Media Guide VELUX EHF Champions League Season 2015/16 Last 16

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1 Media Guide VELUX EHF Champions League Season 2015/16 Last 16

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3 Table of contents Foreword 4 Media contacts 5 Map of participating clubs 6 Playing system diagram - stages and dates 7 Road to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 - diagram 8 Media accreditation for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 9 Facts & Figures of the Group Phase 11 Important regulations - scoring of the Last 16 matches 12 Motor Zaporozhye vs MVM Veszprem 14 HC Meshkov Brest vs Vive Tauron Kielce 23 Montpellier HB vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt 32 Orlen Wisla Plock vs HC Vardar 41 MOL-Pick Szeged vs THW Kiel 50 HC PPD Zagreb vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen 59 Current top scorers 68 Past winners 69 3

4 Foreword Dear Media Representative, Following the conclusion of the group phase, the 2015/16 VELUX EHF Champions League in its new format is about to make another step towards the season s finale in Cologne. Only the top fourteen teams have survived the exciting group phase marathon which was played for the first time with 28 teams on the starting grid. And before we set our sights towards the upcoming playoff matches let me just underline that the many thrilling matches between even opponents in the group phase has certainly justified our move to revitalise this stage of the competition. The two clubs who won the Group A and B have also benefitted from another change in the playing system as Paris Saint-Germain Handball and FC Barcelona Lassa qualified directly to the quarter-finals and can now enjoy a welcome break in the busy season, while their future quarter-final opponents will have to overcome the Last 16 hurdles. Whilst there has been a face-lift in the structure of the competition, not too much has changed when it comes to the composition of teams which made it to this phase and still can dream of a May trip to the river Rhine. Not fewer than twelve teams from the previous season s Last 16 are back in the race again in addition to the two winners of the Group C and D knockout round, HC Meshkov Brest and Motor Zaporozhye who both finished just one place below a playoff spot last year. Having made their way to the next round at the cost of Skjern Handbold and Naturhouse La Rioja respectively, both Eastern European sides face a daunting task now as two participants of the last edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 await them. Last season s runners-up MVM Veszprem meet Zaporozhye while the third team of the 2014/15 season KS Vive Tauron Kielce put the ambitions of the Belarusian champions to a stern test. There are four former EHF Champions League winners still in action and while the defending champions from Barcelona are now enjoying a relaxed fortnight, THW Kiel face last season s quarter-final opponents MOL-Pick Szeged and the two remaining trophy holders Montpellier HB and SG Flensburg-Handewitt face each other. Szeged was the last stop for Kiel before they boarded for Cologne and this could give THW a confidence boost when the same rivals meet this time around, but the current season of the reigning German champions is more turbulent and Szeged will be eager to avenge last year s setback. It can be a payback time for another pairing as well as Orlen Wisla Plock take on HC Vardar again after they were eliminated last year in the Last 16 by the Macedonian champions despite a very promising first leg in Poland. Germany, the country of the reigning EHF EURO champions is the only one out of nine countries represented in the Last 16 which can boast three teams. As all three have avoided each other in the playoff picture, only time will tell how many of them we will see in the quarter-finals and finally at the VELUX EHF FINAL4. Germany s third participant Rhein-Neckar Löwen play against HC PPD Zagreb in what should prove to be a pair of nail-biting games and we all are eager to find out whether the golden or white lions will prevail at the end. We pride ourselves on our positive and cooperative relationship with the press and media and I am sure this will continue and develop in the future. I therefore hope you consider this media guide a useful and enriching resource for your work in the upcoming weeks and months. Should you require any further information, help or assistance during the course of the season, your first point of contact is the EHF Media and Communications Department based in our office in Vienna. Jean Brihault EHF President 4

5 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 Media accreditation for the Last 16 matches The written media and photographer s accreditation procedure in the Group Phase is entirely in the responsibility of the participating clubs. TV and Radio accreditations are subjects to approval by EHF Marketing GmbH please contact Miguel Mateo Marcellán. Clubs Media contacts HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) Dmitriy Karpushchenko hkmotor@yandex.ru HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) Alexandr Kulbaka media@bgk-meshkova.com Montpellier HB (FRA) Suzy Demonte suzy.demonte@montpellier-handball.com Orlen Wisla Płock (POL) Tomasz Bauman Tel: t.bauman@sprwislaplock.pl MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) Levente Juhasz levente.juhasz@pickhandball.hu HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) Goran Roknic glasnogovornik@rk zagreb.hr MVM Veszprém (HUN) Zsolt Sevinger mkbmvmveszprem@chello.hu KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) Sebastian Kozubek s.kozubek@vivetargi.pl SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) Sandra von Wallis s.vonwallis@sg-flensburg-handewitt.de HC Vardar (MKD) Marko Savovski markosavovski@live.com THW Kiel (GER) Christian Robohm christian.robohm@thw-handball.de Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) Christopher Monz monz@rhein-neckar-loewen.de FC Barcelona Lassa (ESP) Gustau Galvache gustau.galvache@fcbarcelona.cat Paris Saint-Germain Handball (FRA) Louise Cosnard lcosnard@psg.fr 5

6 Naturhouse La Rioja, ESP Futebol Clube do Porto, POR Montpellier HB, FRA Paris Saint-Germain Handball, FRA Rhein-Neckar Löwen, GER Host City Cologne, GER VELUX EHF FINAL4 FC Barcelona Lassa, ESP OCI-Lions, NED KIF Kolding Kobenhavn, DEN Skjern Handbold, DEN Kadetten Schaffhausen, SUI Teams eliminated in qualification Teams eliminated in the group phase Last 16 teams Quarter-final teams Season 2015/16 VELUX EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 6 Alpla HC Hard, AUT Elverum HH, NOR IFK Kristianstad, SWE HC PPD Zagreb,CRO RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko, SLO RUKOMETNI KLUB PRVO PLINARSKO DRUŠTVO Z A G R E B SG FlensburgHandewitt, GER RK Borac m:tel Banja Luka, BIH THW Kiel, GER HC Metalurg, MKD HC Vojvodina Novi Sad, SRB MOL-Pick Szeged, HUN MVM Veszprem, HUN HCM Baia Mare, ROU HC Motor Zaporozhye, UKR Tatran Presov, SVK Chekhovskie Medvedi, RUS KS Vive Tauron Kielce, POL Besiktas JK, TUR HC Meshkov Brest, BLR HC Vardar MKD Orlen Wisla Plock, POL

7 Group Phase Groups A & B (draw) Last 16 (no draw) Quarter-finals (no draw) Season 2015/16 playing system A1 B1 A1 bye M6 vs A1 A2 B2 B1 bye M5 vs B1 A3 B3 M1 K1 vs A2 M4 vs M1 A4 B4 A5 B5 M2 K2 vs B2 M3 B6 vs A3 M3 vs M2 Semi-finals (draw) vs A6 B6 A7 B7 M4 A6 vs B3 M5 B5 vs A4 vs A8 B8 Group Phase Groups C & D (draw) C1 D1 K1 C2 C2 D2 Group Phase KO Matches (no draw) K2 vs D1 D2 vs C1 M6 A5 vs B4 3 rd place match vs Final vs Qualification Tournament (no draw) C3 D3 C4 D4 C5 D5 C6 D6 Season 2015/16 playing schedule Qualification Tournament Group Phase Last 16 Quarter-finals FINAL first leg first leg Group A & B only Group A & B only Group A & B and KO Group C & D Group A & B and KO Group C & D second leg second leg

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9 Media Accreditation for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 With 15 weeks to go before the start of VELUX EHF FINAL4, the final round of the VELUX EHF Champions League, the media accreditation started. The event will take place for the seventh time in the LANXESS arena, Cologne on 28/29 May 2016 and will see the continent s top four teams battling it out over two days to lift the coveted VELUX EHF Champions League trophy. Journalists, photographers, TV and radio representatives can now submit their request for accreditation via an online form at ehffinal4.com, the event s official website. Requests can only be made online. Media accreditation is only open to professional media representatives working at the event. Freelance media representatives may be asked to provide additional evidence of their work. There are limited places and it may not be possible to accept all requests for accreditations. By applying for a media accreditation, media representatives also agree to the Media Terms and Conditions (EHF Events). Please read them carefully before making your application Click here to enter the media accreditation page Requests for media accreditation should be made by Friday 6 May 2016, almost one week after the completion of quarter-final matches. 9

10 VELUX EHF FINAL / 29 May 2016 LANXESS arena und #EHFFINAL4

11 Facts and figures of the group phase PSG, Zagreb, Brest and Hansen top the group phase lists 180 matches - more than ever - have been played so far to decide the participants of the VELUX EHF Champions League s knockout stage. 4 qualification matches, 112 matches in Groups A/B, 60 matches in Groups C/D and four play-off matches. 0 pairings of teams from the same nation will occur in the Last team won or lost all their respective matches. 2 points from 14 matches is the lowest return in the group phase, by Besiktas. 3 times Kielce (in 14 rounds) and Baia Mare (in 10 rounds) tied a match to be the draw kings of the group phase. 4 former or current EHF Champions League winners - representing 13 titles - still have the chance to win the trophy again: FC Barcelona (eight-time winner), THW Kiel (three), Flensburg and Montpellier (one each). Two former Champions League finalists - Veszprem and Zagreb have also made it to the knockout stage. 6 of those 14 teams still involved in the competition have been part of at least one VELUX EHF FINAL4 (inaugurated in 2010) 8 times, 70 or more goals were scored in a group match, including Group C/D playoffs. 9 nations, one more than last season, are represented by the 14 teams still in the competition - including three German teams, two French each, Hungarian and Polish sides and each one club from Spain, Belarus, Croatia, FYR Macedonia and Ukraine. 10 rounds including 60 matches had been played in groups C and D to confirm those four top ranked teams, which fought for the Last 16 berth. Zaporozhye and Brest qualified from those teams. 11 of 14 possible away points were taken by Barcelona. The defending champions lead the away ranking ahead of PSG (10), Veszprem (9), Flensburg and Kielce (8 each). 12 of the 14 teams still in the competition were part of the Last 16 in the previous season - the only new arrivals are the C/D playoff winners Brest and Zaporozhye. 12 of 176 matches of the group phase (including playoffs) ended in draws (3 in Group A, 4 in Groups B and D, 1 in playoffs, 0 in Group C). 13 times less than 45 goals were scored in the group phase matches. In five of those 13 matches, Metalurg were involved. 14 rounds including 112 matches were played in the groups A and B, in which Celje, Besiktas, Kristianstad and Kolding failed on the way to the knockout stage. 14 points on home court - which means the maximum from seven matches - were taken by Paris and Veszprem. Kielce took 13 points and are ahead of Barcelona, Kiel, Flensburg and Vardar, having 12 home points each on their account. 15 goals scored by Vojvodina in the 15:37 defeat at Porto was the lowest number of goals by a team in a single match. 16 matches ended with a difference of ten or more goals. 22 goals was the biggest gap in the competition so far, when Porto beat Vojvodina by 37: points, earned by PSG were the highest number of all teams, ahead of 23 (Veszprem and Barcelona), 21 (Kielce) and 20 (Flensburg). 28 teams - more than ever before - had been part of the group phase. 33 group matches (all in Groups A and B) were attended by 5,000 or more spectators, 23 in Group A, 10 in Group B. 39 goals was the lowest-score in the group phase, occurred in the match Skjern vs Metalurg (20:19). 55 times more than 60 goals were scored in the group matches including playoffs - in 16 matches in Group A, 20 matches in Group B, 8 matches each in Groups C and D and 3 play-off matches. 59 of 176 matches of the group phase were won by the away teams - 20 in Group A, 17 in B, 11 in C, 10 in D and 1 in the playoff. +61 is the impressive goal difference of Brest after 12 matches 76 goals was the high score in this season so far, when Zaporozhye beat La Rioja by 39:37 in the Group C/D playoffs. 105 of 176 matches of the group phase (including playoffs) were won by the home teams - 33 in Group A, 35 in Group B, 19 in Group C, 16 in Group D and 2 in the playoffs. 107 goals were scored by PSG left back Mikkel Hansen in the group phase to be on top of the top scorer ranking to be ahead of Kiril Lazarov (Barcelona/98) and Dean Bombac (Szeged/90). 353 goals were conceded by Rhein-Neckar Löwen to have the best defence by 25.2 goals per match in average. The best average of all teams was taken by Metalurg by 24.1 goals per match. 442 goals were scored by PSG to have the best attack of all teams. 8,200 fans at the match against Istanbul was the lowest attendance of a THW Kiel home match. Three times (against Flensburg, PSG and Zagreb) the arena was sold-out with more than 10,000 fans. 10,428 fans in average attended the seven home matches of Zagreb to be ahead of THW Kiel (9,625) in this ranking. 15,200 fans each were at Zagreb s home matches against PSG and Veszprem to have the highest attendance of all. 11

12 Important regulations Scoring of the matches in the last 16 and quarter-finals If, after completion of the two matches, both clubs have won the same number of points (no extra time will be played), the teams standings shall be determined by the following criteria: a) goal difference b) higher number of plus goals scored in away match c) penalty throws Rules for execution of penalty throws Prior to the penalty throws, each team shall name five players eligible to play at the end of the match by handing the referees a list of numbers. These players shall then take one throw each, alternating with their opponents. Each team is free to determine the sequence in which throwers will take their throws. The goalkeepers may be freely selected from the match report and exchanged in accordance with the Rules of the Game. Goalkeepers may take throws and throwers may perform as goalkeepers. The referees shall choose the goal at which throws are taken. The team taking the first penalty throw shall be determined by the referees by drawing lots. The team winning the draw may choose whether it wishes to throw first or last. If the scores are equal after the first round of penalty throws, it shall be continued until a decision is reached. In the second round, the other team shall start. Again five players shall be named who are eligible to play (the players named before may be named once again). In the second round, a decision is reached when a goal difference arises after both teams have taken one throw each. Eligible players are players entered in the match report that have not been disqualified or suspended at the time of the final whistle. Serious infractions committed during penalty throws shall be sanctioned by disqualification. If a thrower is disqualified or suffers an injury, an eligible substitute player shall be supplementary named. While the throws are being taken, only the player taking the throw, the current goalkeeper and the referees may enter the respective half of the playing court. If the number of eligible players falls below five, players may be named to take a second throw in the same round. Find all the regulations here 12

13 Your legends deserve daylight The VELUX Group is donating roof windows to sports clubs across Europe. In celebration of our 75th anniversary, we are donating roof windows to sports clubs around Europe. Your sports club can apply for a donation of a complete installation of six windows by simply filling out the online application and contacting an installer. This is your chance to bring light and fresh air into your clubhouse, making it more bright, inviting and comfortable and giving your legends the daylight they deserve. Apply now at

