Drama in Austria as the derby ends in a draw

• Valur noted an important first leg win (27:26) in front of their passionate fans in Iceland's capital, but RK Metaloplastika Elixir Sabac will fancy their chances to go through to the quarter-finals ahead of the second leg with only goal separating the sides
• Ralf Patrick Häusle displayed a fantastic performance between the posts for Bregenz Handball as the Austrian goalkeeper recorded 20 saves accompanied by sky-high 43.48 save percentage
  
  
• CSA Steaua Bucuresti and HCB Karvina played a very even match as the winner (28:27) of the first leg was only decided in the final minutes; Sabin Constantina was the hosts' top scorer with six goals from as many attempts, while Dominik Solak scored nine for the visitors and was the match's top scorer, but couldn't stop his side from losing
  
  
• the second Romanian club in the Last 16 - CS Minaur Baia Mare secured a convincing first leg win (36:26) against RK Vogosca which leaves the Bosnian side with a glimmer of hope ahead of the second leg in Bosnia and Herzegovina next week; the veteran, Milan Kotrc scored seven goals from as many attempts for the home side and was the match's top scorer
• in a low scoring first leg, MRK Krka defeated (19:15) RK Sloboda in the Balkan derby in Tuzla with the amazing Jure Blazevic between the posts who made 16 saves for the visitors and noted 55.17% save efficiency
  
  
• the EHF European Cup Men's Last 16 continues next week with the second legs and a couple of double-headers on the agenda

FTC-Green Collect spoil Cedric Sorhaindo's debut in Istanbul

The Budapest-based club snatched an impressive two-goal win (34:32) against Besiktas Safi Cimento in Istanbul as the Hungarians surprised the Turkish side that was unbeaten on home court in the EHF European Cup so far this season. FTC-Green Collect's talented centre back, Alex Bognár was the first leg top scorer with eight goals from ten attempts. The undoubtedly quality team led by the coach, István Pásztor is the perfect blend of youth and experience with the likes of Imre Bence and Máté Lékai in the ranks. Besiktas Safi Cimento's new signing - Cedric Sorhaindo scored only one goal in his debut and now, the Turkish club will have a difficult task to mount a comeback in the second leg in Hungary's capital next week.