Summary: Esbjerg victorious in the Danish thriller, Györ celebrate in MOTW
It's round 7 in the EHF Champions League Women 2023/24, with five matches on Saturday and three on Sunday. Match of the Week heads to Germany as SG BBM Bietigheim host unbeaten Györi Audi ETO KC, and there's an all-Danish battle to see who will finish the round top of group B.
We opened the game poorly, but of course I'm in the end happy and proud of the final score. We showed great team spirit again, and that's something we've got to strive for whenever we're out there. I have to repeat I'm really proud of my team.
If we have to challenge them on a day like today, we have to be on 100 per cent. We were close for the first 25 minutes, but in the second half we struggled. They are the best team in the world right now.
It was a tough game, as we expected. We had an important meeting, the team made a lot of mistakes but I think we can be happy with the win.
Both teams fought. We weren't extremely good, we lost a lot of balls. We also have two key balls, the last two before each end of each half, that we did not negotiate well. There were a lot of errors.
In the end I was on a rollercoaster. I’m very happy, we played an amazing game, I can say that we improve from match to match. Bucharest are one of the toughest opponents in the group.
21:34 | FULL-TIME
SG BBM BIETIGHEIM 26:34 GYÖRI AUDI ETO KC
A much higher-scoring second half, as Gabriela Moreschi's efficiency in particular dropped off, and Györ take their seventh win of the season. Bietigheim slip to third in the group behind Odense based on goal difference and head-to-head results, although both sides have now lost two games and won five. The second half of the season, starting with the return fixture in Hungary next week, will be key for the German side if they don't want this season to replicate last season, when a strong start was followed by a run of losses.
Meanwhile Györ are looking extremely well-placed for a quarter-final spot and, in all likelihood, yet another appearance at the EHF FINAL4.
Ryu Eun Hee is Player of the Match after scoring five goals from eight shots and contributing one assist and one steal. Ryu was on court for a large portion of the match. Estelle Nze Minko also played an important part in the win, with seven goals from seven shots, all in the second half.
Kaba Gassama and Sofia Hvenfelt both scored four for Bietigheim, with another four players contributing three goals each. Gabriela Moreschi ended the match with 12 saves from 45 shots (26 per cent), while Sandra Toft saved 10 from 32 (31 per cent).
21:24
A last timeout for Györ. "Keep the focus, don't give them anything," says Ulrik Kirkely.
21:20
Linn Blohm puts Györ up by 10 goals and the game is out of Bietigheim's hands. They started so well, but Györ shifted into a second gear after the break and have become much more efficient while Bietigheim's errors have increased.
21:08
Slowly but surely, Györ are creeping ahead, and now lead by six goals. No single player stands out, it's a good team effort, although Ryu Eun Hee is having a good day as she scores her fifth.
20:58
"Come on, we just talked about this situation!" says Jakob Vestergaard, calling a Bietigheim timeout after Györ score three times to the hosts' zero in the first five minutes of the half. Györ have come out with more speed and are finally finding a way to get past Gabriela Moreschi.
20:54
The match restarts, with Gabriela Moreschi and Sandra Toft still in goal.
20:39 | HALF-TIME
SG BBM BIETIGHEIM 10:12 GYÖRI AUDI ETO KC
A couple of mistakes by Bietigheim, a bit more accuracy and better defence from Györ, and the visitors have a narrow lead at the break. It's been a really good first half, fast-paced and cheered on by a full arena, and the game is definitely living up to the Match of the Week tag!
This is definitely the Bietigheim who started the season rather than the one which lost by such a big margin to Odense in round 6. Kaba Gassama (four goals) and Ryu Eun Hee (three) are the two sides' top scorers at half-time. Gabriela Moreschi is superb in goal for Bietigheim, although Sandra Toft has made some nice saves too.
20:33
Brazil vs Brazil in this clip, as Bruna de Paula beats Gabriela Moreschi - but it's the Bietigheim goalkeeper still having the best time with repeated saves.
20:30
The TV camera catches a little shake of the head from Györ coach Ulrik Kirkely as his team fumble a counterattack, allowing Bietigheim to get ahead again. It remains an incredibly tight match and the technical errors by both sides are increasing.
20:18
Ulrik Kirkely has some tips for his team on how to beat Gabriela Moreschi as he takes his team through a timeout. The score now is 5:5, including two goals for both team captains, Xenia Smits and Stine Oftedal.
20:12
There's a good crowd in the MHP Arena Ludwigsburg and so far they're witnessing a great start by their team, with Gabriela Moreschi on absolute fire between the posts. She's made some amazing saves and helped Bietigheim to a 4:2 lead after 10 minutes.
20:02
Stine Oftedal scores first for Györ, but Bietigheim are soon level with a well-taken penalty by Veronika Mala. MOTW is underway!
19:53
Here we go from Germany for the day's last game, the Match of the Week between SG BBM Bietigheim and Györi Audi ETO KC. Make sure you're following our Instagram for behind-the-scenes and on-court clips.
19:43
Just before Match of the Week, here are some quotes from the winning teams of the first two games!
This was one of our best matches so far this season. Sävehof have made great recoveries against both Brest and Györ in the Champions League previously, so we knew that we had to focus all the time and not give them anything.
The flow was way better in the second half then in the first. It feels great that we finally arrived in the Champions League. It wasn’t totally good, but great to be back on the winning way.
17:31 | FULL-TIME
FTC-RAIL CARGO HUNGARIA 35:22 MKS ZAGLEBIE LUBIN
FTC take their second win of the season, while Lubin have yet to secure any points in the competition.