14 HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) vs MVM Veszprem (HUN) First leg Saturday 19 March, 17:00 hrs. local time Second leg Saturday 26 March, 17:00 hrs. local time For Motor, the tournament began in Group D, where they struggled for a while but eventually managed to earn 15 points and finish in the first place. The next obstacle for the Ukrainian side was the Group C+D elimination play-off, where the team led by Mykola Stepanets faced Spain s Naturhouse La Rioja. Since both teams prefer attacking style, no wonder that the spectators saw many goals. Both in Spain and at home Motor won by a small margin 31:30, 39:37. As for MVM Veszprem, they were placed in Group A and finished second behind Paris Saint-Germain, but ahead of traditional German powerhouses SG Flensburg-Handewitt and THW Kiel. Last time, the roads of Motor and Veszprem crossed in the season 2013/2014. In the group stage of the VELUX Champions league, the Hungarian team easily won at home (44:27), but lost in Ukraine (21:25). However, Motor s head coach Mykola Stepanets is sure that many things have become different since that time. Now Veszprem are not exactly like they used to be, many players and coaches have changed. However, the Hungarian side still set the highest goals. Last season, they played in the Champions League final and fought hard against Barcelona. I am sure that this year Veszprem will again do their best to win the major trophy. Yet we will try hard to continue winning, despite the opponent s strength, he told handball.motorsich.com. Meanwhile, Stepanets counterpart from Veszprem Xabier Sabate has been appointed the interim head coach of Hungary national team. He signed a contract until June and therefore will be at the helm of two teams in the coming months. According to Sabate, both jobs will be equally important for him. It is an honor for me to lead the national team in the World Championship play-off against Serbia. I am grateful to Veszprem for allowing me to take this challenge, says the Spaniard. Veszprem also signed a new contract until 2019 with the line player Andreas Nilsson. The 25-year-old Swede is delighted to stay in Hungary. It was a very easy decision. I like the club and everything around it: the fans, the city, the country. Last season, I won Hungarian league, Hungarian Cup and SEHA-League. But we lost to Barcelona in the Champions League final, and those memories are not so nice. Hope this year it will be different, Nilsson told mkb-mvmveszprem.hu. Head-to-head stats HC Motor Zaporozhye vs MVM Veszprém (53:66) 2: MKB-MVM Veszprém vs HC Motor Zaporozhye, VELUX EHF Champions League Group A 44:27 (20:13) HC Motor Zaporozhye vs MKB-MVM Veszprém, VELUX EHF Champions League Group A 26:22 (13:13) 14

15 C/D knockout winners HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) For HC Motor Zaporozhye, a place in the VELUX Champions League Last 16 is already an achievement. And now, the Ukrainian champion is striving for more. Placed in Group D, Mykola Stepanets team was quite inconsistent at the start of the group phase. The Ukrainians alternated home wins with away losses, and after four games had only four points. Injuries were also taking their toll. Two team leaders, the left back Sergii Burka and the Lithuanian playmaker Aidenas Malasinskas, missed a number of games duу to injuries. However, Motor managed to improve their game as the tournament progressed. They won two games in a row against Norway s Handball Herrer, but the key moment for boosting the team morale was probably the game in Skopje against Metalurg. Motor were behind during the match, yet managed to come back and win 23:21. The fight in the group was very tight, but Zaporozhye went on to beat at home their direct rivals, HCM Baia Mare and Kadetten Schaffhausen. Before the last game in Skjern, both opponents secured two top places in the group. The draw in Denmark was enough for the Ukrainian side to finish first. Playing hall TEC Terminal Kievskaya Brovary Ukraine Capacity: 3,500 Club Address: HC Motor Zaporozhye Ivanova Str Zaporozhye Ukraine Media contact: Dmitriy Karpushchenko hkmotor@yandex.ru Online information: Website: Facebook: HC-Motor Kit colours Light Player shirt: white/red Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: yellow/black Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: red/black In the Group C+D play off, they faced Naturhouse La Rioja, a runner-up from the Group C. As both teams prefer attacking style, it came as no surprise that both elimination games featured a high number of goals. Still, Motor were stronger, winning 31:30 in Spain and then building on that advantage at home 39:37. After that, their morale seems to be even higher than before! GROUP D Final Table: 1. HC Motor Zaporozhye :277 (19) Skjern Handbold :271 (22) Kadetten Schaffhausen :270 (0) HCM Baia Mare :268 (-4) 9 5. Elverum Handball Herrer :289 (-15) 7 6. HC Metalurg :241 (-22) 4 Group Phase results: (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) C&D Naturhouse La Rioja W30 :31 (15 :14) vs Naturhouse La Rioja W39 :37 (21 :16) Group D vs HC Metalurg W30 :24 (13 HCM Baia Mare L35 :30 (18 :14) vs Skjern Handbold W31 :26 (15 Kadetten Schaffhausen L30 :27 (15 Elverum Handball Herrer W29 :30 (15 :12) vs Elverum Handball Herrer W33 :30 (14 HC Metalurg W21 :23 (12 :9) vs HCM Baia Mare W25 :23 (14 :11) vs Kadetten Schaffhausen W31 :23 (13 Skjern Handbold D36 :36 (17 :19) Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 3 Last 16 (1): 2013/14 Group Phase (1): 2014/15 Other EHF Cup: Group Phase 2012/13 Cup Winners Cup: Quarter-finals 2011/12 Ukrainian league: 3 titles (2013, 2014, 2015) Ukrainian cup: 2 titles 15

16 HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) Biggest win: 31 :23 (13 :9) v Kadetten Schaffhausen (h), Biggest defeat: 44:27 (20:13) v MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN (a), Longest winning run: 5 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 6 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 6 matches ( ) Most goals: 39 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 39:37W (h), Most goals opponent: 44 v MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN 44:27L (a), Most goals both teams: 76 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 39:37W (h), Fewest goals: 21 v Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral FRA 21:23L (h), Fewest goals opponent: 18 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 18:24W (a), Fewest goals both teams: 42 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 18:24W (a), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage MP GF GA GD PTS Stage 2013/14 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR : :15 Last /15 HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR : :14 5th Gr. D Total : :29 16

17 HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight 69 Sergii Burka UKR Left Back Zaporozhye, UKR Zakhar Denysov UKR Left Wing Ilychevsk, UKR Vladyslav Dontsov UKR Right Back Zaporozhye, UKR Dmytro Doroshchuk UKR Line Player Volyn reg., UKR Gleb Kalarash RUS Line Player Moscow, UKR Artem Kozakevych UKR Right Wing Novovolynsk, UKR Iurii Kubatko UKR Right Back Zaporozhye, UKR Kostyantyn Kurylenko UKR Left Back Zaporozhye, UKR Aidenas Malasinskas LTU Centre Back Lietuva, LTU Sergii Orlovskyi UKR Left Wing Zaporozhye, UKR Barys Pukhouski BLR Centre Back St.Mazorita, BLR Sergey Shelmenko RUS Right Back Kiev, UKR Olexandr Shevelev UKR Line Player Zaporozhye, UKR Igor Soroka RUS Left Wing Cherkessk, RUS Ievgen Zhuk UKR Left Wing Zaporozhye, UKR Stanislav Zhukov UKR Left Back Novovolynsk, UKR Gennadiy Komok UKR Goalkeeper Zaporozhye, UKR Valentyn Koshovy UKR Goalkeeper Zaporozhye, UKR Yevgen Sapun UKR Goalkeeper Zaporozhye, UKR Nikolay Stepanets coach not a new face in Motor as he worked as their assistant coach in the past in role of an interim coach he won two Ukrainian championship titles and also had his debut in the CL in their last two group phase convinced the Motor s managers to give him a chance to start the 2015/16 season as head coach Kiev born, 50-year-old coached also domestic rivals Budivelnik Brovary and also steered Etoual Sportiv du Sahel to Tunisian league silver and the League Cup in 2007 as Motor play in Brovary in the 2015/16 season, Stepanets returns where he made his first steps as a coach 17

18 Gennadiy Komok goalkeeper talented goalie last play the CL in the 2011/12 season with Russian St.Petersburg, in the only year he spent abroad raised in Zaporozhye, he was number one goalkeeper in the team of city rivals ZTR, multiple CL participant helped ZTR to win five national titles a key player in the national team of Ukraine on the way for their last major tournament EHF EURO 2010, currently taking a break for the national team Ievgen Zhuk left wing promising Ukrainian prospect on the left wing after a few seasons in Burevestnik Lugansk he returned to his mother club after Skopintsev left for Chekhov he should get more prominence on the playing court scored 12 goals in two CL seasons with Motor has exellent accelaration and can surprise with hard shots even from a back court position Sergey Burka left back the tallest (208 cm) player of the Ukrainian championship joined Motor in 2012 from the city rivals of ZTR collected four national titles with his former club ZTR and added two with Motor together with his current teammate Shevelev was among players of the national team of Ukraine at their last major tournament - EHF EURO 2010 since then he has been a regular fixture in the Ukrainian selection Aidenas Malasinskas centre back joined Motor in the summer of 2015, but quickly became a key element in Motor Lithuanian international has no problems with language barrier speaking Russian as well as all team of Motor played also for Kaunas clubs Lusis and Granitas-Karys in his homeland followed by stints with Irun Bidasoa, Fraikin BM. Granollers, Naturhouse La Rioja came from BM Puerto Sagunto and finished third in the ASOBAL top scorers list in the 2014/15 season Barys Pukhouski centre back moved to Motor Zaporozhye from SKA Minsk in the summer of 2015 spent the end of the last season at his home club SKA after leaving Hungary s Csurgo for family reasons also had an experience of playing for Dinamo Minsk in the past one of the leaders and the best all-time scorer (571 goals) of the Belarus national team Olexandr Shevelev line player one of not too many Ukrainians who played in the European leagues recently arrived from Dinamo Minsk (BLR), but played in Astrakhan, Aalborg and in service of Ciudad Real scored his first goals in the CL in 2011 his premiere appearance in the CL was in the 2006/07 season with Ukrainian club Portovik experience and physical strength make him a crucial figure in the center of defence and attack Sergey Shelmenko right back born in Ukraine and played for the national team, but then acquired Russian citizenship and opted to play for Russia after a number of seasons at Medvedi, Shelmenko left the team for Dinamo Minsk, but was unlucky as this club ceased to exist came back to Russia where he spent the rest of the 2013/14 season at St.Petersburg after a short second stint with Medvedi he signed for Motor in the summer of 2015 Artem Kozakevich right wing Motor s long hunt for one of the most talented players in Ukraine was successfully completed in 2014 after the winger from Portovik Yuzhniy signed his dream to score first goals in the CL came true in the 2014/15 season shares the position with Yuriy Kubatko and is considered as one of the main specialists for penalties 18

19 GROUP A 2 nd ranked MVM Veszprém (HUN) Last year s finalist lost MKB from their name and Carlos Ortega from their bench in a matter of two months. While the bank s contract as sponsor simply ran out the Spanish coach s was terminated after an unlucky draw at Plock in the first round of the VELUX EHF Champions League. All this at the wake of the defeat in the final of the Super Globe proved too much and the club parted ways with Ortega. His assistant Xavier Sabaté had been a popular figure eversince his arrival, yet there were few who thought that Ortega s departure could have a positive impact on Veszprém. Yet, Sabaté proved to be perfectly fit for the job and quickly prompted the management to erase the word interim from his title. However, Xavi s magic couldn t have worked if it wasn t for the players willingness to swallow the bitter pill needless to say his men loved Ortega and picked up the pace their new coach demanded. By no surprise Veszprém maintained their 100 percent home record even when both right backs were injured and winger Péter Gulyás had to fill in, but both PSG and Kiel managed to beat the Hungarian powerhouse on home soil. However, with the full squad at his disposal Sabaté conquered the Flensburg fortress to prove Veszprém are still one of the top title contenders, who deliver when it matters. As long as inspirational leader and team captain László Nagy is fit, Veszprém have the slight edge against any of the other teams. The partnership of Mirko Alilovic and the massive defensive wall is hard to beat while Gasper Marguc, Ivan Sliskovic and Andreas Nilsson enjoy a great season in attack and the old guard of Chema, Nagy and Ilic can urge the long due conquest of the throne. Playing hall Veszprém Arena Külso Kadartai ut 8200 Veszprém Hungary Capacity: 5,020 Club Address: MVM Veszprém Marcius 15. ut Veszprém Hungary Media contact: Zsolt Sevinger mkbmvmveszprem@chello.hu Online information: Website: Facebook: mkbveszprem Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: grey Dark Player shirt: red Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: black GROUP A Final Table: 1. PSG Handball :389 (53) MVM Veszprém :364 (38) SG Flensburg-Handewitt :380 (49) THW Kiel :388 (12) HC PPD Zagreb :367 (-9) Orlen Wisla Plock :397 (-25) 8 7. RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko :398 (-13) 7 8. Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu :487 (-105) 2 Group Phase results: (W - win, D - draw, L - Orlen Wisla Plock D27 :27 (11 :13) vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt W28 :24 (15 HC PPD Zagreb W20 :21 (10 :9) vs Besiktas JK W33 :25 (17 :12) vs THW Kiel W29 :27 (17 PSG Handball L29 :27 (16 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko W27 :30 (11 :17) vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko W34 :28 (17 :15) vs PSG Handball W28 :20 (16 THW Kiel L25 :24 (11 Besiktas JK W34 :38 (15 :21) vs HC PPD Zagreb W27 :25 (16 SG Flensburg-Handewitt W28 :29 (12 :10) vs Orlen Wisla Plock W27 :25 (16 :13) Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 21 Final (2): 2001/02, 2014/15 Semi-final (3): 2002/03, 2005/06, 2013/14 Quarter-final (9): 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2012/13 Last 16 (3): 1993/94, 2010/11, 2011/12 Group Phase (3): 1994/95, 1995/96, 2007/08 Other Cup Winners Cup: Winners 2007/08, Runners-up 1996/97 SEHA-league: 1 title (2015) Hungarian league: 23 titles (1985, 1986, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) Hungarian Cup winner: 24 times 19

20 MVM Veszprém (HUN) Biggest win: 38:17 (18:9) v HC Granitas Kaunas LTU (h), Biggest defeat: 30:18 (16:8) v Badel Zagreb CRO (a), Longest winning run: 11 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 11 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 3 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 4 matches ( ) Most goals: 46 v MSK SIRS Povazska Bystrica SVK 46:26W (h), v MSK SIRS Povazska Bystrica SVK 30:46W (a), Most goals opponent: 39 v THW Kiel GER 39:32L (a), Most goals both teams: 76 v MSK SIRS Povazska Bystrica SVK 30:46W (a), Fewest goals: 15 v TEKA Santander ESP 25:15L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 13 v SO Chambery FRA 29:13W (h), v Panellinios AC Athens GRE 19:13W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 32 v Panellinios AC Athens GRE 19:13W (h), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 1994/95 Fotex Veszprem HUN : :6 3rd Gr. A 1995/96 Fotex Veszprem HUN : :6 3rd Gr. A 1997/98 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN : :5 1/4-finals 1998/99 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN : :9 1/4-finals 1999/00 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN : :8 1/4-finals 2001/02 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN : :6 Runner-up 2002/03 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN : :4 1/2-finals 2003/04 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN : :6 1/4-finals 2004/05 Fotex KC Veszprém HUN : :6 1/4-finals 2005/06 MKB Veszprém KC HUN : :6 1/2-finals 2006/07 MKB Veszprém KC HUN : :6 1/4-finals 2007/08 MKB Veszprém KC HUN : :6 3rd Gr. F 2008/09 MKB Veszprém KC HUN : :8 1/4-finals 2009/10 MKB Veszprém KC HUN : :6 1/4-finals 2010/11 MKB Veszprém KC HUN : :6 Last /12 MKB Veszprém KC HUN : :10 Last /13 MKB Veszprém KC HUN : :6 1/4-finals 2013/14 MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN : :9 4th Place 2014/15 MKB-MVM Veszprém HUN : :5 Runner-up Total : :124 20

