MOTW live blog: Scandinavian clash tight in Trondheim

• Kolstad host Aalborg in the Match of the Week for round 7 of the Machineseeker EHF Champions League, throwing off at 18:45 CET
• also on Wednesday: at 18:45 CET, Magdeburg vs Zagreb, Szeged vs Kielce; at 20:45 CET, Plock vs Veszprém and PSG vs Sporting
• read the round preview here and check the group standings
• read the MOTW feature here
• watch live on EHFTV (geo-restrictions and subscriptions apply)
• follow on social media: X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube
• all pictures © Titt Melhuus/Kolstad Håndbold

18:35

Don't forget there are another four games on tonight. SC Magdeburg host HC Zagreb as both teams hunt for crucial points - they are seventh and eighth respectively in group B. Also in group B at 18:45, OTP-Bank PICK Szeged welcome Industria Kielce in what could be a crucial game, with the two teams level on points with three wins and three defeats apiece.

Later on we go to group A; group leaders Telekom Veszprém HC travel to play against sixth-ranked Orlen Wisla Plock, while second-placed Paris Saint-Germain Handball host third-placed Sporting CP in what ought to be a cracking match to round off the night. Stay in touch with our social media for clips and results through the evening.

18:22

Two key players who could make a difference tonight are both making a comeback after a bit of a break - Norwegian superstar Sander Sagosen for Kolstad, and Danish legend Niklas Landin for Aalborg. Both have missed games through injury and indeed Landin was expected to be out for longer. It remains to be seen how much playing time either gets; Sagosen could well be used in attack but not defence, while Landin might be the penalty shot-stopper of choice while Fabian Norsten spends more of the game between the posts. 

This is Aalborg's squad.

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A post shared by Aalborg Håndbold (@aalborghaandbold)

18:15

From our round preview, here are the key facts for tonight's MOTW:

• the two sides both won last week in away matches
• in round 6, Aalborg were able to count on a stellar performance by Thomas Arnoldsen (nine goals) to take the points in Kielce (35:28)
• Torbjørn Bergerud shone in Kolstad’s win in Szeged (29:27), his 14 saves helping the Norwegian side take its second victory of the season
• two Aalborg Norwegian national players will be making their comeback to Norway on Wednesday: Kristian Bjørnsen and Sebastian Barthold
• the two sides already faced each other in the group phase last season, with Aalborg winning both confrontations
• last Sunday, Kolstad won against Follo (33:26), while Aalborg drew against Skjern in the Danish league on Saturday (29:29)

18:00

We're almost halfway through the group phase of the Machineseeker EHF Champions League (!) and it's a Scandinavian derby for the Match of the Week this week. Kolstad, sitting in sixth place in group B, host third-placed Aalborg in a game where we expect goalkeepers Torbjørn Bergerud and Fabian Norsten to play a big role. 

So EHF journalist Ida Hummeluhr caught up with the duo ahead of the match to find out what their expectations are!