MEDIA INFORMATION Women s EHF Champions League 2017/18 Group Matches Draw 30 June 2017, 21:00 hrs Ljubljana Castle

Transcription

1 MEDIA INFORMATION Women s EHF Champions League 2017/18 Group Matches Draw 30 June 2017, 21:00 hrs Ljubljana Castle

2 Table of contents Table of contents Media contacts Women s EHF Champions league 2016/17 Map of participating clubs Playing system diagrams - stages and dates Qualification tournaments draw Pots for the group matches confirmed POT 1 Györi Audi ETO KC Buducnost HC Vardar CSM Bucuresti POT 2 Larvik Rostov-Don Nykobing Falster HK Metz Handball POT 3 SG BBM Bietigheim RK Krim Mercator FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria FC Midtjylland POT 4 Vistal Gdynia Brest Bretagne Handball /17 Top scorers Past winners All-time clubs standings History of the EHF Champions League

3 Media contacts EHF/M media contacts Media matters Vlado Brindzak Media and Communications European Handball Federation brindzak@eurohandball.com TV and Radio Miguel Mateo Marcellan Media Manager EHF Marketing GmbH mateo@ehfmarketing.com Clubs media contacts POT 1 POT 2 Győri Audi ETO KC (HUN) Tamas Szabo Buducnost (MNE) Milos Pavicevic zrkbuducnost@t-com.me milos_ps@yahoo.com Metz Handball (FRA) Estelle Vogein Larvik HK (NOR) Per Christian Andersen pca@larvikhk.no CSM Bucuresti (ROU) Florin Sandu florin.sandu@ csmbucuresti.ro HC Vardar (MKD) Ana Stojkov ana@zrkvardar.com Nykobing Falster HK (DEN) Henrik Hansen nfh@mail.dk Rostov-Don (RUS) Denis Davydov pr4@rostovhandball.ru POT 3 POT 4 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN) Andrea Pordán RK Krim Mercator (SLO) Gašper Lončarič gasper@rkkrim.com Vistal Gdynia (POL) Monika Snider klub@vistal.pl Brest Bretagne Handball (FRA) Enora Talec enora.talec@lesaint-sa.fr FC Midtjylland (DEN) Tommy Bögelund Nielsen tbn@fcm.dk SG BBM Bietigheim (GER) Torsten Nick torsten.nick@sgbbm.de 3

4 Women s EHF Champions league 2017/18 WOMEN'S EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2017/18 DRAWS: Qualification Tournaments 2Tournaments Group Matches 4 groups with 4 teams Main Round 2 groups with 6 teams Quarterfinals 8 teams FINAL4 4 teams (1) (1) (2) (2) / tournaments (3) (3) first leg tournament played in semi finals (4) (4) played in and finals (5) (5) semi finals and in one venue (6) (6) second leg finals 29 June 2017 in Vienna/AUT 1 HUN 1 Györi Audi ETO KC 2 MNE 1 Buducnost 3 MKD 1 HC Vardar 4 ROU 1 CSM Bucuresti 5 NOR 1 Larvik 6 RUS 1 Rostov-Don 7 DEN 1 Nyköbing Falster HB 8 FRA 1 Metz Handball 9 GER 1 SG BBM Bietigheim 10 SLO 1 RK Krim Mercator 11 HUN 2 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 12 DEN 2 FC Midtjylland 13 POL 1 Vistal Gdynia 14 FRA 2 Brest Bretagne HB 15 NOR 2 Vipers Kristiansand 16 GER 2 Thüringer HC 17 SWE 1 H 65 Höörs HK 18 CRO 1 HC Podravka Vegeta 19 AUT 1 Hypo Niederösterreich 20 TUR 1 Kastamonu Belediyesi 21 BLR 1 HC Gomel 22 ESP 1 Mecalia Atletico Guardes 30 June 2017 in Ljubljana/SLO Winners of the 2 Qualification tournaments no draw no draw st, 2nd and 3rd placed team from each group 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed team of the WOMEN'S EHF Champions League Main Round 4 Winners of WOMEN'S EHF Champions League Quarterfinals 2 groups with 4 teams 4th placed teams of CL Qualification Tournaments go to EHF Cup Rd 2, 2nd and 3rd placed teams of CL Qualification Tornaments go to EHF Cup Rd 3

5 BM Atletico Guardes, ESP Metz Handball, FRA Brest Bretagne HB, FRA Nykobing FH, DEN Vipers Kristiansand, NOR RK Krim Mercator, SLO FC Midtjylland, DEN Hypo Niederösterreich, AUT Thüringer HC, GER SG BBM Bietigheim, GER Group matches teams Qualification teams Season 2017/18 WOMEN S EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HC Podravka Vegeta, CRO Larvik HK, NOR Höörs HK H65, SWE Buducnost, MNE HC Vardar, MKD Vistal Gdynia, POL FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria, HUN Kastamonu Belediyesi, TUR CSM Bucuresti, ROU Host City Budapest, HUN WOMEN S EHF FINAL4 Rostov-Don, RUS HC Gomel BLR Györi Audi ETO KC, HUN

6 Women s EHF Champions League 2017/18 playing system Qualification Group Matches Main Round Quarter-finals FINAL4 4 vs. 1 3 vs. 2 Semi-finals vs. vs. vs. vs. 3 rd Place Match vs. Home matches 3 Total matches Final vs. Season 2017/18 playing dates Qualification Group Matches Main Round (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) Quarter-finals FINAL4 first leg 11./ second leg