21 MVM Veszprém (HUN) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight 34 David Fekete HUN Left Back Budapest, HUN Daniel Füzi HUN Line Player Veszprém, HUN Peter Gulyas HUN Right Wing Veszprem, HUN Momir Ilic SRB Left Back Andrelovac, SRB Gergö Ivancsik HUN Left Wing Györ, HUN Mate Lekai HUN Centre Back Budapest, HUN Gasper Marguc SLO Right Wing Celje, SLO Balazs Molnar HUN Left Wing Veszprem, HUN Laszlo Nagy HUN Right Back Szeged, HUN Andreas Nilsson SWE Line Player Trelleborg, SWE Aron Palmarsson ISL Centre Back Reykjavik, ISL Jose Maria Rodriguez Vaquero ESP Centre Back Palencia, ESP Peter Schmid HUN Centre Back Veszprém, HUN Istvan Timuzsin Schuch HUN Line Player Nagyatad, HUN Ivan Sliskovic CRO Left Back Split, CRO Renato Sulic CRO Line Player Rijeka, CRO Benedek Szakaly HUN Right Wing Budapest, HUN Erik Szeitl HUN Line Player Tapolca, HUN Zoltan Szita HUN Left Back Veszprem, HUN Mirsad Terzic BIH Left Back Priboj, BIH Attila Toth HUN Right Back Budapest, HUN Cristian Ugalde Garcia ESP Left Wing Barcelona, ESP Martin Varju HUN Right Wing Szekszard, HUN Christian Zeitz GER Right Back Heidelberg, GER Roland Mikler HUN Goalkeeper Dunaujvaros, HUN Mirko Alilovic CRO Goalkeeper Ljubuski, CRO Barnabas Nagy HUN Goalkeeper Veszprem, HUN Bence Gödör HUN Goalkeeper Veszprem, HUN Javier Sabate coach signed with Veszprém as assistant coach of Antonio Carlos Ortega but became interim coach after Ortega parted ways with the club Spanish tactician earned a permanent contract on 8th January 2016, he is contracted until June 2017 worked as an assistant coach under Ortega for more than ten years, their cooperation started at BM Antequera in Spain Veszprém is the first club Sabaté has lead as head coach but in March 2016 he was appointed as interim coach to train the Hungarian national team 21

22 Roland Mikler goalkeeper 2005 All-Star goalkeeper of the junior world championship Hungarian national team goalkeeper is quick, compact and excellent at directing the defence as a teenager Mikler reached the semi-final of the EHF Cup over a decade ago, with Dunaferr in 2003 joined Veszprem in 2014 after the EHF Cup success with Szeged Mirko Alilovic goalkeeper like his predecessor Dejan Peric belongs to the elite class of goalkeepers who can send the audience to their feet and inspire his teammates Croatian national team member and his medal tally consists of three silver medals and two bronze recorded 11 goal assists during the 2013 WCh very familiar with the Spanish contingent in Veszprém as he played for five years in the ASOBAL EC trophy: EHF Cup 2014 OG: B 2012, EURO: S 2008, 2010, B 2016, WCh: S 2009, B 2013 EC trophies: CL 2005, 2011, EURO: S 2016, B 2014, WCh: B 2011 Cristian Ugalde left wing brought up by Barcelona and played regularly in the first team since he was 18 excelled at international level in the 2007/08 season with his 34 goals and participation in the national team won every possible title with Barca some of them multiple times found a new challenge in Veszprém altering with Gergö Iváncsik, who is one of the best players in this position according to Ugalde EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012 EURO: S 2012 Momir Ilic left back top scorer and only player passing 100 goals (103) in the 2013/14 CL season and again top scorer in 2014/15 (114 goals) joined THW Kiel in 2009 from VfL Gummersbach and won seven titles during his four years with the club, including two CL titles led Serbia to their first medal as an independent nation at EHF EURO 2012 MVP of EHF EURO /14 All-star team left back Aron Palmarsson centre back before joining Veszprem in summer 2015 the versatile and tactically as well as technically skilled playmaker was with Kiel for six years Renato Sulic line player at his second stint in Veszprém, in the 2004/05 season he did not have a chance to play as he was injured in a car incident before his first match EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012 EURO: B 2010 one of the biggest signing in the whole competition before the 2015/16 season followed the steps of two other former Kiel players Ilic and Zeitz after the departure of Momir Ilic and Daniel Narcisse, the 2012 Olympics All-Star become more of an influential figure of Kiel on court EURO: S 2008, WCh: G 2003 came back to Veszprém after several years in Zagreb and Celje 2013/14 and 2014/15 All-star team line player shares his time on the court with the defensive specialist Timuzsin Schuh and Andreas Nilsson EC trophies: CL 2005, 2011, EHF Cup 2003 Laszlo Nagy right back started his career as a basketball player and was close to a move to the USA at the age of 13 in the end he decided for handball and became one of the best right backs of the world transferred from Szeged to Barcelona in 2006 and became the captain despite being a foreigner All-Star team right back of the 2013 WCh All-Star team right back of the 2012/13 CL season Gasper Marguc right wing took part in the WCh in Spain 2013, where Slovenia placed fourth came to Veszprem from Celje where he was playing since 2009 in the 2012/13 season played his best season so far and became Slovenia s top scorer in the CL, netting 72 times (10th overall) played two amazing matches against THW Kiel in 2012/13, scoring 18 times from 18 shots against the legendary Thierry Omeyer 22

23 HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) vs Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) First leg Saturday 19 March, 17:00 hrs. local time Second leg Saturday 26 March, 16:00 hrs. local time The roads of the two opponents during the current tournament have been different. In the group phase, HC Meshkov Brest were put in Group C where they finished first. But that was not enough for the Belarusian outfit to qualify for the Last 16. They had to go through the Group C+D play-off where they beat Denmark s Skjern Handbold 31:31, 27:23. As for the Polish side, they started the competition in a stronger Group B. With 21 points in 14 games, they finished as runners-up behind FC Barcelona Lassa. The upcoming games will feature an interesting coaching duel. Sergey Bebeshko and Talant Dujshebaev were members of the CIS Olympic team that won gold medals in 1992 in Barcelona. Moreover, they were both playmakers. We always had some kind of rivalry. It was in the national team, and also in Spain where we played for the clubs. But it was a normal, sports competition. As players, we have both achieved everything. As a coach, Talant won Champions League three times. I wish I could also get such results, Bebeshko told bgk-meshkova.com. The coach of Brest is not very happy to play the first leg at home: If we were to start on the road, it would be a totally different story. Still, we will definitely try to win in Brest. Our team will do the best to make our fans happy. However, Vive are a very good team. It is the most unpleasant opponent we could get. From my point of view, they are the main contenders to advance to the FINAL4. But I think that we have a chance. After all, we are already in the Last 16, which takes some pressure off our shoulders. Dujshebaev, who recently also became the head coach of the Poland national team, feels that his team is a favourite just by a tiny margin. Maybe the chances are 51 to 49 in our favour. But we should prove it on the court. Brest are a very strong side. They took the first place in their group, and then deservedly beat Skjern. Their dominance against the Danish side was not even questioned. The Belarusian champion has very good players like Atman, Kristopans, Stojkovic, and a great coach Sergey Bebeshko who has achieved good results everywhere he worked. I will be delighted to meet him again, the Vive head coach told ehfcl.com. Head-to-head stats no previous encounters in the European Cup competitions 23

24 C/D knockout winners HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) One of the goals declared by HC Meshkov Brest bosses for this season was to reach the Last 16 of the VELUX Champions League. It has already been achieved, and now the Belarusian side are preparing for the matches with Poland s KS Vive Tauron Kielce. The road to the Last 16, however, was not easy for Brest. With the new format of the competition, they found themselves in Group C, and were considered the favourites together with Spain s La Rioja Logrono. The team led by the Ukrainian Sergey Bebeshko enjoyed a great start, beating Vojvodina at home, Tatran Presov and Chekhovskie Medvedi on the road. But then they lost to La Rioja in Brest and to Porto away, which put their chances to advance from the group in serious doubt. However, the Belarusian outfit managed to recover. They won all five remaining matches, including the return games against La Rioja and Porto. These two teams were the main Brest s rivals in the group, but HC Meshkov finished ahead of them with 16 points. Brest had to play the last group games without the right wing Dzianis Rutenka, the younger brother of a more famous Siarhei. He severely injured his knee in October during the match against Porto and has not recovered until now. Ivan Pesic, Alexander Tyumentsev, Nikola Manojlovic also missed some games because of injuries, and Manojlovic left the team in January. Playing hall Sportshall Victoria Leningradskaya Brest Belarus Capacity: 3,500 Club Address: HC Meshkov Brest Leningradskaya Brest Belarus The first place in the group meant that Brest had to oppose Skjern Handbold in the Group C+D play-off. As expected, both games were tight, especially the first leg in Denmark, which ended in a draw (31:31). This result was obviously more favourable for the Belarusian team. And they confirmed it in the second leg, at their sold-out arena in Brest. Having won 27:23, HC Meshkov secured a spot in the Last 16. And now they are eager to achieve even more. GROUP C Final Table: 1. HC Meshkov Brest :264 (57) Naturhouse La Rioja :270 (28) Futebol Clube do Porto :265 (31) Chekhovskie Medvedi :292 (-21) 8 5. Vojvodina :297 (-56) 4 6. Tatran Presov :279 (-39) 4 Media contact: Alexandr Kulbaka media@bgk-meshkova.com Online information: Website: Facebook: bgkmeshkova Twitter: bgk_meshkova Kit colours Light Player shirt: red Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: orange Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: black Group Phase results: (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) C&D Skjern Handbold D31:31 (17 :14) vs Skjern Handbold W27:23 (14 :11) Group C: vs HC Vojvodina W34:22 TATRAN Presov W20:30 Chekhovskie Medvedi W27:33 (14:17) vs Naturhouse La Rioja L31:33 Futebol Clube do Porto L29:28 (16:11) vs Futebol Clube do Porto W34:27 HC Vojvodina W26:35 (12:20) vs TATRAN Presov W32:26 Naturhouse La Rioja W28:32 (11:17) vs Chekhovskie Medvedi W32:26 (15:13) Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 7 Group Phase (5): 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2014/15 Qualification (1): 2008/09 Other Cup Winners Cup: quarter-final 2011/12 Belarusian league: 7 titles ( , 2014, 2015) Belarusian cup: 9 titles 24

25 HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) Biggest win: 34:22 (15:14) v HC Vojvodina SRB (h), Biggest defeat: 36:17 (16:08) v GOG Gudme DEN (a), Longest winning run: 5 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 10 matches ( ) 10 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 10 matches ( ) 10 matches ( ) Most goals: 35 v HC Vojvodina SRB 26:35W (a), Most goals opponent: 39 v BM Ciudad Real ESP 39:29L (a), v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 39:31L (a), Most goals both teams: 70 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 39:31L (a), Fewest goals: 17 v GOG Gudme DEN 36:17L (a), v RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 27:17L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 22 v Wisla Plock SSA POL 28:22W (h), v HC PPD Zagreb CRO 26:22W (h), v HC Vojvodina SRB 34:22W (a), Fewest goals both teams: 44 v RK Gorenje Velenje SLO 27:17L (a), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 2004/05 Brestskiy HC Meshkovo BLR : :10 4th Gr. C 2005/06 Brest HC Meshkov BLR : :10 4th Gr. E 2006/07 Brest HC Meshkov BLR : :12 4th Gr. B 2007/08 HC Meshkov Brest BLR : :10 4th Gr. H 2014/15 HC Meshkov Brest BLR : :14 5th Gr. A Total : :56 25

26 HC Meshkov Brest (BLR) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight 20 Pavel Atman RUS Left Back Volgograd, RUS Maxim Babichev BLR Line Player Minsk, BLR Maksim Baranau BLR Right Wing Bobruysk, BLR Dzmitry Kamyshyk BLR Left Back Minsk, BLR Dainis Kristopans LAT Right Back Ludza, LAT Artsiom Kulak BLR Centre Back Brest, BLR Dzmitry Nikulenkau BLR Centre Back Minsk, BLR Simon Razgor SLO Left Wing Celje, SLO Dzianis Rutenka BLR Right Wing Minsk, BLR Artsiom Selvasiuk BLR Line Player Brest, BLR Viachaslau Shumak BLR Line Player Brest, BLR Siarhei Shylovich BLR Right Back Bobrujsk, BLR Rastko Stojkovic SRB Line Player Belgrad, SRB Alexander Tioumentsev Barabash ESP Centre Back Ajtubinsk, RUS Andrei Tsypak BLR Left Wing Brest, BLR Ljubo Vukic CRO Left Wing Split, CRO Ivan Pesic CRO Goalkeeper Rijeka, CRO Vitali Charapenka BLR Goalkeeper Brest, BLR Dzmitry Patotski BLR Goalkeeper Baranovichi, BLR OG: G 1992 (as player) Sergey Bebeshko coach was appointed the new head coach of Brest in early June replacing Zeljko Babic who concentrated on his job with Croatia national team already worked in Belarus as a head coach of Dinamo Minsk in and led Minsk not only to four consecutive titles of the national champion but also for the first time in Belarusian handball to the CL Last 16 in 2013 in Brest he once again met a number of players that had worked with him in Minsk including Pavel Atman, Siarhei Shylovich, Dzianis Rutenka, Dzmitry Nikulenkau and Maxim Babichev moved to his native Ukraine in 2013 and led Motor Zaporozhye to the champion title the next year, but left the club in December

