The last four available tickets to the knockout phase could be booked by teams from groups C and D – the only groups where the top four has not been determined yet.
In group C, La Rioja can secure their place in the knockout phase. In order to do so, however, the Spanish side must beat Nexe while also hoping that last-ranked PAUC defeat Velenje.
In the wide-open group D, Sporting, Pelister and Kadetten could lock up the top four as Athens and Tatabánya would be left behind in that scenario.
Apart from the question which teams advance to the Last 16, the final two rounds of the group phase are also crucial to set the final standings in each group. Those standings determine which teams will play against each other in the first knockout round.
GROUP A
Fenix Toulouse Handball (FRA) vs Pfadi Winterthur (SUI)
Tuesday 1 March, 18:45 CET, live on EHFTV
- thanks to the 30:27 victory at Winterthur, Fenix qualified for the Last 16 while Pfadi went out of the race for the knockout phase
- Fenix have 10 points but cannot finish second anymore as they lose the head-to-head comparison to both Plock and Füchse
- Toulouse have qualified for a European knockout phase for the first time since 1999, when they reached the quarter-final of the Cup Winners’ Cup
- two former Serbian internationals face as coaches: Goran Cvetkovic (Winterthur) and Danjiel Andelkovic (Toulouse)
Bidasoa Irun (ESP) vs Füchse Berlin (GER)
Tuesday 1 March, 20:45 CET, live on EHFTV
- Irun qualified for the Last 16 last week despite their clear 35:23 defeat against Füchse
- Berlin are on 14 points after eight games; Bidasoa are ranked fourth with six points
- Irun have a slim chance to finish in third place: Fenix must lose twice and Irun must beat Füchse this week and Fenix by at least three goals next week
- Irun head coach Jacobo Cuétara: “It is a nice challenge against one of the best teams in Europe and the world. We have already qualified, we don't have any type of pressure and it is just about enjoying being in one of the biggest competitions in the world”
- Füchse share the lead with Plock – and both teams will meet in round 10 next week
Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) vs Tatran Presov (SVK)
Tuesday 1 March, 20:45 CET, live on EHFTV
- Plock are aiming to stay on top of the group ahead of the clash with fellow leaders Füchse next week
- Plock have 14 points from eight matches and are level with Füchse; Presov, with just two points, are out of the race for the Last 16
- Plock centre back Niko Mindegia: “We played recently against them and they had a lot of injuries. I think Tuesday’s match will be harder, we must keep our focus all the match and try to continue with a good dynamic”
- Plock easily won the reverse fixture last week, as they had an 8:0 run to go from 15:10 to 23:10 and could save some energy in the closing minutes
- Presov assistant coach Marek Gernát: “We had a difficult match against Wisla at home, allowing us to score only 15 goals. I hope that we will play with hunger and we will score more than at home”
- Plock beat Tarnów 32:16 for their fourth straight win in the Polish league, where they still rank second behind Kielce
We still want to try and reward some of the good performances we have had at European level with more points. We also want to take advantage of the level and quality of the opponents in the EHF European League Men to develop further.
PAUC play very well in the French league and are currently third. For us, every opponent is difficult and we prepare equally for every match. We are aware of what the match brings us, so we will have to play as a collective and need to fight from the first minute.
With our fans behind us, we can beat every team. They help us a lot and on Tuesday we are waiting for them to support us again.