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8 Pots Qualification tournaments draw Two former EHF Champions League winners in the 2017/18 season will not meet already in the qualification group after the draw at the EHF Office in Vienna has sent the record winners Hypo Niederösterreich to Group 2, while the 1995/96 trophy holders Podravka Vegeta have ended up in Group 1. However, this hardly makes their way to a former glory much easier as they both have to face formidable opponents in the group. Croatian record champions Podravka face the Turkish team Kastamonu Belediyesi, while Norwegian runners-up Vipers Kristiansand take on Belarusian champions HC Gomel in the Group 1 semi-finals. In Group 2 the Austrian perennial champions Hypo encounter the brand new team reigning in Sweden, H 65 Höörs HK, while the second team from the German bundesliga Thüringer HC will play against Mecalia Atletico Guardes from Spain. The draw also decided that Kristiansand and Thüringer have the first right to organise the qualification tournaments on the second September weekend (8-10 September). The hosts can decide on which two days in that span the matches will be played. Hosting rights draw: 1 Row 1 (Vipers, Thüringer HC) 2 Row 3 (Kastamonu, Hypo) 3 Row 2 (Podravka, Höörs) 4 Row 4 (Gomel, Atletico) Only the two winners of the qualification tournaments will reach the group matches 8

9 Pots Pots for the group matches Less than a month after a thrilling conclusion of the 2016/17 European club competitions season the representatives of the continent s elite clubs congregate again this week for two draw events on Thursday and Friday to outline their first steps in the new season. The 2017/18 edition of the European top flight will mark the 25th anniversary in both men s and women s competition. Tamara Mavsar, Vid Kavticnik and Dragan Gajic, three stellar names known from Slovenian and foreign Champions League clubs will take over the responsibility for drawing of the lots on Friday. Main draw event at Ljubljana castle For the second year in a row the group stage draw will take place away from Vienna. After all eyes of handball fans were on Denmark s Glostrup (the headquarters of the EHF s official ball supplier SELECT) last year, the Slovenian capital will step into the spotlight, as the Ljubljana castle will host the event. The location of a combined men s and women s event could hardly be more matching as when the decision was announced Slovenia was the only country besides Spain which could boast both men s and women s EHF Champions League winners. Only on Sunday 4 June FYR Macedonia joined this elite company after HC Vardar claimed the trophy at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne. Both RK Krim Mercator, who won the Europe s premier competition twice in 2001 and 2003, and RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, who dominated amongst continent s best clubs in 2004, are also on the starting grid of the upcoming season. Draw procedure Tamara Mavsar, who is returning to Krim Ljubljana after one season with HC Vardar, will take the responsibility for the Women s EHF Champions League 2017/18 Group Matches draw. The draw of the first two pots will be completely open. As clubs from the same country cannot play in the same group, the third pot will start with FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria and FC Midtjylland who will be drawn from balls of a different colour in order to prevent them meeting Györ and Nykøbing respectively. To avoid the same danger in the Pot 4, Brest Bretagne Handball and the qualification tournament winners (which could potentially be Vipers and Thüringer HC as the second teams of their respective countries) will be allocated to the first possible group from left to right. 9

10 Györi Audi ETO KC POT 1 Club Address Győri Audi ETO KC Kiskutliget Győr Hungary Media contact Tamas Szabo Györi Audi ETO KC Weeks after conquering the European throne at the TIPPMIX EHF FINAL4, Györi Audi ETO KC retained the Hungarian League title. In contrast with earlier seasons, this year there were no play-offs or finals, only a regular season, which Györ won with three games in hand ahead of FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria. Györ beat FTC 28:19 at home after trailing at half-time, and snatched a point from their domestic rivals in Budapest. The 28:28 draw after a thrilling run-in was the only point Györ lost this season, which led Ambros Martin s team to finish on top for the 13th time, while Anita Görbicz now has 11 titles under her belt. FTC fought hard in both the Hungarian league and Women s EHF Champions League, managing to lift a trophy against all odds when they won the Hungarian Cup against Györ. Martin later claimed that losing the final played an important part in the victories that followed in the rest of the season as his players realised they were not invincible. gyoriaudietokc Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white GK shirt: red Dark Player shirt: green/black Player short: green/black GK shirt: blue, black Playing hall AUDI Arena Györ Toth Laszlo utja 9027 Györ Hungary Capacity: 5,000 Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 15 Winners (3): 2012/13, 2013/14, 2016/17 Runners-up (3): 2008/09, 2011/12, 2015/16 Semi-finals (4): 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2010/11 Quarter-finals (1): 2014/15 Group Matches (2): 2000/01, 2005/06 Qualification (1): 2004/05 Other Cup Winners Cup: Runners-up 2005/06, Semi-final 2002/03 EHF Cup: Runners-up 1998/99, 2001/02, 2003/04, 2004/05 Hungarian league: 13 titles (1957, 1959, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) Hungarian cup: 12 titles 10