27 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2008 EURO: S 2012 Ivan Pesic goalkeeper was invited to Brest in 2013 by Zeljko Babic who became head coach in that very year also played in RK Maribor Branik, HC Zagreb and Veszprem, but his spell in Hungary was marred by a tragic incident in a night club when he was stabbed and his teammate Marian Cozma was killed after that he had a kidney removed, but that did not prevent him from continuing his career also practiced taekwondo in his childhood and even won some medals on a junior level, but eventually preferred handball Pavel Atman left back the blonde Russian international joined Brest this summer and signed a two-year contract this is his second time in Belarus between 2010 and 2013, he played for Dinamo Minsk, coached by Bebeshko at that time, and won three titles of Belarusian champion in 2013 moved from Minsk to Metalurg Skopje where he quickly became one of the fans favorites and won the national league in 2014 left Metalurg before the end of the 2014/15 season and spent the rest of the season playing for Al-Jaish in Qatar Rastko Stojkovic line player joined Brest in December 2013 after spending a few months in Qatar the native of Belgrade started his career at RK Crvena Zvezda and moved abroad at the age of 24 his first foreign experience was Germany where he spent four seasons at Pfullingen and Nordhorn-Lingen, and with the latter team won the EHF Cup in 2008 played for Kielce in and won three titles of Polish champion as well as four Polish Cups, also reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2013 EC trophies: Challenge Cup 2013 Simon Razgor left wing the 30-year-old Slovenian is beginning his second season in Brest before joining the Belarusian team, he spent his entire career at home playing for Celje and RK Maribor the best all-time scorer of RK Maribor with 1,052 goals his father was also a handballer who played for Celje as well as for the Yugoslavia junior national team and later became a coach Dzmitry Nikulenkau centre back the 31-year-old native of Minsk is a national player of Belarus and a well-respected player in the country during a number of years, he played a key role at Dinamo Minsk where he was the captain was at Dinamo since the club foundation in 2008 and until the club ceased to exist in February 2014, and won five titles of Belarus league had some offers from abroad but preferred to move to Brest where he won the Belarusian league two more times Siarhei Shylovich right back moved to Brest in February 2014 after a short spell in Poland s Pogon Szczecin before that, the 29-year-old had played for three clubs from Minsk, namely Arkatron, Dinamo and SKA was one of the top players of SKA Minsk that won the Challenge Cup in 2013 scored 25 goals at the EHF EURO 2016 in Poland, which allowed him to be among the 25 top scorers of the tournament Dainis Kristopans right back born in a small Latvian town Ludza and started his career in the local club Latgols at the age of 18, moved to Tatran Presov and stayed almost six years in Slovakia, having won the national league five times left Tatran in February 2015 and spent a few months in Qatar before joining Brest in summer with the height of 213 cm, he is the tallest handball player not only in Brest but in the whole CL Maxim Baranau right wing after the severe injury of Dzianis Rutenka, he became the first-choice player for Brest on the right wing started his career at SKA Minsk but moved to Brest in 2010 at the age of 20 since then, has won the Belarusian league in 2014 and 2015 as well as the Belarusian Cup in 2011, 2014 and 2015 regular member of Belarus national team for the last few years 27

28 GROUP B 2 nd ranked KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) When you win all the matches in the group phase two times and you gain a place in the history books of the Champions League, it s really a hit to lose the first game in the next edition of contest. Kielce had to swallow a bitter failure in Szeged after a weak attitude in the defence and unsuccessful try to catch up with the gap they allowed to make their rivals. Further matches in the group affirmed that this season was not going to be that kind for the Polish Champions. After first five rounds Kielce had only two victories, two draws and a loss. To make matters worse their next duel with Vardar turned out to be a total disaster. Talant s boys brought back from Skopje a ten-goal defeat 24:34! But since that moment Vive got a grip and turned the proportions of their balance showing a handball on the highest level. They won seven from eight matches left and achieved a historical first victory over Barcelona. They had a huge chance to gather a full set of wins, but in the very last moments of the battle in Kristianstad Tobias Reichmann missed a penalty what gave another draw 35:35. The scapegoat winger fully made up for his blooper and in the last match against Szeged he gave the club the one and only lead few seconds before the final whistle scoring an empty-net goal! Playing hall Hala M.O.S.I.R Legionów ul. Boczna 15A Kielce Poland Capacity: 4,000 Club Address: KS Vive Tauron Kielce ul. Robotnicza Kielce Poland Media contact: Sebastian Kozubek s.kozubek@vtkielce.pl It s obvious that VELUX EHF FINAL4 is a must-have for Kielce and Brest are only a next step they need to make on their way. During the season they lost their previous captain Grzegorz Tkaczyk due to his shoulder injury, but they also regained the centre back Mariusz Jurkiewicz who debuted in the season at the beginning of March after ten months of struggle with his knee ligaments. GROUP B Final Table: 1. FC Barcelona Lassa :372 (51) KS Vive Tauron Kielce :399 (26) HC Vardar :373 (43) Rhein-Neckar Löwen :353 (16) MOL-Pick Szeged :390 (14) Montpellier HB :413 (-41) 7 7. IFK Kristianstad :437 (-28) 7 8. KIF Kolding Kobenhavn :429 (-81) 4 Group Phase results: (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) Past achievements Online information: Website: Facebook: kielcehandball Kit colours Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: blue Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: MOL-Pick Szeged L31 :30 (17 :14) vs Montpellier HB W30 :23 (12 Rhein-Neckar Löwen D32 :32 (19 :15) vs IFK Kristianstad W35 :27 (20 :12) vs FC Barcelona Lassa D30 :30 (14 HC Vardar L34 :24 (18 KIF Kolding Kobenhavn W25 :33 (13 :12) vs KIF Kolding Kobenhavn W33 :31 (13 :14) vs HC Vardar W23 :20 (10 FC Barcelona Lassa W31 :33 (19 IFK Kristianstad D35 :35 (17 :19) vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen W28 :27 (12 Montpellier HB W27 :32 (16 :17) vs MOL-Pick Szeged W27 :26 (12 :16) VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 13 Semi-final (2): 2012/13, 2014/15 (third ranked in VELUX F4) Last 16 (5): 1993/94, 1994/95, 2009/10, 2011/12, 2013/14 Last 32 (2): 1996/97, 1998/99 Group matches (3): 1999/2000, 2003/04, 2010/11 Other 11 participations in other ECs Polish league: 12 titles (1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) Polish cup: 12 titles 28

29 KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) Biggest win: 35:23 (16:13) v FC Porto Vitalis POR (h), Biggest defeat: 30:41 (19:19) v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN (h), Longest winning run: 11 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 11 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 5 matches ( ) 5 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 6 matches ( ) Most goals: 38 v Orlen Wisla Plock POL 38:30W (h), Most goals opponent: 41 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 30:41L (h), Most goals both teams: 72 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 40:32L (a), Fewest goals: 21 v HC Bosna BH Gas BIH 25:21L (a), v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), Fewest goals opponent: 20 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), v HC Vardar MKD 20:22W (a), v HC Vardar MKD 23:20W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 41 v HC Metalurg MKD 21:20W (h), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 1999/00 KS Iskra-Lider Market POL : :6 3rd Gr. B 2003/04 KS Vive Kielce POL : :7 3rd Gr. G 2009/10 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL : :13 Last /11 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL : :16 6th Gr. A 2011/12 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL : :11 Last /13 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL : :4 Third Place 2013/14 KS Vive Targi Kielce POL : :9 Last /15 KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL : :4 Third Place Total : :70 29

30 KS Vive Tauron Kielce (POL) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight 13 Julen Aguinagalde Akizu ESP Line Player Irun, ESP Karol Bielecki POL Left Back Sandomierz, POL Bartlomiej Bis POL Line Player Kielce, POL Jakub Bulski POL Line Player Kielce, POL Denis Buntic CRO Right Back Ljubuski, BIH Piotr Chrapkowski POL Left Back Goreczno, POL Ivan Cupic CRO Right Wing Metkovic, CRO Michal Grabowski POL Right Wing Kielce, POL Mateusz Jachlewski POL Left Wing Gdynia, POL Michal Jurecki POL Left Back Koscian, POL Mariusz Jurkiewicz POL Left Back Lubin, POL Mateusz Kus POL Line Player Piekary SL, POL Krzysztof Lijewski POL Right Back Ostrów Wlkpl. POL Pawel Paczkowski POL right back Swiecie, POL Tobias Reichmann GER Right Wing Berlin, GER Manuel Strlek CRO Left Wing Zagreb, CRO Grzegorz Tkaczyk POL Left Back Warszawa, POL Branko Vujovic MNE Right Back Uros Zorman SLO Centre Back Kranj, SLO Slawomir Szmal POL Goalkeeper Strzelce Opolskie, POL Marin Sego CRO Goalkeeper Mostar, BIH Krzysztof Markowski POL Goalkeeper Kielce, POL Talant Dujshebaev coach most awarded figure in the club during his longstanding playing career won plenty of trophies with three different national teams (CIS, Russia, Spain) has successfully continued as a coach for the last 10 years, known for his impulsiveness joined Kielce in the half of the 2013/14 season, replacing Bogdan Wenta changed the playing style of Kielce placing greater emphasis on the aggressive defence EC Trophies: CL 1994, 2006 (as coach), 2008 (as coach), 2009 (as coach), EHF Cup 1993, Cup Winners Cup 2002, 2003 OG: G 1992, B 1996, 2000, WCh: G 1993, EURO: S 1996, 1998, B

31 Marin Sego goalkeeper his first stop in Poland was Wisla Plock when he came from Zagreb in 2012 and stayed until 2014 like in Plock with Marcin Wichary also in Kielce he has a strong competition in a goal from a Polish national team goalkeeper - Szmal before his move to Poland spent half of his career in Bosnia Herzegovina, and half in Croatia before his first FINAL4 start in 2015 was most successful with Zagreb, where he helped his club to progress twice to the CL quarter-finals Slawomir Szmal goalkeeper 2009 World Handball Player of the Year one of the key players in the Polish national champions defence spent several years in German Bundesliga playing for TuS N-Lübbecke and Rhein Neckar Löwen competed in three VELUX EHF FINAL4 events with Löwen in 2010/11 and twice with Kielce in 2012/13 and 2014/15 on the court a hardworking Titan, beyond it always keen on handball initiatives for kids EURO: S 2010 WCh: S 2007, B 2009, 2015 Manuel Strlek left wing his arrival in Kielce in 2012 were his first steps abroad, after leaving his boyhood club Zagreb started gathering CL experience in 2006 together with his fellow countryman Cupic on the other side, they soon created extremely effective duet of wingers All-Star team left wing at EHF EURO 2010 Michal Jurecki left back Kielce s powerful left back returned to Poland in 2010 after a three-season stint in Germany and spells at HSV Hamburg and TuS N-Lübbecke All-Star Team Left back of the EHF EURO 2016 under his steel covering the Polish tank hides a cheerful nature and a volcano of energy exploding in the most thrilling moments of the game since 2015/16 a new captain of the team OG: B 2012, WCh: G 2013, B 2011, EURO: B 2012, 2016 WCh: S 2007, B 2009, 2015 EC Trophies: CL: 2004, 2008, 2009 EURO: S 2004 EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup 2007 WCh: S 2007, B 2009, 2015 Uros Zorman centre back one of the best playmakers in the game on the hunt for his fourth CL success not known for scoring lots of goals, but his movement and passes provide ample space for his teammates in attack longstanding captain of Slovenian national team famous for his charisma, weakness for coffee, work with children, for whom he has been organising summer camps over past years Krzysztof Lijewski right back wanted to be a basketball player, but under the influence of his father and older brother Marcin, he chose handball joined Kielce in 2012 after seven successful years spent in Germany with Hamburg and Rhein- Neckar Löwen best right back of EHF EURO 2014 most versatile player in the team, clever in attack and vigilant in defence Julen Aguinagalde line player one of the world s top line players All-Star team line player of the 2013 WCh in Spain and EHF EURO 2014 in Denmark nominated for World Handball Player of the Year 2012 joined Kielce from Atlético Mardid in 2013 for his first foreign league experience four VELUX EHF FINAL4 participations in WCh: G 2013, B 2011, EURO: B 2014, S 2016 Tobias Reichmann right wing started his career at SC Magdeburg played three seasons in Kiel and two in Wetzlar before he transferred to Kielce in 2014 as the first German player in the Polish league All-Star team right winger of the EHF EURO 2016 in Poland shares his position with Croatian Ivan Cupic winner of the IHF Super Globe in 2011 as part of THW Kiel EC trophies: CL 2010, 2012 EURO: G

32 Montpellier HB (FRA) vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) First leg Saturday 19 March, 19:30 hrs. local time Second leg Sunday 27 March, 17:00 hrs. local time The result of the battle between Montpellier and Flensburg- Handewitt is not as straightforward as it would appear. The 2014 winners, who finished third in Group A behind PSG and Veszprem, are favourites but Montpellier, after a tough month in February, are now back in rhythm. In fact, when asked if he would rather play against Flensburg or PSG, Patrice Canayer was not unhappy with the result. I would rather play Flensburg than a team that we play against already four or five times a season. If we play in the Champions League, it s to battle with new teams, or at least teams we don t know so well. For our fans too, I think Flensburg is a good draw. On the German side, the equation was clear before the last group phase game. Either you lose and you play against Montpellier, or you win and you have to go to Ukraine to play against HC Motor Zaporozhye. At least, Montpellier is closer to us, joked Kentin Mahé right after the game in Paris. For me, it will be another special game, I never came back to play against French teams before this season, and now I ll play twice in less than a month. In history, Montpellier won twice against Flensburg, while conceding three defeats and a draw, back in But that was a long time ago and Patrice Canayer does not think his boys are favourites. Head-to-head stats Montpellier HB vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt (215:214) 6:10 If I have to give you numbers, I d say we have per cent of going through, but that s what happens when you finish sixth in your group the MHB coach explains. Last season, it was about the same thing when we played against Kielce and we nearly went to the quarter-finals, even winning in Poland. You can count on us to give 100%. Up north, Mahé believes that at this stage of the competition, all the teams are level. One bad game away, one big defeat and being favourites doesn t mean much anymore. The confrontation, anyway, is one of teams which play quite a similar style of handball. Short-sized players, with an ability to share the ball and find tiny open spaces, with an oversized appetite for fast-breaks. Anders Eggert versus Michaël Guigou, Lasse Svan against Dragan Gajic, there are battles on almost every front. And while Flensburg might have more rotations on the back-court, Montpellier have now got all their injured players back. Baptiste Bonnefond and Mathieu Grébille are now fresh and fit; while Vid Kavticnik and Guigou will provide the much-needed experience for this kind of game. Will this be enough to make the favourites shake? Why not? concluded Canayer. Apart from Barcelona, none of the big teams had an easy time here. Now is the time for my guys to step up and prove themselves SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Montpellier HB, EHF Cup Round 1 28:25 (8:10) Montpellier HB vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, EHF Cup Round 1 21:21 (10:9) Montpellier HB vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, EHF Champions League Quarter-final 36:22 (16:10) SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Montpellier HB, EHF Champions League Quarter-final 32:19 (17:11) Montpellier HB vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, EHF Champions League Main Round Group 3 31:25 (13:9) SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Montpellier HB, EHF Champions League Main Round Group 3 22:21 (9:8) SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs Montpellier Agglomeration HB, VELUX EHF Champions League Group A 37:37 (19:18) Montpellier Agglomeration HB vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VELUX EHF Champions League Group A 25:27 (14:12) 32