Nine goals by Andrea Lekic and eight from Emily Bölk were the key, coupled with a strong performance from Blanka Böde-Bíró too (13 saves for 37.1 per cent efficiency). Notably, more players got involved in the second half after the first half was dominated by Lekic and Bölk.
FTC still remain in the danger zone, however. They are now level on points with Vipers and CSM ahead of their round 7 games, and need to stay on this run of form into the second half of the season if they want to stand any chance of reaching the play-offs.
IK SÄVEHOF 20:44 ODENSE HÅNDBOLD
What a statement of intent from Odense. Not just content with winning the match, they set a new record for the most goals they've ever scored in a Champions League match (beating the 42 they put past Bietigheim in round 6) and the biggest win ever (beating the 41:22 victory over Most last season). Sävehof remain winless and looking for answers after conceding their biggest ever loss in the competition - the previous being a 19:41 defeat by Györ in 2020/21.
Elma Halilcevic scored nine goals from 13 shots for Odense, with Yara ten Holte making 15 saves (45.5 per cent).
Odense's result also means they've scored 2,000 goals in the Champions League!
17:22
FTC are now firmly in control and are heading for their second (and biggest) win of the season. Andrea Lekic is five goals away from 1,000 but as other players start to play a more significant role in the game, it seems likely she will hit that mark next week.
17:14
Quite apart from Odense being stronger in attack and defence on the outfield, Yara ten Holte has had a superb day today - she's now up to 12 saves (44.4 per cent) as Odense lead Sävehof 35:17.
17:06
With FTC seizing control of the game, Lubin coach Bozena Karkut calls her second timeout in four minutes. FTC have found a bit more speed and confidence and now seem to be enjoying themselves more than in the first half, which is helping them stretch ahead. It's 20:12.
Over in Sweden, Odense are racing away with the match, having scored 31 times to Sävehof's 14. Keep track - Odense's biggest ever win was 41:22 when they beat DHK Baník Most last season.
16:56
Both matches are now back underway, with Odense already scoring three more times and Sävehof on a timeout less than five minutes into the half.
16:43 | HALF-TIME
FTC-RAIL CARGO HUNGARIA 12:8 MKS ZAGLEBIE LUBIN
The timeout just before the 20-minute mark definitely steadied the FTC ship and the Hungarian club have been more effective since then, with Emily Bölk making more of a mark. Blanka Böde-Bíró has done her bit too.
Lubin started slowly, picked up in the middle, but have had less luck in the later stages of the half with only two penalties scored by Kinga Grzyb to add to their total in the last 10 minutes.
IK SÄVEHOF 11:21 ODENSE HÅNDBOLD
Odense have been absolutely dominant against their Swedish hosts, with Yara ten Holte stopping half the shots coming her way and right wing Andrea Hansen scoring six shots from seven attempts to lead the scoring. Several missed shots by Sävehof have added to their woes, and the home team have a lot to do to challenge Odense in the second half.
16:33
There is no stopping Odense, who are closing in on 20 goals already.
16:25
Although Andrea Lekic is playing extremely well, Allan Heine calls a timeout and says Lekic can't be the only person in attack. He wants more efficiency and intelligence and to do more passing, and for more quality on the ball. Lubin have increased their aggression and it's a 8:6 game.
16:19
Sävehof's goalless period ended after eight minutes when Thea Blomst found the net and they've managed to score another four goals since then, but Odense still lead by four.
Lubin are also doing better, helped by a strong Monika Maliczkiewicz in goal with four saves from 10 shots so far. It's 6:4 to FTC.
16:10
The Odense defence is just too good for Sävehof in these opening minutes, and the visitors have taken a 5:0 lead. Sävehof have had some chances, but they've either missed or been stopped by Yara ten Holte.
In Budapest, FTC lead 4:1. Joanna Drabik started Lubin off well with a quick goal at the 30-second mark, but since then it's all been about the hosts. Andrea Lekic has scored twice, putting her closer to that target of 1,000 Champions League goals.
16:00
Throw off is just moments away in Hungary and Sweden. Tune in now to your local TV station, or EHFTV, and settle in for the evening!
15:50
And just before we turn to the first matches, later on the focus is all on group A. CSM, currently ranked fourth, play DVSC, ranked fifth, while sixth-placed Brest host seventh-placed Buducnost. CSM have lost two of their home matches so far this season, but DVSC have not won away. Brest have not had a home win, but Buducnost have also not been successful away. If Buducnost win today, it will be their 160th victory in the Champions League in 312 matches.
The Match of the Week sees two of the best sides in the competition, Györ and Bietigheim, go head-to-head. Bietigheim lost in round 6 to Odense, while Györ are looking for their seventh win in a row for the fourth time in history.
Earlier today CSM star Cristina Neagu confirmed she would stay at the Romanian club for another year - fantastic news that one of the greatest players of all time is sticking around!
15:40
So action begins today in 20 minutes, with both Lubin and Sävehof in search of their first wins of the season. Both will have challenging matches to achieve that: last year's runners-up FTC got their first victory in round 6, beating Ikast 37:36, and with an unbeaten run in the Hungarian league will be hoping they have turned a corner. Their fans will definitely be behind them.
Odense have won four out of the last five matches, but are shakier away - will the fact they're playing just across the water from Denmark bring them any luck?
15:30
In the first round of games today, look out for FTC's Andrea Lekic. She has just 14 goals to go before becoming the fourth player to score 1,000 EHF Champions League Women goals - a feat which would put her alongside Jovanka Radicevic, Cristina Neagu and Anita Görbicz. She's scored 36 goals so far this season and her highest-scoring season was 2008/09, when she netted 88 times for Krim.
As this week's story points out, hitting 1,000 goals today might be a challenge even for Lekic, but it's a target which she is very likely to reach in one of the next couple of rounds.