11 Buducnost POT 1 Buducnost All great stories come to an end though not if you are Buducnost (which translates to the future ). Dragan Adzic s team have been preparing for the inevitable, and this season was the final step towards what will finally come in 2017/18. Club Address Budućnost Ivana Milutinovica B.B Podgorica Montenegro Media contact Milos Pavicevic zrkbuducnost@t-com.me milos_ps@yahoo.com ZrkBuducnost The contributions of Buducnost s biggest stars were largely reduced to chasing glory in the Women s EHF Champions League this season, while the domestic competition provided a blank canvas for the youngsters to shine. And they did. Djurdjina Jaukovic terrorised their opponents defence as the youngest ever Buducnost team almost singlehandedly took care of yet another double title defence, for the 11th time in a row. A mass exodus followed, leaving room for the youngsters to step in next season. Katarina Bulatovic, Dragana Cvijic, Cristina Neagu, Neli Irman, Kinga Achruk and Biljana Novovic will leave the club in the less experienced yet capable hands of Djurdjina Malovic, Ema Ramusovic, Jaukovic, Itana Grbic, and Matea Pletikosic. Kit colours Light Player shirt: blue & white stripes Player short: blue GK shirt: grey Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: dark blue Playing hall S.C. Morača Str. Ivana Milutinovića b.b Podgorica Montenegro Capacity: 5,000 Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 22 Winners (2): 2011/12, 2014/15 Runners-up (1): 2013/14 Semi-finals (8): 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2010/11, 2015/16, 2016/17 Main Round (1): 2012/13 Quarter-final (2): 2002/03, 2003/04 Last 16 (1): 1995/96 Group Matches (6): 1996/97, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10 Other Cup Winners Cup: Winners 2005/06, 2009/10 Montenegrin league: 29 titles (1985, 1989, 1990, ) Montenegrin cup: 22 titles 11

12 HC Vardar POT 1 HC Vardar Vardar SCJS ended the Macedonian championship s regular season in first place after 22 victories and two defeats, leaving their biggest rival, Metalurg, behind. However, Vardar SCSJ s dominance lasted only until the FINAL 4, when the Women s EHF Champions League silver medallists joined the championship. Club Address HC Vardar Bul.Asnom br Skopje FYRO Macedonia Media contact Ana Stojkov ana@zrkvardar.com HC Vardar had an easy task and celebrated two high-scoring victories in the finals 54:19 against Kumanovo and 54:24 against their younger team, Vardar SCSJ, earning the fifth Macedonian championship title for the club. In the Macedonian Cup, Vardar wrote a new record in the history of the club. With stand-out performances from Camilla Herrem and Sara Ristovska, who scored 17 goals each, Vardar beat Gevgelija 56:16 in the semi-final and demolished Metalurg 45:19 in the trophy match. Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: black GK shirt: green Dark Player shirt: red Player short: red GK shirt: black Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 5 Runners-up (1): 2016/17 Semi-finals (3): 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16 (third rank at EHF FINAL4) Other EHF Cup: Last 16: 2012/13 Playing hall Jane Sandanski Bubl. Avnoj b.b 1000 Skopje FYR Macedonia Capacity: 5,500 Macedonian league: 5 titles (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017) Macedonian cup: 5 titles 12

13 CSM Bucuresti POT 1 CSM Bucuresti CSM Bucuresti won their third consecutive title with an impressive show in 2016/17. Club Address Calea Victoriei Street no 126 District Bucharest Romania The Romanian powerhouse changed coaches three times from Jakob Vestergaard to Aurelian Rosca then Per Johansson over the course of the season, but the league was still a walk in the park for CSM. Apart from one slip against second-placed Dunarea Braila in the early stages of the championship, CSM swept the opposition aside and won the title as early as March. Media contact Florin Sandu florin.sandu@csmbucuresti.ro CSMBhandbal csm_bucharest Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: black GK shirt: orange Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: green Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 3 Winners (1): 2015/16 Semi-final (1): 2016/17 (3rd) Other EHF Cup: Last /12 Playing hall Sala Polivalenta Ioan Kunst Ghermanescu Calea Piscului Nr. 10, sector 4 Bucharest Romania Capacity: 5,000 Romanian league: 3 titles (2015, 2016, 2017) Romanian cup: 2 titles 13

14 Larvik POT 2 Larvik Once again, Larvik claimed all three titles in Norway the Cup, the league and the play-offs. It was the 12th time in history that the club won the triple, while they were victorious in the play-offs for the 13th time in a row. However, after having no problems on their way to the final, Larvik had more difficulty in the final than they have been accustomed to. Club Address Larvik HK Stavernsveien 232 N-3267 Larvik Norway Media contact Per Christian Andersen pca@larvikhk.no larvikhk Numerous injuries played a decisive role as Larvik lost the first leg of the final away against Vipers Kristiansand 31:30. Vipers even took the lead at the beginning of the return match in Bergslihallen in Larvik, but the favourites soon claimed control and secured the title with a convincing 26:20 victory. Next season Larvik will defend their three titles and contest the Champions League with an almost completely new team, as no less than 11 players are leaving the club after this season. The coaching team will change, as former Glassverket coach Geir Oustorp is joining Tor Odvar Moen as Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: red GK shirt: orange Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black GK shirt: yellow Playing hall Arena Larvik Hoffsgate Larvik Norway Capacity: 4,000 Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 19 Winners (1): 2010/11 Runners-up (2): 2012/13, 2014/15 Semi-finals (4): 2001/02, 2003/04, 2009/10, 2011/12 Quarter-finals (5): 2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07, 2015/16, 2016/17 Main Round (1): 2013/14 Group Matches (5): 1994/95, 1997/98, 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09 Other Cup Winners Cup: Winners 2004/05, 2007/08, Semi-final 1996/97, 2005/06 EHF Cup: Runners-up 2005/06 Norwegian league: 19 titles (1994, 1997, , ) Norwegian cup: 17 titles 14