33 GROUP B 6 th ranked Montpellier HB (FRA) Montpellier had to wait until the third game before they gained their first points in the competition. After losing to Vardar and Kielce, they finally gained their first win at home against KIF Kolding Kobenhavn. In a direct opposition with KIF Kolding and IFK Kristianstad, Montpellier managed to snatch most of their points against these two teams. After Mathieu Grébille hurt himself in pre-season, Montpellier was plagued by injuries all along their VELUX EHF Champions League road. Baptiste Bonnefond, Diego Dolenec, Michaël Guigou, most of the back court line suffered injuries at some point or another. Add to this the departure in November of Borut Mackovsek and you understand why Montpellier s campaign was so chaotic. These missing players probably cost MHB points against higher profile teams. One of the key games of this first phase for Montpellier was in Kristianstad. A tough game, against a direct opponent resulted in anarrow close win, which would prove to be key at the end of the phase. The two teams finished with the same amount of points, but Montpellier went through thanks to winning both direct encounters. Looking at statistics, Jure Dolenec scored the most goals for the team with 63 in the first fourteen games, while fellow Slovenian Dragan Gajic found the back of the net 55 times. GROUP B Final Table: Playing hall Palais des Sports René Bougnol 1000 Av. du Val de Montferrand Montpellier France Capacity: 3, FC Barcelona Lassa :372 (51) KS Vive Tauron Kielce :399 (26) HC Vardar :373 (43) Rhein-Neckar Löwen :353 (16) MOL-Pick Szeged :390 (14) Montpellier HB :413 (-41) 7 7. IFK Kristianstad :437 (-28) 7 8. KIF Kolding Kobenhavn :429 (-81) 4 Club Address: Montpellier HB Centre Jean-Paul Lacombe Centre Jean Paul Lacombe Montpellier France Media contact: Suzy Demonte suzy.demonte@montpellier-handball.com Online information: Facebook: montpellierhandball Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: orange/light green Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: black Group Phase results: (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) vs HC Vardar L25:30 KS Vive Tauron Kielce L30 :23 (12:11) vs KIF Kolding Kobenhavn W30:25 FC Barcelona Lassa L37:27 (19:12) vs IFK Kristianstad W30:26 MOL-Pick Szeged L28:27 (14:14) vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen L28:30 Rhein-Neckar Löwen L25:21 (16:10) vs MOL-Pick Szeged D29:29 IFK Kristianstad W29:30 (15:15) vs FC Barcelona Lassa L23:31 KIF Kolding Kobenhavn L27:26 (14:12) vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce L27:32 HC Vardar L34:26 (17:17) Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 18 Winners (1): 2002/03 Semi-final (1): 2004/05 Quarter-final (4): 2000/01, 2005/06, 2009/10, 2010/11 Last 16 (5): 1995/96, 2003/04, 2006/07, 2011/12, 2014/15 Main Round (2): 2007/08, 2008/09 Group Phase (3): 1998/99, 1999/00, 2012/13 Qualification (1): 2013/14 Other EHF Cup: Runners-up 2013/14, Quarterfinal: 1996/97 Last 16: 1993/94, 1994/95 Last 32: 1997/98 Cup Winners Cup: Quarter-final 2001/02 French league: 14 titles (1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) French cup: 12 titles 33

34 Montpellier HB (FRA) Biggest win: 46:20 (26:9) v AC PAOK GRE (h), Biggest defeat: 37:20 (16:10) v Prosesa Ademar Leon ESP (a), Longest winning run: 7 matches ( ) 7 matches ( ) 7 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 10 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 4 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 5 matches ( ) 5 matches ( ) Most goals: 46 v AC PAOK GRE 46:20W (h), Most goals opponent: 38 v Kolding KIF DEN 38:29L (a), v Pick Szeged HUN 38:35L (a), Most goals both teams: 78 v VfL Gummersbach GER 41:37W (h), Fewest goals: 17 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 26:17L (a), v FC Barcelona ESP 24:17L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 16 v HC Portovik Yuzhny UKR 26:16W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 38 v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 21:17W (h), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 1998/99 Montpellier HB FRA : :6 3rd Gr. A 1999/00 Montpellier HB FRA : :6 3rd Gr. A 2000/01 Montpellier HB FRA : :7 1/4-finals 2002/03 Montpellier HB FRA : :7 Winner 2003/04 Montpellier HB FRA : :4 Last /05 Montpellier HB FRA : :6 1/2-finals 2005/06 Montpellier HB FRA : :8 1/4-finals 2006/07 Montpellier HB FRA : :5 Last /08 Montpellier HB FRA : :10 3rd MR Gr /09 Montpellier HB FRA : :7 4th MR Gr /10 Montpellier HB FRA : :6 1/4-finals 2010/11 Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA : :8 1/4-finals 2011/12 Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA : :12 Last /13 Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA : :14 5th Gr. A 2014/15 Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA : :14 Last 16 Total :

35 Montpellier HB (FRA) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight 3 Arthur Anquetil FRA Left Wing Montpellier, FRA Baptiste Bonnefond FRA Left Back Lyon, FRA Felipe Borges Dutra Ribeiro BRA Left Wing Sao Bernardo, BRA Maxime Bouschet FRA Right Back Montpellier, FRA Jose Costa POR Line Player Braga, POR Jure Dolenec SLO Right Back Ljubljana, SLO Allahkaram Esteki IRI Left Back Isfahan, IRI Ludovic Fabregas FRA Line Player Perpignan, FRA Jean Loup Faustin FRA Left Back Montpellier, FRA Matej Gaber SLO Line Player Kranj, SLO Dragan Gajic SLO Right Wing Celje, SLO Mathieu Grebille FRA Left Back Paris, FRA Michael Guigou FRA Left Wing Apt, FRA Vid Kavticnik SLO Right Back Gradec, SLO Alexandre Saidani FRA Centre Back Montpellier, FRA Diego Simonet ESP Centre Back Buenos Aires, ARG Aymen Toumi TUN Right Wing Sousse, TUN Allan Villeminot FRA Line Player Lyon, FRA Kyllian Villeminot FRA Line Player Lyon, FRA Iswaran Zahm FRA Left Back Saint Denis, FRA Vincent Gerard FRA Goalkeeper Woippy, FRA Arnaud Siffert FRA Goalkeeper Longjumeau, FRA Samir Bellahcene FRA Goalkeeper Montpellier, FRA Maxime Savonne FRA Goalkeeper Nimes, FRA EC trophies: CL 2003 Patrice Canayer coach currently in his 22st season at the head of Montpellier, in which he has won over 40 trophies in 1994 he started his coaching career and coached players like Nikola Karabatic, Thierry Omeyer, Jerome Fernandez and Didier Dinart reached the EHF Cup final in the 2013/14 season in his active career played for Bordeaux and Racing Paris. 35

36 Vincent Gerard goalkeeper formed in Montpellier, he came back to his first club in the summer of 2015 after playing in Istres and Dunkerque shares the position with Arnaud Siffert. Both already played in Dunkerque together a couple of seasons ago his exuberant celebrations have instantly made him a fan favourite in four years in Dunkerque, he reached twice the last 16 in the CL and a EHF Cup final in 2012 Felipe Borges left wing discovered handball through beach handball, which is played a lot in his native Sao Paulo played for two and a half seasons in Ademar Leon before joining Montpellier in march 2013 considered as the most successful active Brazilian player at the moment, having won 14 domestic titles in less than eight years best Brazilian scorer at the 2015 WCh with 31 goals in eight games Michaël Guigou left wing/centre back player with the longest history in Montpellier since he has played there for 15 seasons in a row able to play on the left wing or on the centre back position, very quick on fast breaks and able to play in tiny spaces inside the defences over the years, he has become less of a scorer and turned into the brain of the team only player of the winning CL campaign in 2003 who still plays for MAHB EC trophies: CL 2003 OG : G 2008, 2012, EURO: G 2006, 2010, 2014, WCh: G 2009, 2011, 2015, B 2005 Baptiste Bonnefond left back at 23, he is the latest product of the Montpellier handball school in the 2015/16 season he was crippled by injuries, but came back at the right time before the Last 16 phase following the steps of Mathieu Grébille, he enjoyed his first national team apparances last November this special occasion was shared with his friend Ludovic Fabregas, with whom he has a very special relationship Diego Simonet centre back Argentinian scored 47 goals in the 2014/15 CL campaign, including an impressive 11-goal performance in the last 16 game against Kielce best centre back of the French league in the 2013/14, but can play on the left back or even left wing if needs be the second oldest brother of three in a family totally dedicated to handball, his two brothers play in Ivry, in the French national league, where Diego used to play before coming to Montpellier Matej Gaber line player Slovenian rock of Montpellier s defence, he will now have a bigger role in attack since Issam Tej s left the club arrived at the beginning of the 2013/14 season alongside his friend Jure Dolenec and has done everything since to justify his hard-defending reputation should become a very important piece of Montpellier s puzzle in the forthcoming years Jure Dolenec right back in his first season with Montpellier in 2013/14 had some ups and downs as he had to adapt to French defences made his name in the CL with his former team of Gorenje Velenje, scoring 64 goals in the 2012/13 season recently extended his contract with Montpellier until 2019 at 26, he already counts nearly a hundred games with his national team Dragan Gajic right wing arrived in 2011 together with fellow Slovenian Vid Kavticnik and turned to be very useful to Montpellier, both on and off the court had his best season so far in the 2013/14, finishing as the best scorer of the EHF Cup (72 goals) and of the French league also helped his Slovenian teammates to settle in Montpellier, and that gave him quite a lot of work, since there were five of them in the club 2015 WCh top scorer (71 goals) and All-Star team right wing 36

37 GROUP A 3 rd ranked SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) The 2014 Champions League winners were the best and the most stable German side in the group phase. Flensburg started in a brilliant way, clashing Paris 39:32. Losing at Kiel (welldeservingly) and Veszprem (unlucky and close) were setbacks, before the team of coach Ljubomir Vranjes started the longest Champions League winning streak in their club history. Nine straight wins, including demolishing Kiel by a ten-goal victory, made Flensburg top the ranking prior to the final two rounds. But the painful defeat at home against Veszprem and the unsuccessful top table fight at Paris shattered the hopes of clinching the straight berth for the quarter-finals. It was possible, but our tough schedule in the domestic competitions was, maybe, the reason, why we did not have the power and the concentration you need to beat those two top teams, Vranjes said. In contrast to Kiel, Flensburg had not been hit by injuries that hard, as only Jim Gottfridsson, Anders Zachariassen and Jakob Heinl were out for a long-term. The four new arrivals at the start of the season - Djordjic, Mahe, Toft Hansen and mainly Lauge Schmidt - fit perfectly in the team, the same occurred with late arrival Kresimir Kozina. Playing hall Flens Arena Campusallee Flensburg Germany Capacity: 6,000 Club Address: SG Flensburg-Handewitt Schiffbrücke Flensburg Germany Media contact: Sandra von Wallis s.vonwallis@sg-flensburg-handewitt.de Online information: Website: Facebook: SGFleHa Kit colours Light Player shirt: blue-orange Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Dark Player shirt: white Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: black Lauge was awarded best European player in February, the Danish left back is in the form of his life. As all the injured players are back now, Vranjes will use this width to save the powers of his key players. This fact can be the key in the Last16 against Montpellier. The French side is wellrehearsed and dangerous, says Vranjes, who hopes that Flensburg will make it to Cologne again, having in mind that mostly Kielce will be their rival in the quarter-finals, if they proceed. And the Polish team is supposed to be a lower hurdle than Barcelona or PSG, which might be the opponents of the remaining German teams. GROUP A Final Table: 1. PSG Handball :389 (53) MVM Veszprém :364 (38) SG Flensburg-Handewitt :380 (49) THW Kiel :388 (12) HC PPD Zagreb :367 (-9) Orlen Wisla Plock :397 (-25) 8 7. RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko :398 (-13) 7 8. Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu :487 (-105) 2 Group Phase results: (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) vs PSG Handball W39:32 MVM Veszprém L28:24 THW Kiel L27:23 (14:13) vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko W30:20 (13:10) vs Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu W33:25 Orlen Wisla Plock W30:34 (13:17) vs HC PPD Zagreb W28:27 HC PPD Zagreb W23:30 (10:15) vs Orlen Wisla Plock W27:25 Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu W26:34 (16:17) vs THW Kiel W37:27 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko W26:30 (15:12) vs MVM Veszprém L28:29 PSG Handball L35:32 (16:16) Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 11 Winners (1): 2013/14 Final (2): 2003/2004, 2006/2007 Semi-final (1): 2005/2006 Quarter-final (4): 2004/2005, 2008/2009, 2010/2011, 2012/2013 Last 16 (1): 2014/15 Main round (1): 2007/2008 Other Cup Winners Cup: Winners 2000/ /2012 EHF Cup: Winners 1996/1997 City Cup: Winners 1998/1999 German league: 1 title (2004) German cup: 4 titles 37

38 SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) Biggest win: 43:24 (23:12) v RK Metalurg Skopje MKD (h), Biggest defeat: 36:22 (16:10) v Montpellier HB FRA (a), :38 (8:19) v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP (h), :35 (13:19) v KIF Kolding Kobenhavn DEN (a), Longest winning run: 9 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 9 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 3 matches ( ) 3 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 5 matches ( ) Most goals: 44 v Redbergslids IK SWE 44:33W (h), Most goals opponent: 41 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 41:31L (a), Most goals both teams: 80 v FC Barcelona ESP 39:41W (a), Fewest goals: 19 v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP 27:19L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 18 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 25:18W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 43 v Montpellier HB FRA 22:21W (h), v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 25:18W (h), v Renovalia Ciudad Real ESP 21:22W (a), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 2003/04 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER : :7 Runner-up 2004/05 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER : :5 1/4-finals 2005/06 SG Flensburg Handewitt GER : :10 1/2-finals 2006/07 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER : :11 Runner-up 2007/08 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER : :14 4th MR Gr /09 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER : :8 1/4-finals 2010/11 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER : :6 1/4-finals 2012/13 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER : :7 1/4-finals 2013/14 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER : :7 Winner 2014/15 SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER : :12 Last 16 Total : :87 38

39 SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight 2 Lukas Blohme GER Right Wing Flensburg, GER Petar Djordjic SRB Left Back Sabac, SRB Anders Eggert DEN Left Wing Aarhus, DEN Holger Glandorf GER Right Back Osnabrück, GER Jim Gottfridsson SWE Centre Back Ystad, SWE Jacob Heinl GER Line Player Hamburg, GER Johan Mikael Jakobsson SWE Right Back Lundby, SWE Tobias Karlsson SWE Line Player Karlskrona, SWE Kozina Kresimir CRO line player Derventa, BIH Maik Machulla GER Centre Back Greifswald, GER Kentin Mahe FRA Centre Back Paris, FRA Thomas Mogensen DEN Centre Back Odder, DEN Michael Nicolaisen GER Left Back Husum, GER Bogdan Radivojevic SRB Right Wing Beograd, SRB Rasmus Lauge Schmidt DEN Centre Back Randers, DEN Lasse Svan DEN Right Wing Stevns, DEN Henrik Toft Hansen DEN Line Player Skive, DEN Ljubomir Vranjes SWE Centre Back Göteborg, SWE Hampus Wanne SWE Left Wing Lundby, SWE Anders Zachariassen DEN Line Player Sonderborg, SWE Mattias Andersson SWE Goalkeeper Malmö, SWE Thore Jöhnck GER Goalkeeper Flensburg, GER Andreas Meyer Ejlersen DEN Goalkeeper Horsens, DEN Kevin Möller DEN Goalkeeper Tonder, DEN Ljubomir Vranjes coach former Swedish national team player, still on the players list of Flensburg became club manager in 2009 and coach in November 2010 after winning the CL in the 2014/15 season he declined the number of top offers from PSG and the German national team led Serbia to the 2014 EHF EURO in Denmark in a caretaker role, but did not continue highly creative photographer in his spare time and just started to write his memoirs EC trophies: CL 2014 (as coach), Cup Winners Cup 2012 (as coach) OG: S 2000, WCh: G 1999, EURO: G 1998, 2000 and

