/hc-leipzig-hc-gomel
Hypo NÖ (AUT) vs BM Bera Bera (ESP) at 18.30: http://www.ehftv.com/int/livestream/hyp ... -bera-bera


On saturday, 10th september
Semifinal from Tournament 3:
Krim Ljubljana (SLO) vs Iuventa Michalovce (SVK) at 16.00: http://www.ehftv.com/int/livestream/rk- ... michalovce

Tournament 2 Final at 16.00: http://www.ehftv.com/int/livestream/201 ... ment-final

Semifinal from Tournament 1
Glassverket (NOR) vs Ankara Yenimahalle (TUR) at 16.30: http://www.ehftv.com/int/livestream/gla ... ahalle-bsk

Semifinal from Tournament 3:
MKS Lublin (POL) vs Indeco Conversano (ITA) at 18.30: http://www.ehftv.com/int/livestream/mks ... conversano

Semifinal from Tournament 1
Koprivnica Podravka Vegeta (CRO) vs SV Dalfsen (NED) at 19.00: http://www.ehftv.com/int/livestream/hc- ... ak-dalfsen


On sunday, 11th september
Tournament 3 Final at 17.00: http://www.ehftv.com/int/livestream/201 ... ment-final

Tournament 1 Final at 18.00: http://www.ehftv.com/int/livestream/han ... al-group-1

http://www.ehftv.com/int/livestream-calendar

[HB9]

How odd, I thought a tv production (whether via actual tv or just by stream) was mandatory for every qualifying tournament.

Sort it out, norwegians.

[Flavius]

OMG? CSM to win the trophy again? SERIOUSLY? If they do it, I will take a public bath probably in some garden. That would be joy!

That would be certainly pure joy! I don't know if this year's gonna be a repeat of the last one, but next year we
're waiting for Cristina to come home! Imagine Cristina and Bella in the same team plus the team that we have now?! Now that would be awsome!

[HB9]

@heavenly Torunament 1 matches have finally been added on ehftv.

[heavenly]

@heavenly Torunament 1 matches have finally been added on ehftv.

OkI corrected my post.