15 Rostov-Don POT 2 Rostov-Don Rostov-Don, who won the EHF Cup this spring, can also boast a perfect record in the Russian league, where they were crowned champions for the third time in history after 1994 and Last year, the star-studded side sensationally lost the final to Astrakhanochka, but now Rostov showed full commitment and did not repeat mistakes from the past. Club Address Rostov-Don 1 Konnoy Army street, 4-a Rostov-on-Don Russia Media contact Denis Davydov pr4@rostovhandball.ru Having won all 20 matches of the regular season, they carried their brilliant shape to the play-offs, recording two wins in the two-leg quarter-final series against Stavropolye, two victories in the semi-final against Kuban and ultimately the same 2:0 result in the final series against Lada Togliatti (30:26, 26:18). In the domestic arena, Rostov have been simply unstoppable. Kit colours Light Player shirt: yellow-black Player short: yellow GK shirt: yellow Dark Player shirt: black-yellow Player short: black GK shirt: dark red Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 6 Quarter-finals (1): 2015/16 Group Matches (1): 2016/17 Qualification (3): 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14 Playing hall Rostov-Don 1 Konnoy Army street, 4-a Rostov-on-Don Russia Other EHF Cup: winners 2016/17, runners-up 2014/15, quarter-final 2009/10 Cup Winners Cup: semi-final 2012/13, 2013/14, quarter-final 2010/11 Russian league: 5 titles (1990, 1991, 1994, 2015, 2017) Russian cup: 9 titles 15

16 Nykobing Falster HB POT 2 Club Address NFH - Nykøbing Falster Håndboldklub Guldborgsund Håndbold ApS Ryttervænget Nykøbing F. Denmark Media contact Henrik Hansen nfh@mail.dk nfhaandboldklub Nykøbing Falster HB History was made in 2017 as both teams in the Danish championship final were debutants. Neither Women s EHF Cup semi-finalists Nykøbing Falster Håndboldklub nor København Håndbold had ever made it that far in the domestic competition before. København, who have no relation to men s team KIF Kolding Kobenhavn, pulled off a sensation in the semi-final when they eliminated Women s EHF Champions League quarter-finalists FC Midtjylland. After a one-goal win in Ikast, København clinched their final berth through a clear win at home in Frederiksberghallen, while Nykøbing s elimination of Viborg HK in the other semi-final was less of a surprise. This season, the championship final series was played best of three, and all three matches were needed before the new champion was found. Nykøbing had moved their home matches in the final from Nykøbing to Arena Naestved due its larger crowd capacity, but this seemed to be a bad idea at first, as København won the first match away 29:26. However, the second leg in Frederiksberghallen ended with exactly the same score, but this time in favour of Nykøbing. A third match in Naestved was called for. For this event, Nykøbing split the 300 København fans into two groups, claiming that they had made too much noise in the first match though this did not succeed in keeping the København supporters quiet. Kit colours Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: blue GK shirt: blue Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: white/black Nevertheless, Nykøbing won the third match 27:25, claiming the Danish championship title for the first time in history. Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 1 Other EHF Cup: semi-final 2016/17 Danish league: 1 title (2017) Playing hall Arena Naestved Ved Stadion Naestved Denmark Capacity: 3,176 16

17 Metz Handball POT 2 Metz Handball Metz Handball extended the club s record to 21 national titles when they claimed their second league trophy in a row after a close season. Club Address Metz Handball 20 Rue des Mirabelles Metz France Media contact Estelle Vogein estelle.gauvin@ metz-handball.fr metz-handball.com MetzHandballOfficiel Facing Brest in the final, who were only promoted from the second league the previous summer, Metz won the championship by just three goals. Metz claimed a one-goal away victory in the first leg before snatching the title with a two-goal win at home. Their victory was somewhat expected, as Metz finished first in the regular season with a seven-point advantage over Issy-Paris and 12 ahead of Brest. In the play-offs, Issy stumbled against Brest, losing by eight at home in an emotional game. Stine Oftedal, the iconic Norwegian Issy centre back, said farewell that day before moving to Györ for next season. For Metz, this title was the end to a perfect season, after they reached the EHF Champions League Quarter-finals and won the national Kit colours Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: blue GK shirt: red Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black GK shirt: blue Playing hall Les Arenes Metz 5 av. Rue Louis le Debonnaire Metz France Capacity: 4,500 Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 19 Quarter-final (1): 2016/17 Main Round (2): 2011/12, 2014/15 Last 16 (2): 1994/95, 1995/96 Last 32 (1): 1993/94 Group Matches (8): 1996/97, 1997/98, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2013/14 Qualification (4): 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08 Other EHF Cup: Runners-up 2012/13, quarter-final 2000/01, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2007/08 Cup Winners Cup: semi-final 1998/99, 2003/04, 2009/10, 2010/11 French league: 21 titles (1989, 1990, , 1999, 2000, 2002, , 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) French cup: 7 titles 17

18 SG BBM Bietigheim POT 3 SG BBM Bietigheim Never before has a team in the German women s Bundesliga won all their matches but in 2016/17 this record was broken by EHF Cup finalists SG BBM Bietigheim. Club Address HSG BBM Bietigheim Mühlwiesenstrasse Bietigheim-Bissingen Germany Media contact Torsten Nick torsten.nick@sgbbm.de sgbbm 52 points from 26 matches plus an impressive goal difference of +254 demonstrate the full dominance of the club from Bietigheim, who took their first trophy in the club s history. The new champions finished eight points ahead of Thüringer HC, who were the dominant side for the previous six seasons Sensationally however, they missed the double. Though they hosted the Cup final tournament, they were defeated in the semis by title winners Buxtehuder SV. Czech international Michaela Hrbkova was top scorer with 210 goals and was also awarded best player of the season, while Bietigheim s Martin Albertsen was awarded coach of the season EHF Cup finalists TuS Metzingen broke the spectator record for a women s handball club match in Germany this season, with 6,157 fans attending their game against neighbours Nellingen. Kit colours Light Player shirt: red Player short: black GK shirt: white/yellow Dark Player shirt: dark blue Player short: dark blue GK shirt: white/red Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 1 Other EHF Cup: runners-up 2016/17 German league: 1 title (2017) Playing hall MHP Arena Ludwigsburg Schwieberdinger Straße Ludwigsburg Germany Capacity: 4,185 18