40 Mattias Andersson goalkeeper awarded best player of the Bundesliga season 2011/12 already in the younger age categories part of all All-Star teams and became member of the senior national team played at Kiel ( ), TV Großwallstadt before signing in Flensburg his saves at the 2014 FINAL4 were the major keys to win his last missing EC trophy EC trophies: CL 2007, 2014, EHF Cup: 2002, 2004, Cup Winners Cup: 2012 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2000 WCh: G 2015 EURO: G 2012, WCh: S 2013 Kentin Mahe centre back joined Flensburg in 2015 after spells with HSV Hamburg, VfL Gummersbach and Bayer Dormagen (coached by his father Pascal in Dormagen) MVP and top scorer (49 goals) of the Men s 20 EHF EURO 2010 and MVP of the 2015 EHF Cup Finals in 2010 a debut in the French national team reached the Cup Winners Cup final with Gummersbach in 2011/12 and EHF Cup final with HSV in 2014/15 Henrik Toft Hansen line player his girlfriend Ulrike Agren is playing for the Swedish national team and German club Buxtehude his whole family is involved in handball: brothers Rene (also a line player of THW Kiel) and Allan (Mors-Thy) and sisters Majbritt (Skive) and Jeanette top players in the Danish league part of AG Kobenhavn, which eliminated Barcelona on the way to 2012 VELUX EHF FINAL4 transferred to Aalborg, before he joined Hamburg in 2013 and then Flensburg in 2015 Holger Glandorf right back left-handed shooter and one of two German 2007 world champions in the Flensburg roster despite some injury breaks, the right back always returned to a high level of performance has the full set of three major European Cup competitions titles on his tally, with Nordhorn and Flensburg in August 2014 retired from the German national team to only focus on his club now EC trophies: CL 2014, EHF Cup: 2008, 2010, Cup Winners Cup: 2012 WCh: G 2007 Anders Eggert left wing had big shoes to fill in Flensburg as successor of legendary Lars Christiansen top scorer of the German Bundesliga in 2011 (248 goals) and top scorer of the 2013 WCh in Spain (55 goals) started his career at Gudme, in his ninth season in Flensburg after intermediately being on loan at Skjern Handball also famous for one of the highest percentages in the CL from the penalty throws EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners Cup: 2012 WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2008, 2012, silver medallist 2014 EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners Cup 2012 WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014 EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners Cup: 2012 OG: S 2012 EC trophies: CL 2014, Cup Winners Cup: 2012 WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014 Thomas Mogensen centre back highly experienced playmaker with more than 1,000 goals for his club and long list of silverware since 2007 playing for Flensburg his first stop outside his home country Denmark before played for Viborg and Svendborg, becoming Danish champion and cup winner twice to focus only on SG he quit his career in the Danish national team after the EHF EURO 2014 Tobias Karlsson line player typical powerful Scandinavian defence specialist, who together with Magnus Jernemyr - build the Swedish middle block in the last years team captain, a great honour after legendary Lars Christiansen left SG Swedish champion three times with Hammarby IF best defence player at the EHF EURO 2014 Lasse Svan right wing one of the fastest wing players in the CL same qualities as Eggert on the other side: fast counter-attacks and a high scoring efficiency another task in his team: motivation and relaxing as his business is mental coaching after four seasons at GOG Svendborg he moved to Flensburg in 2008 in addition to all his merits and trophies in handball, he was also a billiard s champion in his home region Seeland 40

41 Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) vs HC Vardar (MKD) First leg Wednesday 16 March, 18:30 hrs. local time Second leg Saturday 27 March, 18:00 hrs. local time In the first match of the VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16, Polish runners-up Orlen Wisla Plock will play at home against Macedonian champions HC Vardar. Standing face to face will be two clubs with totally different motivations, but both hope to reach the longed-for quarter final. For Plock it would be the best achievement in the clubs history, for Skopje another next step on their way to Cologne. Orlen Wisła Plock and HC Vardar met last year on exactly same stage of the competition. The first leg in Poland saw the hosts produce an outstanding performance which led them to a six-goal victory. But as it turned out, it was too little for the Oilers to win on aggregate. We had a perfect first game in Płock then. We played well in the defence, our goalkeeper had a great day and that s why we had easy counter attacks, says the captain of Plock Adam Wisniewski. Vardar seemed to be a bit surprised with our attitude in that match. With a six-goal advantage we were going to Skopje hoping to advance, but we knew that it was going to be really hard in their arena full of fans. And we found out about it already in the first half, he adds. Last season s duel is also fresh in the memory of the Macedonian side and their players know how tough they can expect Wednesday to be. We must play at 300% because in front of their fans they will try not only to win, but to win by as many goals as they can, Igor Karacić told Makedonski Sport. Płock is not going well at home this season. They won only once against Besiktas so far and suffered their heaviest defeat, 14 goals, against THW Kiel. Adam Wisniewski judges that they play better away because of a huge mental burden for some players, who cannot fully manage with the role of favourites on their own floor. Maybe at home there is too much pressure, especially for our youth, he says and hopes that perceiving Macedonian team as a favourite due to their higher rank in the group phase will work in the favour of Płock. What is crucial, Vardar has got their aspirations to win the Champions League. Our motivation is to go as far as we can, adds the wing. However, Vardar players pass the buck back. It is perfectly clear for us that this is going to be a very hard match. Plock are strong, they play at a very high level, especially when they play in front of their home audience, ensures Dujshebaev. They have a great coach on the bench, a master of the Spanish school of handball. I could not say if we are favourites at this point. But if we give our best on the court, we will be able to reach a good result, adds Karacić. Adam Wisniewski has a huge respect to Vardar s defence, assisted by great goalkeepers. This is a basis for their counter attack in the first and the second wave, explains the player. But all in all his team seems not to fear of anything after finally beating Kielce in the domestic league for the first time in almost two years. In past seasons our Orlen Arena was very difficult to conquer. This year it s a bit different, but maybe after the victory over Kielce we will finally start to win. We have another extremely important match ahead of us but we feel mentally strong right now, smiles Wisniewski. The victory earned by the Polish runners-up did not remain unnoticed by Vardar. On Sunday they beat Kielce in the domestic league by four goals difference. That tells us a lot about their strength and progress since we last met, concludes Karacić. Head-to-head stats Orlen Wisla Plock vs HC Vardar (52:57) 2: Orlen Wisla Plock vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 32:26 (14:12) HC Vardar vs Orlen Wisla Plock, VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 31:20 (14:10) 41

42 GROUP A 6 th ranked Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) The Oilers started the season on a high note with a spectacular draw 27:27 secured in the last seconds of a chase after Veszprem. The success, celebrated rather like a victory, was supposed to herald a great season of the Polish club. Soon it turned out however that one swallow doesn t make a summer and the players needed to face a crushing fourteen goals home defeat at the hands of THW Kiel. The already unstable personal situation of Plock swayed even more when in the middle of November the team was left by Nemanja Zelenovic, who was replaced by young Jose Guilherme de Toledo. Right before the New Year it was announced that also Manolo Cadenas is going to walk out after the season. The team however united all their forces to threaten the big brands of handball in the battle of taking one of the premium places in the Group A. Even though their balance after all fourteen matches of the past phase looks really feeble with only 3 wins, 2 draws and 9 defeats, it must be admitted that the Polish runners-up did a good job appropriate to the means remaining at their disposal. They were very close to make several surprises in away duels against Flensburg, Kiel and Veszprem all three lost with only two goals. Playing hall Orlen Arena Pl. Celebry Papieskiej Płock Poland Capacity: 5,467 Club Address: Orlen Wisła Płock Plac Celebry Papieskiej Płock Poland To the crucial duels with the past season enforcer HC Vardar, Plock will stand with only one line player Tiago Rocha left as the other two, Marco Oneto Zuniga and Mateusz Piechowski dropped out due to their knees injuries. The Poles will also miss their back Bartosz Konitz who already finished the season after harming his shoulder. Anyway the Oilers will do their best not only to be close to make another surprise, but to finally present their fans the first quarter-final of the Champions League ever. GROUP A Final Table: 1. PSG Handball :389 (53) MVM Veszprém :364 (38) SG Flensburg-Handewitt :380 (49) THW Kiel :388 (12) HC PPD Zagreb :367 (-9) Orlen Wisla Plock :397 (-25) 8 7. RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko :398 (-13) 7 8. Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu :487 (-105) 2 Media contact: Tomasz Bauman Tel: t.bauman@sprwislaplock.pl Online information: Website: Facebook: sprwisla Kit colours Light Player shirt: whiteblue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: red Group Phase results: (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) vs MVM Veszprém D27:27 PSG Handball L29:24 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko W25:28 (10:17) vs THW Kiel L23:37 HC PPD Zagreb L29:25 (13:13) vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt L30:34 (13:17) vs Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu W32:26 Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu W29:38 SG Flensburg-Handewitt L27:25 (13:11) vs HC PPD Zagreb D23:23 (11:12) vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko L26:31 THW Kiel L26:24 (14:14) vs PSG Handball L22:27 MVM Veszprém L27:25 (16:13) Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 11 Last 16 (4): 1995/96, 2011/12, 2013/14, 2014/15 Group Phase (5): 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2008/09 Qualification (1): 2012/13 Other EHF Cup: Quarter-finals 1993/94, Group Phase: 2012/13 Polish league: 7 titles (1995, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011) Polish Cup: 10 titles 42

43 Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) Biggest win: 42:26 (19:11) v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SCG (h), Biggest defeat: 35:18 (19:04) v KIF Kolding Elite A/S DEN (a), :17 (15:07) v HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO (a), Longest winning run: 5 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 6 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 6 matches ( ) Most goals: 42 v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SCG 42:26W (h), Most goals opponent: 40 v Sportclub Magdeburg GER 40:32L (a), Most goals both teams: 72 v Sportclub Magdeburg GER 40:32L (a), Fewest goals: 13 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 21:13L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 19 v Crvena Zvezda Beograd SRB 31:19W (h), v HCM Constanta ROU 19:34W (a), v Besiktas MOGAZ HT TUR 28:19W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 34 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 21:13L (a), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 2002/03 Wisla Plock SSA POL : :10 3rd Gr. A 2004/05 Wisla Plock SSA POL : :10 4th Gr. D 2005/06 Wisla Plock SSA POL : :8 3rd Gr. E 2006/07 Wisla Plock SA POL : :8 3rd Gr. C 2008/09 Wisla Plock SA POL : :12 4th Gr. H 2011/12 Orlen Wisla Plock POL : :15 1/8-finals 2013/14 Orlen Wisla Plock POL : :14 1/8-finals 2014/15 Orlen Wisla Plock POL : :9 Last 16 Total : :86 43

44 Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight 34 Lukasz Calujek POL Left Back Zawadzkie, POL Michal Daszek POL Right Wing Tczew, POL Jose Guilherme De Toledo BRA Right Back Sao Paulo, BRA Valentin Marian Ghionea ROU Right Wing Baia Mare, ROU Bartosz Konitz POL Left Back Oborniki Wlkpl., POL Zbigniew Kwiatkowski POL Line Player Mlawa, POL Angel Montoro Cabello ESP Right Back Toledo, ESP Jakub Moryn POL Left Wing Plock, POL Ivan Nikcevic SRB Left Wing Niksic, MNE Marco Antonio Oneto Zuniga ITA Line Player Vina del mar, CHI Mateusz Piechowski POL Line Player Plock, POL Miljan Pusica SRB Left Back Prijepolje, SRB Dan Emil Racotea ROU Back Brasov, ROU Tiago Rocha POR Line Player S. Paio Oleiros, POR Maciej Skibinski POL Right Wing Ciechanów, POL Marko Tarabochia BIH Centre Back Zagreb, BIH Adam Wisniewski POL Left Wing Plock, POL Dmitry Zhitnikov RUS Centre Back Zvolen, RUS Marcin Wichary POL Goalkeeper Zabrze, POL Rodrigo Corrales Rodal ESP Goalkeeper Cangas, ESP Adam Morawski POL Goalkeeper Ciechanów, POL EC Trophies: Cup Winner s Cup 1989, 1999, 2005 EURO: B 2014 Manolo Cadenas coach before he signed to Orlen in 2013 he made a short return to Leon, where he had been the coach also from 1995 to 2007, in their golden era led Ademar to their only national championship title in 2001, two cup titles and victories in the European arena joined Plock in a difficult period facing a challenge of building the team from the scratch besides Plock also coaches the Spanish national team 44

45 Rodrigo Corrales Rodal goalkeeper coming to Plock in 2014 seems to be one of the best decision made by the Spaniard who had been in the shadow of other keepers in FC Barcelona landed under Manolo Cadenas wings, which soon made the experts call him the future of Spanish handball talented, hard-working and dynamic player soon gained hearts of the local fans with incredible saves in crucial moments of the games Marcin Wichary goalkeeper depite his inconspicuous look, while standing between the posts he turns into a beast came to Plock in 2004 and since that moment he has become a true Oiler, beloved by the local fans in his WCh debut in 2013 he impressed with a 50% save efficiency in the group phase his best achievement to date remains the 5th place in the Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing and the bronze medal from the WCh 2015 in Qatar EC Trophies: CL 2011 WCh: B 2015 EURO: S 2012 Ivan Nikcevic left wing experienced winger with many titles raised in Crvena Zvezda Belgrade, he moved to Spain in 2005 where he played for the likes of San Antonio and Cuatro Rayas Valladolid achieved his best European performance with San Antonio in the Cup Winners Cup semi-final in 2010 also an important Serbian national team player scoring over 450 goals Miljan Pusica left back among six players that reinforced the ranks of Wisla before the 2014/15 season in 2014 on the left side replaced his countryman, Petar Nenadic, who joined Füchse Berlin with his previous team, RK Vojvodina, he failed in the qualification tournament in the 2013/14 season Dmitry Zhitnikov centre back comes from Krasnodar, and his first coach at the local handball school was his father at the age of 16, the talented boy was invited to Chekhov where he played five seasons in the reserve team as he matured and experienced players left, Zhitnikov began to play a more prominent role at Medvedi member of the Russian national team joined Plock in the summer of 2015 Tiago Rocha line player the first Portuguese player in Polish league; a hard-working player aware of his physical assets, despite his huge dimensions possesses a good coordination after spending twelve years in FC Porto he made his first step abroad joining Płock in 2014 became a cornerstone of the team until the metacarpus injury in March 2015 put him out of action both in domestic and European contest after the departure of Kamil Syprzak to Barcelona in the summer of 2015 he shares his position with a newcomer Marco Oneto Jose Guilherme de Toledo right back surprisingly joined Plock in November after Nemanja Zelenovic s transfer to Magdeburg best scorer of the Men s Youth World Championship U-19 in 2013 talented young player with an angel s look and devil s temperament already during his first months in Plock he already became an important part of the club in both domestic and European contest Before handball he used to train football and hockey Valentin Ghionea right wing Romanian Handballer of the Year in 2008 and two-time top scorer in Romania (2005, 2007) joined Wisla Plock in 2012 and during his first season, he showed his great goalscoring ability quickly became a very important Wisla player and his team s top scorer in the 2013/14 season he scored 226 goals in 43 appearances including 48 goals in the CL with his speed he is an important part of Manolo Cadenas s philosophy of the game 45

46 GROUP B 3 rd ranked HC Vardar (MKD) Macedonian champions are playing one of the most successful group phase seasons ever. The red-black team shined in the first four opening matches in the VELUX EHF Champions League, but during this series the Russian right back Alexander Dereven suffered a serious injury in the match against Rhein-Neckar Löwen which sidelined the new Vardar acquisition for several months. This winning streak was stopped surprisingly in Copenhagen when the Danish team managed to cause the first defeat to Raul Gonzales squad (33:31). However Vardar returned back on the winning track with a high-score (34:24) victory over Kielce, but then the defending champions FC Barcelona demonstrated their superiority by defeating Macedonian champions twice (31:30; 27:25). A payback from Kielce followed in the home match which the Polish team ended in their favor (23:20). Vardar once more shined at home against Copenhagen with another supreme victory (34:24) and ended successfully the 2015 year. Playing hall Jane Sandanski Skopje FYR Macedonia Capacity: 5,000 Club Address: HC Vardar Marko Savovski BUL 8 mi Septemvri 20 FYR Macedonia Media contact: Marko Savovski markosavovski@live.com Online information: Website: Facebook: rkvardar Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: orange and red Dark Player shirt: black/red Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: black and blue After the break, Vardar started the New Year with one-goal away defeat from Rhein-Neckar Löwen (28:27), but they missed Manaskov and Stoilov who were suspended because of violating club regulation and also Igor Karacic who had small injury. In addition Blazenko Lackovic left the club and transferred to THW Kiel. IFK Kristianstad caused a serious headache for local fans in Jane Sandanski when Vardar managed to secure the points only in the last minutes of the match (38:36). In the end of the group phase Szeged and Montpelier were an easy catch brining Vardar three consecutive victories and final third position in the group phase. Vardar will enter the Last 16 without the captain Filip Lazarov who recently broke his finger. In addition Sergei Gorbok muscle injury makes him questionable for this clash, yet the objective is clear, surpass the previous season success and reach the VELUX EHF FINAL4. GROUP B Final Table: 1. FC Barcelona Lassa :372 (51) KS Vive Tauron Kielce :399 (26) HC Vardar :373 (43) Rhein-Neckar Löwen :353 (16) MOL-Pick Szeged :390 (14) Montpellier HB :413 (-41) 7 7. IFK Kristianstad :437 (-28) 7 8. KIF Kolding Kobenhavn :429 (-81) 4 Group Phase results: (W - win, D - draw, L - Montpellier HB W25:30 (12:9) vs MOL-Pick Szeged W27:23 IFK Kristianstad W25:30 (13:15) vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen W25:19 KIF Kolding Kobenhavn L33:31 (17:15) vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce W34:24 FC Barcelona Lassa L31:30 (16:13) vs FC Barcelona Lassa L25:27 KS Vive Tauron Kielce L23:20 (10:6) vs KIF Kolding Kobenhavn W34:24 Rhein-Neckar Löwen L28:27 (14:15) vs IFK Kristianstad W38:36 MOL-Pick Szeged W29:31 (14:13) vs Montpellier HB W34:26 (17:17) Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 10 Quarter-final (2): 2013/14, 2014/15 Last 32 (1): 1999/2000 Group Phase (6): 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2007/08, 2009/10 Other Cup Winners Cup: Semi-finals 1998/99, 2004/05, 2010/11, Quarter-finals 2006/07 SEHA league: 1 title (2012) Macedonian league: 9 titles (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2015) Macedonian cup: 10 titles 46

47 HC Vardar (MKD) Biggest win: 37:24 (19:11) v Wacker Thun SUI (a), Biggest defeat: 41:19 (19:08) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), Longest winning run: 4 matches ( ) 4 matches ( ) 4 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 7 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 8 matches ( ) 8 matches ( ) Most goals: 39 v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 39:28W (h), v Chekhovskie Medvedi RUS 34:39W (a), Most goals opponent: 41 v FC Barcelona ESP 41:19L (a), Most goals both teams: 74 v IFK Kristianstad SWE 38:36W (h), Fewest goals: 12 v FC Barcelona ESP 12:26L (h), Fewest goals opponent: 20 v Orlen Wisla Plock 31:20W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 38 v FC Barcelona ESP 12:26L (h), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 2001/02 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD : :9 4th Gr. D 2002/03 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD : :8 4th Gr. D 2003/04 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD : :12 4th Gr. B 2004/05 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje MKD : :8 3rd Gr. A 2007/08 HC Vardar PRO Skopje MKD : :7 4th Gr. C 2009/10 HC Vardar PRO Skopje MKD : :17 5th Gr. D 2013/14 HC Vardar Skopje MKD : :13 1/4-finals 2014/15 HC Vardar MKD : :11 1/4-finals Total :

48 HC Vardar (MKD) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight 20 Ilija Abutovic SRB Left Back Vrbas, SRB Matjaz Brumen SLO Right Wing Ljublana, SLO Luka Cindric CRO Centre Back Ogulin, CRO Alexander Dereven RUS Left Back Toliatti, RUS Timur Dibirov RUS Left Wing Petrozavodsk, RUS Alex Dujshebaev ESP Right Back Santander, ESP Sergei Gorbok RUS Left Back Minsk, RUS Igor Karacic CRO Centre Back Mostar, BIH Filip Lazarov MKD Left Back Veles, MKD Dejan Manaskov MKD Left Wing Veles, MKD Jorge Maqueda Pena ESP Right Back Toledo, ESP Mijajlo Marsenic SRB Line Player Berane, MNE Daniil Shishkarev RUS Right Wing Kustanai, RUS Stojanche Stoilov MKD Line Player Skopje, MKD Alem Toskic SRB Line Player Priboj, SRB Arpad Sterbik Capar ESP Goalkeeper Senta, SRB Strahinja Milic SRB Goalkeeper Pristina, SRB Petar Angelov MKD Goalkeeper Kavadarci, MKD OG: B 1996 (as player) Raul Gonzalez Gutierrez coach stalwart of BM Valladolid and a member of the Spanish national team during his playing career started his coaching carrier in Atletico Madrid and Ciudad Real working in team with Talant Dujshebaev replaced Zoran Kastratovic early in the 2013/14 season at Vardar steered the team to a historical success - the quarter-finals of the CL for the first time and was just one goal shy of the FINAL4 48

49 Arpad Sterbik goalkeeper one of the best goalkeepers who holds Hungarian, Serbian and Spanish citizenship after ten seasons spent in Spain moved from Barcelona in 2014 and signed a four-year contract with Macedonian runners-up dozens of international awards including the 2005 IHF World Handball Player of the Year voted as the best goalkeeper of the Spanish league five times Jorge Maqueda right back arrived in Skopje at the beginning of the 2015/16 season and signed a two-year contract before his arrival in Vardar he played for Barcelona, Alcobendas, Aragon and Nantes the world class defender is gold medalist from the World Championship 2013 in Spain and bronze holder from EHF EURO 2011 EC trophies: CL 2006, 2008, 2009 WCh: B 1999, B 2001, B 2011, G 2013, EURO: S 2016 WCh: G 2013, EURO: S 2016 Timur Dibirov left wing in 2013 he joined Vardar as just the second club in his career the first was Chekhovskie Medvedi, with whom he reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2010 voted best left wing of at the 2013 WCh fast breaks specialists also key in defence Sergey Gorbok left back started his carrier in Minsk, played in several countries (Ukraine, Russia, Slovenia, Germany) took Russian citizenship and started playing for Russia after playing three seasons in Chekhov in the 2013/14 season with Rhein-Neckar Löwen he was close to the FINAL4 joined the Russian colony of Vardar in 2014 EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup 2006 Igor Karacic centre back voted into the 2012/13 SEHA League All-Star team regarded as a fast and tough player who is brilliant when it comes to one-on-one situations scored 62 goals on the way to the last 16 in the 2010/11 CL season with Bosna Sarajevo born in Mostar he plays for the Croatian national team, while his brother Ivan plays for Bosnia Herzegovina Alem Toskic line player joined Vardar in 2013 and currently plays the most successful season in the red-black team started his career in Partizan and transferred to Celje where he played six seasons; for two seasons he wore Zagreb jersey has been chosen among the best players of the third round in the 2015/16 plays his last season in Skopje before moving to Gorenje Velenje EURO: B 2016 EURO: S 2012 EURO: S 2016 Alex Dujshebaev right back son of Talant Dujshebaev joined Vardar at the beginning of the 2013/14 season played for Spain at the Junior World Championship in 2013 and helped to win silver best right back of the All-star team at the 2012 Men s 20 EHF EURO and the 2013 Junior WCh top scorer of the Spanish ASOBAL with BM Aragon in 2011/12 and 2012/13 voted best young player of the CL in 2014/15 Daniil Shishkarev right wing with his first club Zarja Kaspija Astrakhan played in three club competitions (EHF Cup, Cup Winners Cup and CL) Russian national team winger arrived in Skopje in 2014 and plays his second season in Vardar in the period from played for Chekovskie Medvedi and has number of titles in the Russian championship has played more than 70 matches for the Russian national team 49

50 MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) vs THW Kiel (GER) First leg Sunday 20 March, 18:30 hrs. local time Second leg Wednesday 23 March, 18:30 hrs. local time MOL-Pick Szeged are presented a chance to revenge their elimination from last year when THW Kiel proved too strong for the Hungarian runners-up. However, the sense in Szeged is that this year the margin is smaller and Pick have a good chance to make it to the next round. Tides have changed since these two European heavyweights locked horns in the VELUX EHF Champions League quarter-final a little more than a year ago. Kiel with their outstanding starting lineup and talentpacked squad were heavy favourites against the Hungarian outfit nevertheless Pick ousted Kiel s domestic rival Rhein-Neckar Löwen in the previous round. Kiel still have the outstanding starting lineup but their squad is no longer as frightening as it used to be. Having lost Aron Palmarsson, Filip Jicha and Rasmus Lauge might have not been enough to rule the German powerhouse out of Cologne yet Rene Toft Hansen, Patrick Wiencek, Steffen Weinhold and Christian Dissinger have all been out injured at some point of the season if not for the entire. MOL-Pick Szeged had a fair share of injury setbacks themselves, Zsolt Balogh and Niko Mindegía s absence were particularly painful, but the Hungarian runners-up remained composed especially at home, where only Barcelona and Vardar (who were extremely lucky to get away with a win) defeated Pick. Among the elite teams that left Szeged empty handed are Kiel, who managed to turn the duell around at home last year. In the wake of their two-goal defeat away the German team made use of the faltering away form of Szeged and ousted Juan Carlos Pastor s team by a six-goal margin on aggregate. But as said before, a lot has changed since then. When asked about the opponent Alfred Gislason s assessment couldn t have been more to the point: Everything revolves around Dean Bomba in attack. The Slovenian is enjoying a great season. Bombac, who sits proudly on third place in the goalscorers chart, is one of the many players who will leave Szeged after the season but the Slovenian playmaker is dedicated to make the most if his last season in Hungary. Those who aim to the top have to beat everyboday Bombac told Ehfcl.com after the draw. Gislason also pointed out that Szeged are by no means a one-man team and THW Kiel csaptain Domagoj Duvnjak also acknowledged that they play host to an elite team. We are facing a very strong team so I hope our fans will fill the arena to help us eliminate Szeged the Croat told his club s website. However, it is not a usual sight to see Kiel finish fourth in a Group. Even less peculiar to the Zebras to suffer heavy defeats in Zagreb and Flensburg and it is now safe to say that the optimism of Szeged s local hero, Ferenc Ilyés is well-founded. I believe this season we will have a better chance against Kiel than last year said Ilyés in the wake of their defeat at Kielce, where Szeged put up their best away performance of the season. I regret that we lost in Kielce but the way we performed in the arena of such a great team should give us confidence and self-belief against Kiel claimed Juan Carlos Pastor. Szeged and Kiel are the last to start but the first to finish their best of 16 clash as the teams play the home and away matches within three days starting on 20 March in the Újszegedi Arena. Head-to-head stats MOL-Pick Szeged vs THW Kiel (104:132) 2: Pick Szeged vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League Group D 26:38 (14:16) THW Kiel vs Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League Group D 34:24 (18:12) MOL-Pick Szeged vs THW Kiel, VELUX EHF Champions League Quarter-final 31:29 (17:15) THW Kiel vs MOL-Pick Szeged, VELUX EHF Champions League Quarter-final 31:23 (18:10) 50

51 GROUP B 5 th ranked MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) MOL-Pick Szeged are no longer to be referred to as the other team in Hungary. Led by one of the contemporary masterminds of the game Juan Carlos Pastor s team proved they were aproaching the elite when Szeged eliminated Rhein-Neckar Löwen and even beat Kiel at home in the quarter-final last year. Marred by injuries of key players such as Spanish international Niko Mindegía and Hungarian sensation Zsolt Balogh for the first half of the season Szeged still managed to shake off doubts of qualification to the last 16. The Újszegedi Arena remained a fortress, where even Barcelona were made to sweat blood for the win and if it wasn t for the poor away record (yet again) Pick would have found a much easier path towards Cologne. However, victories against Kielce, Löwen and Montpellier this season speak volumes about the strength of the Hungarian runners-up, who also had some great periods in away games, particularly at Kielce, where they had the lead for most of the intensive battle and in Montpellier, where the rampant Hungarians snatched a draw. Playing hall Varosi Sportcsarnok Szeged Temesvari Krt Szeged Hungary Capacity: 3,200 Club Address: MOL-Pick Szeged Deák Ferenc u Szeged Hungary Media contact: Levente Juhasz levente.juhasz@pickhandball.hu Online information: Website: Facebook: pickszeged Kit colours Light Player shirt: orange Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: white or green Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: black With Mindegía back in action the Kielce-bound playmaking genious Dean Bombac can finally catch a breath and Balogh s return is met by some great performances from Gábor Ancsin at right back. Their defence is solid, have great goalies and backed by the intimidating Szeged crowd at home Pick are a force to be reckoned with. It s the away match that is more of a concern partly due to last year s clash with Kiel: brave Pick brought a two-goal advantage to Kiel only to see it shattered by the home side in the first half and eventually bow out. Szeged are going to make drastic changes in their ranks next summer, protagonists of both defence and attack are set to leave the City of Sunlight, but they are not finished yet and the sense is the city is that Szeged are by no means the underdog against the German powerhouse. GROUP B Final Table: 1. FC Barcelona Lassa :372 (51) KS Vive Tauron Kielce :399 (26) HC Vardar :373 (43) Rhein-Neckar Löwen :353 (16) MOL-Pick Szeged :390 (14) Montpellier HB :413 (-41) 7 7. IFK Kristianstad :437 (-28) 7 8. KIF Kolding Kobenhavn :429 (-81) 4 Group Phase results: (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce W31:30 HC Vardar L27:23 (11:11) vs FC Barcelona Lassa L28:30 KIF Kolding Kobenhavn W22:27 Rhein-Neckar Löwen L30:25 (13:13) vs Montpellier HB W28:27 (14:14) vs IFK Kristianstad W35:28 IFK Kristianstad W32:34 Montpellier HB D29:29 (17:17) vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen W30:24 (14:12) vs KIF Kolding Kobenhavn W34:23 FC Barcelona Lassa L30:25 (19:14) vs HC Vardar L29:31 KS Vive Tauron Kielce L27:26 (12:16) Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 14 Quarter-final (3): 1996/1997, 2003/2004, 2014/15 Last 16 (5): 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2006/2007, 2010/2011, 2012/13 Main Round (1): 2007/2008 Group Phase (3): 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2011/2012 Qualification (1): 2013/14 Other EHF Cup: Winners 2014/15, Quarterfinal: 2000/01 Last 16: 1994/95, 1999/2000 Cup Winners Cup Semi-final: 1993/94 Quarter-final: 2002/03, 2008/09 Hungarian league: 2 titles (1996, 2007) Hungarian cup: 6 titles 51