19 RK Krim Mercator POT 3 RK Krim Mercator After RK Krim Mercator s 20-year winning streak was interrupted for the first time last season, Elizabeth Omoregie and her young teammates lifted Krim s 22nd Slovenian championship trophy. Club Address RK Krim Mercator Center Stožice Vojkova Cesta Ljubljana Slovenia There is no denying Krim were in excellent form this season. After their solid foray in the main round of the Women s EHF Champions League, as well as coming third in the Women s Regional Handball League last season, Uros Bregar s side raised some eyebrows again in the domestic competition as they strolled through the fixtures undefeated. In the new season they can count again on their former stalwart Tamara Mavsar as the left wing returned from HC Vardar after one season. Media contact Gašper Lončarič gasper@rkkrim.com Kit colours Light Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: white Dark Player shirt: red Player short: red GK shirt: black Playing hall Sportna dvorana Kodeljevo Gortanova Ljubljana Slovenia Capacity: 2,400 Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 23 Winners (2): 2000/01, 2002/03 Runners-up (3): 1998/99, 2003/04, 2005/06 Semi-final (1): 2012/13 Quarter-final (4): 1996/97, 1997/98, 2004/05, 2006/07 Last 16 (1): 1995/96 Main Round (6): 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2013/14, 2014/15 Group Matches (4): 1999/00, 2001/02, 2007/08, 2015/16 Other Champions Trophy: Winners 2002/03, 2003/04 Cup Winners Cup: Semi-final 2015/16 Slovenian league: 22 titles ( , 2017) Slovenian cup: 24 titles 19

20 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria POT 3 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria Like the year before FTC finished second in the domestic Hungarian league with six points behind Györ but also with six points ahead of the third ranked team Erd. Club Address FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria Kobanyai ut 47/a Budapest Hungary Media contact Andrea Pordán However they recorded a surprising success in the Hungarian Cup, where they managed to dent invincibility of their domestic arch-rivals from Györ and claimed their 13th trophy in history. In the Women s EHF Champions League the Hungarian squad made their way again to the quarter-finals but lost both legs against eventual bronze medal winners CSM Bucuresti. kezilabda.fradi.hu ftckezilabda Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white GK shirt: red Dark Player shirt: green Player short: green GK shirt: blue/black Playing hall Syma Sport and Event Centre Dozsa György ut Budapest, Hungary Capacity: 3,000 Alternative playing hall Dabas OBO Arena Iskola utca Dabas, Hungary Capacity: 2,498 Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 18 Runners-up (1): 2001/02 Semi-finals (2): 1996/97, 2000/01 Quarter-finals (5): 1999/2000, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2015/16, 2016/17 Main Round: 2012/13 Group Matches/Champions League (6): 1994/95, 1995/96, 1997/98, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2013/14 Qualification (2): 2009/10, 2014/15 Other EHF Cup: winners 2005/06, semi-finals 2004/05 Cup Winners Cup: winners 2010/11, 2011/12, semi-finals 2006/07, 2014/15 Hungarian league: 12 titles (1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2015) Hungarian cup: 13 titles 20

21 FC Midtjylland POT 3 FC Midtjylland While they finished first in the regular season with nine points ahead of the later 2016/17 Danish champions Nykøbing they missed the final of the play-off by losing both matches against FIF København. In the end they won the bronze medal, defeating Viborg by two clear wins. Club Address FC Midtjylland Stadion Alle 2B 7430 Ikast Denmark They won against Viborg as well in the semi-finals of the Danish Cup but eventually lost the final against Randers HK 21:27. In the 2016/17 Women s EHF Champions League Midtjylland made their way to the quarter-finals facing later final four finalist Vardar. In two close matches it was Vardar who decided both legs with a two-goal win. Media contact Tommy Bögelund Nielsen tbn@fcm.dk FCMHaandbold Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: purple GK shirt: blue/red/yellow Dark Player shirt: purple Player short: purple GK shirt: blue/red/yellow Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 10 Semi-finals (2): 2002/03, 2013/14 Quarter-finals (3): 1998/99, 2004/05, 2016/17 Main Round (4): 2003/04, 2008/09, 2011/12, 2015/16 Group Matches (1): 2003/04 Qualification (1): 2014/15 Playing hall IBF Arena Stadion Allé 2b 7430 Ikast Denmark Capacity: 2,250 Other Cup Winners Cup: winners 2003/04, 2014/15, semi-finals 1999/2000 EHF Cup: winners 2001/02, 2010/11, runners-up 2006/07, semi-finals 2007/08, 2012/13 City Cup: winners 1997/98, runners-up 1996/97, semi-finals 1994/95 Danish league: 4 titles (1998, 2011, 2013, 2015) Danish cup: 3 titles 21

22 Vistal Gdynia POT 4 Club Address Vistal Gdynia Ul. Kazimierza Gorskiego Gdynia Poland Media contact Monika Snider klub@vistal.pl Vistal Gdynia For the second time in history, Vistal Gdynia won the Polish title after first raising the trophy in The team were not the favourites to claim the title in this year s new-format PGNiG Superliga, as MKS Selgros Lublin were expected to win it for the 20th time. The medals were decided during the last round of matches with Vistal playing at home against Zaglebie, and starting the match only one point ahead of their opponents on the table. Vistal won the match 24:22 while Kram Start hosted MKS Selgros Lublin for what was in effect the bronze-medal game. That match ended in a 26:26 draw, but as Elblag were one point ahead they claimed their first medal for the city so far in the 21st century. vistalreczna.pl pilkarecznagdynia Kit colours Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: blue GK shirt: red Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: white Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 2 Qualification (1): 2012/13 Other Challenge Cup: semi-finals 2009/10 Cup Winners Cup: Last /13 EHF Cup: round /11 Playing hall Hala Sportowo Widowiskowa w Gdyni Kazimierza Gorskiego 8 Gdynia Poland Capacity: 4,800 Polish league: 2 titles (2012, 2017) Polish cup: 3 titles 22

23 Brest Bretagne Handball POT 4 Brest Bretagne Handball Brest finished the regular French season only on third position but made their way to the final in the play-off. In the final they faced Metz Handball and gave them a hard task to defend their title. Club Address Brest Bretagne Handball ARENA 140 Boulevard de Plymouth BREST France Media contact Enora Talec enora.talec@lesaint-sa.fr Metz won the first match on Brest s home ground only with one goal and decided the second leg with a two-goal victory. In their maiden season of the European Cup competition Brest showed a convincing performance and already reached the Women s EHF Cup Quarter-final at their first appearance. They were defeated by eventual EHF Cup Champions Rostov-Don who won both legs. Brest Bretagne Handball Kit colours Light Player shirt: black Player short: black GK shirt: fuchsia Dark Player shirt: white Player short: black GK shirt: blue Past achievements Women s EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 1 Other EHF Cup: quarter-finals 2016/17 French league: - (runners-up 2017) Playing hall Arena Brest 140 Boulevard de Plymouth Brest France Capacity: 4,077 23

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25 2015/16 Top Scorers 2016/17 Top Scorers Rank Player Club Goals 1 Andrea Penezic (CRO) HC Vardar (MKD) 98 2 Isabelle Gulldén (SWE) CSM Bucuresti (ROU) 92 3 Katarina Bulatovic (MNE) Buducnost (MNE) 90 Cristina Neagu (ROU) Buducnost (MNE) 90 5 Nora Mørk (NOR) Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN) 85 6 Anita Görbicz (HUN) Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN) 84 Ana Gros (SLO) Metz Handball (FRA) 84 8 Linn-Kristin Koren Riegelhuth (NOR) Larvik (NOR) 83 9 Stine Jörgensen (DEN) FC Midtjylland (DEN) Karina Sabirova (RUS) Astrakhanochka (RUS) Amanda Kurtovic (NOR) Larvik (NOR) Eduarda Amorim Taleska (BRA) Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN) Jovanka Radicevic (MNE) HC Vardar (MKD) Carmen Martin (ESP) CSM Bucuresti (ROU) Iveta Luzumova (CZE) Thüringer HC (GER) Nerea Pena (ESP) FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN) Jenny Alm (SWE) Team Esbjerg (DEN) 59 Andrea Lekic (SRB) HC Vardar (MKD) Alexandra Lacrabere (FRA) HC Vardar (MKD) Marit Malm Frafjord (NOR) Larvik (NOR) 57 Veronica Kristiansen (NOR) FC Midtjylland (DEN) 57 25

26 Wherever you are! All matches of the VELUX EHF Champions League and WOMEN S EHF Champions League, selected games of European Cups, DKB Handball-Bundesliga, Liga Loterías Asobal live and on demand. Don t miss the best highlights, compilations, interviews, features, behind the scenes and more. Watch it wherever you are on ehftv.com!

27 Past winners 1994 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 1995 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 1996 Podravka Koprivnica CRO 1997 Mar El Osito L Eliana Valencia ESP 1998 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 1999 Dunaferr SE HUN 2000 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 2001 RK Krim Neutro Roberts SLO 2002 Kometal D.P. Skopje MKD 2003 Krim ETA Kotex Ljubljana SLO 2004 Slagelse FH DEN 2005 Slagelse FH DEN 2006 Viborg A/S DEN 2007 Slagelse FH DEN 2008 Zvezda Zvenigorod RUS 2009 Viborg A/S DEN 2010 Viborg A/S DEN 2011 Larvik HK NOR 2012 Buducnost Podgorica MNE 2013 Gyõri Audi ETO KC HUN 2014 Gyõri Audi ETO KC HUN 2015 Buducnost Podgorica MNE 2016 CSM Bucuresti ROU 2017 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 27

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29 All-time clubs standings All-time clubs standings TR Name of the club MP W D L GF:FA GD P NP % 1 Buducnost MNE : :165 (21) 62,16% 2 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN : :88 (13) 74,42% 3 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT : *:144 (23) 63,64% 4 Larvik NOR : :144 (18) 62,11% 5 RK Krim Mercator SLO : :206 (21) 51,87% 6 Viborg HK DEN : :142 (17) 56,71% 7 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria HUN : :117 (15) 55,68% 8 Oltchim Rm. Valcea ROU : :104 (12) 55,93% 9 CBM Astroc Sagunto ESP : :93 (12) 53,50% 10 HC Podravka Vegeta CRO : :141 (18) 43,15% 11 Kometal Gjorce Petrov MKD : :96 (12) 51,02% 12 FC Midtjylland DEN : :98 (9) 48,96% 13 HC Vardar MKD : :36 (4) 70,97% 14 Dinamo-Sinara RUS : :103 (11) 45,21% 15 Slagelse DT DEN : :34 (5) 69,64% 16 HC Lada RUS : :56 (7) 54,84% 17 Dunaferr NK HUN : :42 (6) 59,62% 18 Metz Handball FRA : :102 (10) 36,25% 19 Thüringer HC GER : :77 (6) 37,90% 20 Zvezda Zvenigorod RUS : :47 (5) 48,91% 21 HC Leipzig GER : :101 (9) 29,86% 22 CSM Bucuresti ROU : :22 (2) 65,63% 23 MKS Selgros Lublin POL : :87 (10) 32,03% 24 Grupo Asfi Itxako Navarra ESP : :29 (3) 57,35% 28 Rostov-Don RUS : :15 (2) 62,50% NR HC Gomel BLR :0 0 0:0 (0) 0,00% NR Nykøbing FH DEN :0 0 0:0 (0) 0,00% NR BM Atletico Guardes ESP :0 0 0:0 (0) 0,00% NR Brest Bretagne FRA :0 0 0:0 (0) 0,00% NR SG BBM Bietigheim GER :0 0 0:0 (0) 0,00% NR Vipers Kristiansand NOR :0 0 0:0 (0) 0,00% NR Vistal Gdynia POL :0 0 0:0 (0) 0,00% NR Höörs HK H65 SWE :0 0 0:0 (0) 0,00% NR Kastamonu Belediyesi TUR :0 0 0:0 (0) 0,00% * = Point for Hypo NÖ deducted by official decision Excluding Qualifying matches 29

30 History: 24 years of EHF Champions League History: 24 years of EHF Champions League /94 Hypo NIederösterreich vs Vasas Budapest 20:18 / 25:21 (45:39) New name, new playing system, but wellknown finalists just as in the men s competition the Champions League replaced the Champions Cup from the 1993/94 season. 32 teams played two K.O. rounds for the eight places in the Champions League. The two finalists were the winners of the two groups of four. Hypo Niederösterreich became the first title holder showing a spotless performance with 12 victories from 12 matches. 1994/95 Hypo Niederösterreich vs Podravka Koprivnica 14:17 / 26:19 (40:36) After 20 victories in 20 Champions League matches, Hypo Niederösterreich was beaten for the first time in the first leg of the final in Koprivnica. But the 14:17 in Croatia was followed by a clear 26:19 victory in the second leg and the cup remained in Austria. 1995/96 Podravka Koprivnica vs Hypo Niederösterreich 13:17 / 25:20 (38:37) In the 1995/96 season Austrian side Hypo Niederösterreich only finished second and that created tremendous joy for the Eastern Croatians. Under the leadership of the old and new top scorer, Snežana Petika, Podravka Koprivnica for the first time took the crown of the greatest club competition. 1996/97 Mar Valencia vs Viborg HK 35:26 / 23:24 (58:50) In 1997 there was a whole new constellation in the final. Mar Valencia, who had narrowly lost three times in the Champions League Group Phase, celebrated a Spanish fiesta. The team, which was based around the excellent Natalia Morskova, was the first Spanish team in the history of the competition to reach the final. The opponent was Viborg the first Danish finalist since Copenhagen in 1966 (ed. IHF competition). 1997/98 Hypo Niederösterreich vs Mar El Osito L Eliana 28:21 / 28:26 (56:47) Mar El Osito L Eliana had reached the final by scoring at least 31 goals per match. They failed to repeat this feat when they needed it most. Hypo Niederösterreich triumphed with two victories, earning their third Champions League title. 1998/99 Dunaferr SE vs Krim Electa Ljubljana 25:23 / 26:26 (51:49) Two new faces appeared in the Champions League final in the 1998/99 season. In the semifinals Dunaferr had beaten defending champion Hypo NIederösterreich while Ljubljana narrowly held the upper hand over Podgorica. In the final it was the Hungarian side that prevailed, winning their first Champions League title. 30

31 History: 24 years of EHF Champions League 1999/00 Hypo Niederösterreich vs Kometal Skopje 32:23 / 20:22 (52:45) The final of the 1999/00 is less likely to be remembered for Hypo s fourth title in just four years but more for the violent disruptions caused during the final by Macedonian fans. In the second leg objects had been thrown onto the court for almost the entire match, and the problems reached a climax when everyone fled into the changing rooms and Hypo manager Gunnar Prokop was attacked. 2000/01 Viborg HK A/S vs RK Krim N. Roberts Ljubljana 22:22 / 19:25 (41:47) After suffering defeat in the 1999 finals against Dunaferr, the time was finally ripe in 2001 for Krim, Slovenia s most dominating club whose focus had always been to win the Champions League. In the final Krim prevailed over Viborg thanks to win and a draw. 2001/02 FTC HERZ Budapest vs Kometal D. P. Skopje 27:25 / 22:26 (49:51) On 19 May 2002, 45,000 fans people celebrated their heroines enthusiastically in the main square of the Macedonian capital a great achievement had been made: Kometal Skopje wore the crown of Europe s top club competition for the first time. Two years before, the Macedonians had played in the finals against Hypo Niederösterreich but after rioting fans during the second leg in Skopje all Macedonian clubs were banned for one year from the European Cup, and no one had expected Macedonian handball to recover that fast from the shock. 2002/03 El Osito Valencia vs Krim N. Roberts Ljubljana 30:27 / 28:36 (58:63) For the third time in a row, the Champions League winner came from former Yugoslavia and for the second time after 2001 Krim Ljubljana was sitting on the European throne. Skopje had won the title in There was also another record: goalkeeper Luminita Dinu won the European title for the third time in a row. 2003/04 Slagelse DT vs Krim Ljubljana 25:24 / 36:32 (61:56) In less than four years world class player and world class coach Anja Andersen had led Danish side Slagelse DT out of the second division and straight into their first Champions League season. And just one year after they had already celebrated the win of the EHF Cup, the team was victorious once more this time in Europe s most prestigious club handball competition. It was a fairy tale come true. 2004/05 Slagelse DT vs Kometal D.P. Skopje 27:23 / 27:20 (54:43) For the second time in the history of the Champions League and after the double victory of Hypo Niederösterreich in 1994 and 1995, a team was able to defend its title. In all twelve Champions League matches, from the Group Phase to the final, coach Anja Andersen s team suffered only one defeat. 31

32 History: 24 years of EHF Champions League History: 24 years of EHF Champions League /06 Krim Ljubljana vs Viborg HK A/S 22:24 / 21:20 (43:44) In the history of the Women s EHF Champions League that had not happened before. In both final matches of the 2005/06 season the away teams won. It seemed a mere formality for Viborg to lift the trophy following their 24:22 win in Slovenia, but Ljubljana fought back and had one hand on the cup when they led 20:17 in the 52nd minute before running out of steam. 2006/07 Slagelse DT vs Lada Togliatti 29:29 / 32:24 (61:53) It was Slagelse s third go at gold and they did it convincingly. With elite performances both in the Champions League and the Danish league, where they did not lose one single point, Anja Andersen s women were the favourites for the title so another success of the dream team was not a surprise. 2007/08 Zvezda Zvenigorod vs Hypo Niederösterreich 25:24 / 31:29 (56:53) After having beaten Hypo Niederösterreich at home 25:24, the Russian champions were also triumphant in Wiener Neustadt in a very tough second leg. For Hypo it was a big disappointment as everything had been prepared for party at the Arena Nova to celebrated then ninth title since /09 Viborg HK vs Győri AUDI ETO KC 24:26 / 26:23 (50:49) Viborg HK won the Champions League for the 32 second time after having lost the first leg of the final 24:26 but winning the second leg 26:23 against Györ. Viborg s Grit Jurack contributed four goals in the second match and became the Champions League s top scorer with 113 goals in the 2008/09 season. 2009/10 Viborg HK vs Oltchim Rm. Vâlcea 28:21 / 32:31 (60:52) Viborg HK defeated Oltchim Vâlcea to win the Women s EHF Champions League for the second consecutive time and the third time in the last five years. Also the Danish dominance continued. Since 2003/2004 all Champions League titles had gone to Danish teams, except for the 2007/2008 season when Russian team Zvezda Zvenigorod celebrated the victory. 2010/11 Larvik vs Itxako Reyno De Navarra 23:21 / 24:25 (47:46) In a real nail-biting thriller right until the dying seconds, Itxako defeated Larvik by a single goal in the second leg of the final, but with the aggregate score, the Norwegians were the lucky winners of this clash and brought home the EHF Champions League trophy for the first time in the club s history. 2011/12 Győri AUDI ETO KC vs Budoćnost 29:27 / 25:27 (54:54) Budućnost won the tightest edition of the EHF Women s Champions League by account of scoring the greater number of away goals (27 in Hungary) than Győri AUDI ETO KC (25 in Montenegro). It was only a small consolation for Györ s Anita Görbicz who picked up the top scorer for the 2011/12 season.

33 History: 24 years of EHF Champions League 2012/13 Larvik HK vs Győri AUDI ETO KC 21:24 / 22:23 (43:47) After losing the finals in 2009 and 2012 Győr finally ended their curse of seven European Cup finals without a trophy. The coronation of the new queens of European handball took place in jam-packed Veszprém Aréna after the second leg victory and carried on in the streets of the city of Győr. The Hungarian team were dominant throughout the whole season as they suffered only one defeat (in the semi-final at home vs Oltchim) in 16 matches. 2013/14 Buducnost vs Győri AUDI ETO KC 21:27 (10:15) For the first time in history just one final game decided about the new title holders as Papp Laszlo Budapest Sportarena hosted the excellent premiere edition of the MVM EHF FINAL4. Györ successfully defended the title after avenging their 2012 defeat by Buducnost in front of a sold-out crowd (10,000). Hungarian champions were the only undefeated team of the season as they won 12 matches and drew twice with Buducnost in the main round. Györ s captain Anita Görbicz became the season s top scorer for the second time scoring 87 goals. 2014/15 Larvik vs Buducnost 22:26 (8:14) After defending champions Györi Audi ETO KC had been hit by a series of injuries and maternity leaves it became as no major surprise as they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Vardar. The Macedonian champions had to settle with the third place finish for the second straight time though, after stumbling upon Buducnost once again in the semi-final. In the final showdown of the two previously unbeaten teams in Budapest the Montengrin side cruised past Larvik to their second European crown. Andrea Penezic and Cristina Neagu shared the top scorer s title with each scoring 102 goals. 2015/16 CSM Bucuresti vs Györi Audi ETO KC 29:26 after penalty shootout (25:25, 13:12) The Romanian newcomers were all but impressive before the final rounds of the main round and only a few people would expect they could stand a chance against another Champions League debutants Rostov-Don in the quarter-finals. However the team of Kim Rasmussen not only eliminated the previously unbeaten Russian team after two narrow wins but also ousted Vardar in the semi-final and completely stunned handball Europe by defeating Györi Audi ETO KC despite the fact the Hungarian favourites played with support of a sold-out crowd (12.000) of the Papp Laszlo Arena behind them. Unstoppable Isabelle Gullden netted in 15 goals in the final and Aurelia Bradeanu scored the deciding penalty in the shoot-out for CSM. 2016/17 Györi Audi ETO KC vs HC Vardar 31:30 after extra-time (26:26, 15:12) The sold-out Papp Laszlo Budapest Sportarena wittnessed a very similar and thrilling scenario like the year before as the final went to the extra-time. Vardar, who ousted the defending champions CSM Bucuresti in the semi-final, climbed back from a three-goal deficit, but mainly courtesy of a stellar performance of Anita Görbicz Györ were able to snatch a narrow victory and their third title in five years. 33

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