52 MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) Biggest win: 39:24 (15:10) v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH (h), Biggest defeat: 40:17 (19:5) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), Longest winning run: 6 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 6 matches ( ) 6 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 7 matches ( ) Most goals: 39 v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH 39:24W (h), Most goals opponent: 40 v FC Barcelona ESP 40:17L (a), Most goals both teams: 73 v Montpellier Agglomeration HB FRA 38:35W (h), Fewest goals: 17 v FC Barcelona ESP 40:17L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 16 v Wisla Plock SA POL 16:26W (a), Fewest goals both teams: 39 v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 20:19W (h), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 1996/97 Pick Szeged HUN : :8 1/4-finals 2003/04 SC Pick Szeged HUN : :12 1/4-finals 2004/05 SC Pick Szeged HUN : :6 Last /06 SC Pick Szeged HUN : :10 Last /07 SC Pick Szeged HUN : :8 Last /08 Pick Szeged HUN : :6 3rd MR Gr /09 Pick Szeged HUN : :8 3rd Gr. H 2009/10 Pick Szeged HUN : :14 5th Gr. A 2010/11 Pick Szeged HUN : :14 Last /12 Pick Szeged HUN : :14 5th Gr. D 2012/13 Pick Szeged HUN : :16 Last /15 MOL-Pick Szeged HUN : :9 1/4-finals Total :

53 MOL-Pick Szeged (HUN) No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight 90 Gabor Ancsin HUN Right Back Bekescsaba, HUN Adam Arokszallasi HUN Right Wing Szeged, HUN Patrik Arpasi HUN Line Player Orosháza, HUN Zsolt Balogh HUN Right Back Orosháza, HUN Alen Blazevic CRO Left Back Nasice, CRO Dean Bombac SLO Centre Back Koper, SLO Marko Curuvija SRB Left Wing Belgrade, SRB Adam Dimovics HUN Centre Back Szeged, HUN Karoly Doleszal HUN Left Wing Székesfehérvár, HUN Balint Fekete HUN Right Back Gyula, HUN Roberto Garcia Parrondo ESP Right Wing Madrid, ESP Antonio Jesus Garcia Robledo ESP Left Back Llagosta, ESP Mate Gidai HUN Right Wing Békéscsaba, HUN Thiagus Petrus Goncalves Dos Santos BRA Left Back Juiz de Fora, BRA Gergö Haszillo HUN Centre Back Székesfehérvár, HUN Márk Hegedüs HUN Line Player Budapest, HUN Ferenc Ilyés HUN Left Back Székelyudvarhely, ROU Jonas Källman SWE Left Wing Växjö, SWE Vladan Loncar BIH Left Back Sarajevo, BIH Stefan Manojlovity SRB Centre Back Zenta, SRB Richard Mezei HUN Centre Back Szeged, HUN Niko Mindegia Elizaga ESP Centre Back Santesteban, ESP Lenard Nagy HUN Left Wing Senta, SRB Zoltan Peter Patyi HUN Centre Back Szeged, HUN Rajko Prodanovic SRB Right Wing Beograd, SRB Roland Selmeczi HUN Right Wing Szeged, HUN Bence Szabo HUN Line Player Kecskemét, HUN Mate Szabo HUN Right Wing Szeged, HUN Peter Szabo HUN Left Back Szeged, HUN Egon Urban HUN Right Wing Senta, SRB Daniel Gabor Varga HUN Line Player Szeged, HUN Peter Velky HUN Left Wing Orosháza, HUN Vladimir Vranjes BIH Line Player Banja Luka, BIH Szabolcs Zubai HUN Line Player Mezokövesd, HUN Jose Manuel Sierra Mendez ESP Goalkeeper Moguer, ESP Piotr Wyszomirski POL Goalkeeper Warszava, POL Boris Manojlovity SRB Goalkeeper Zenta, SRB Martin Nagy HUN Goalkeeper Szeged, HUN Imre Pasztor HUN Goalkeeper Szolnok, HUN Juan Carlos Pastor coach one of the masterminds of contemporary handball with an incredible amount of silverware in his career Szeged found him fit for the job of rebuilding their team in order to be able to challenge for the Hungarian title against Veszprém won the EHF Cup in his first year at the helm became also the sporting director after Szeged legend Richárd Mezei resigned EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup 2009, EHF Cup 2014 WCh: G 2005, EURO: S 2006, OG: B

54 José Manuel Sierra goalkeeper together with Piotr Wyszomirski supposed to fill in for Hungarian international Roland Mikler, who joined Veszprém one of the most influential goalkeepers in the world, the Valladolid legend has won an enormous amount of trophies through his almost two decades long career signed from PSG, has done a grand slam of great Spanish teams (Barcelona, Ciudad Real and Valladolid) in the past EC trophies: CL 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, Cup Winners Cup: 2009 WCh: G 2013, EURO: B 2014 Thiagus Petrus Goncalves left back first Brazilian player of the 55-year-old history of the club his lethal shots come handy at Pick where the shooting compartment badly needed reinforcement joined Niko Mindegía, his former teammate from La Rioja, where he won 2x silver in ASOBAL Brazilian international won gold at the Pan American Games in 2015 in Toronto EC trophies: CL 2006, 2008, 2009, EHF Cup 2014 OG: S 2012 Jonas Källman left wing signed in the winter of 2013/14 and showed his unique ability to defend in three positions vital part of both coach Juan Carlos Pastor s defensive variatons and Szeged s attacking edge spent more than a decade in Spain with Ciudad Real and Atlético Madrid before returning home (IFK Skövde) and finally signing a three-and-ahalf year contract with Pick Ferenc Ilyés left back one of the most influential Hungarian players at both club and international level one of the many who played both for Szeged and Veszprém defensive specialist can also be an impact player at left back as shown by his marvellous performance in the 2014 EHF Cup Finals great talisman for his team as won three international trophies with three different clubs EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup 2008, EHF Cup: 2010, 2014 Antonio García Robledo left back without a doubt the biggest name the EHF Cup winner signed in the summer of 2014 won a great deal of both individual, club and national team silverware and a lot is expected from the Granollers-raised shooter in Szeged former Spanish player of the year Szeged is his third team in the CL having tried his luck with Leon and PSG before Szabolcs Zubai line player one of the most technically gifted in his position in Hungary coming from the famous Dunaferr school U2 fan signed a contract with Pick Szeged in 2008 and has been the focal point of both the team s attacks and defence well over his 100th cap and a decade in the grinder of opponents walls finally managed to get a grip on a trophy, which came in 2014 WCh: G 2013, EURO: B 2014 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2014 Zsolt Balogh right back joined Pick Szeged from Braun Gyöngyös in 2012 by 2014 overtook Gábor Ancsin in the Pick roster at his poition not as tall as one would expect from a backcourt player but has outstanding dribbling skills and a sharp eye for passing new coach Pastor gave him more time and he grabbed his chance Roberto García Parrondo right wing brought by coach Pastor when he took the Szeged hotseat the two won an incredible amount of trophies together Madrid-born played for seven Spanish teams before he decided to bring his talents to international courts one of the few players to have literally won all international trophies EHF had to offer EC trophies: EHF Cup 2014 EC trophies: CL 2008, 2009, Cup Winners Cup 2005, EHF Cup 2013 WCh: G 2005, EURO: B

55 GROUP A 4 th ranked THW Kiel (GER) To finish on a fourth position was the weakest final ranking of the three times EHF Champions League winners in as group phase ever. But this position results from a long series of long-term injuries: At the start of the season, both left wings - Dominik Klein and Torsten Jansen - were out, then Patrick Wiencek tore his crucial ligament in October, followed by the severe knee injury of team captain Rene Toft Hansen in December - thus, both line players are out until the end of the season. During the EURO in Poland, Steffen Weinhold and Christian Dissinger were out with adductor injuries, Weinhold is supposed to miss the rest of the season. Besides, Filip Jicha had left Kiel to Barcelona right before the first match of the season. Several new players - Igor Anic, Ilja Brozovic and Dener Jaanimaa - were signed during the season. It simply does not fit in such a short term, was the short analyse of coach Alfred Gislason. His team had started with a defeat at Zagreb, and then lost their first home match in the VELUX EHF Champions League after more than four years against Paris. Mainly those two clear defeats against the French champions (26:30, 30:37) hit the confidence of THW. But even before the winter break they showed their best Champions League match, beating Veszprem in a thrilling endgame at the comeback of Klein. Playing hall Sparkassen-Arena-Kiel Europaplatz 1, Kiel Germany Capacity: 10,000 Club Address: THW Kiel Ziegelteich Kiel Germany Having the 2007 World Champion back on track in his last season at THW, Kiel rose - but then were again hit hard by the biggest ever derby defeat against Flensburg (27:37). By winning the last two group matches they sealed the fourth position - and will have something like a rematch in the Last16, facing Szeged, the team they eliminated in the last season s quarter-finals. The biggest motivation for Kiel is the fact that they would duel with their old enemies from Barcelona, if they finish the Last16 victorious. GROUP A Final Table: 1. PSG Handball :389 (53) MVM Veszprém :364 (38) SG Flensburg-Handewitt :380 (49) THW Kiel :388 (12) HC PPD Zagreb :367 (-9) Orlen Wisla Plock :397 (-25) 8 7. RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko :398 (-13) 7 8. Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu :487 (-105) 2 Media contact: Christian Robohm christian.robohm@thw-handball.de Online information: Website: Facebook:thwhandball Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: black Dark Player shirt: black Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: red Group Phase results: (W - win, D - draw, L - HC PPD Zagreb L29:22 (13:11) vs Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu W32:21 (16:12) vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt W27:23 Orlen Wisla Plock W23:37 MVM Veszprém L29:27 (17:15) vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko W35:32 (16:14) vs PSG Handball L26:30 PSG Handball L37:30 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko D23:23 (14:14) vs MVM Veszprém W25:24 SG Flensburg-Handewitt L37:27 (17:14) vs Orlen Wisla Plock W26:24 Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu W27:32 (14:17) vs HC PPD Zagreb W31:29 (14:17) Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 19 Winners (3): 2006/07, 2009/10, 2011/12 Runners-up (4): 1999/2000, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2013/14 Semi-final (4): 1996/1997, 2000/01, 2012/13, 2014/15 Quarter-final (5): 1998/99, 2002/03, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2010/11 Group phase (2): 1994/95, 1995/96 Other EHF Cup: Winners 1997/98, 2001/02, 2003/04 German league: 20 titles (1957, 1962, 1963, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) German Cup winners: 9 times 55

56 THW Kiel (GER) Biggest win: 26:50 (13:24) v Banik OKD Karvina CZE (a), Biggest defeat 27:37 (14:17) v SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER (a), Longest winning run 11 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run 17 matches ( ) Longest losing run 3 matches ( ) Longest run without win 3 matches ( ) 3 matches ( ) Most goals 50 v Banik OKD Karvina CZE 26:50W (a), Most goals opponent 44 v FC Barcelona ESP 44:37L (a), Most goals both teams 81 v FC Barcelona ESP 44:37L (a), Fewest goals 13 v Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 22:13L (a), Fewest goals opponent 15 v SKA Minsk BLR 15:27W (a), v SKA Minsk BLR 21:15W (h), Fewest goals both teams 35 v Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO 22:13L (a), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 1994/95 THW Kiel GER : :6 2nd Gr. B 1995/96 THW Kiel GER : :6 2nd Gr. A 1996/97 THW Kiel GER : :7 1/2-finals 1998/99 TKW Kiel GER : :2 1/4-finals 1999/00 THW Kiel GER : :9 Runner-up 2000/01 THW Kiel GER : :9 1/2-finals 2002/03 THW Kiel GER : :7 1/4-finals 2004/05 THW Kiel GER : :4 1/4-finals 2005/06 THW Kiel GER : :4 1/4-finals 2006/07 THW Kiel GER : :5 Winner 2007/08 THW Kiel GER : :6 Runner-up 2008/09 THW Kiel GER : :7 Runner-up 2009/10 THW Kiel GER : :3 Winner 2010/11 THW Kiel GER : :8 1/4-finals 2011/12 THW Kiel GER : :5 Winner 2012/13 THW Kiel GER : :10 4th Place 2013/14 THW Kiel GER : :5 Runner-up 2014/15 THW Kiel GER : :8 4th Place Total: : :111 56

57 THW Kiel (GER) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight 28 Malte Abelmann-Brockmann GER Left Wing Kiel, GER Igor Anic FRA Line Player Mostar, BIH Ilija Brozovic CRO Line Player Split, CRO Thies Bergemann GER Right Back Kiel, GER Joan Cañellas Reixach ESP Centre Back St. Maria de Palau, ESP Rune Dahmke GER Left Wing Kiel, GER Christian Dissinger GER Left Back Ludwigshafen, GER Domagoj Duvnjak CRO Centre Back Dakovo, CRO Niclas Ekberg SWE Right Wing Ystad, SWE Rogerio Ferreira Moraes BRA Line Player Abaetetuba, BRA Lucas Firnhaber GER Right Back Buxtehude, GER Dener Jaanimaa EST Right Back Tallinn, EST Torsten Jansen GER Left Wing Adenau, GER Dominik Klein GER Left Wing Miltenberg, GER Erlend Mamelund NOR Left Back Bærum, NOR Christian Sprenger GER Right Wing Ludwigsfelde, GER Rene Toft Hansen DEN Line Player Rybjerg, DEN Marko Vujin SRB Right Back Backa Palanka, SRB Steffen Weinhold GER Right Back Fuerth, GER Patrick Wiencek GER Line Player Duisburg, GER Alexander Williams GER Left Back Hamburg, GER Niklas Landin Jacobsen DEN Goalkeeper Soborg, DEN Nikolas Katsigiannis GER Goalkeeper Werne, GER Dominik Plaue GER Goalkeeper Bad Homburg, GER Fynn Malte Schröder GER Goalkeeper Bremen, GER Alfred Gislason coach won nine German championships (with Magdeburg and Kiel), four German cup titles, five European club titles five times coach of the year in Germany his first job on the bench was in his home town Akureyri, before taking over Hameln, Magdeburg and Gummersbach in Germany joined Kiel in 2008 as the successor of Noka Serdarusic to lead THW to 15 trophies to date EC trophies: CL 2002, 2010, 2012 (as coach), EHF Cup 2001 (as coach) 57

58 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 WCh: S 2011, 2013, EURO: G 2012, S 2014 Niklas Landin goalkeeper joined Kiel in the summer of 2015 after three seasons with bundesliga rivals Rhein-Neckar Löwen successor of legendary Kasper Hvidt in the Danish national team broke through during the 2011 WCh played also for Gudme in Denmark, where he was number 1 already at the age of 20 best goalkeeper at the 2013 WCh, the EHF EURO 2014 and the 2013/14 CL Domagoj Duvnjak centre back THW s top signing before the 2014/15 season 2013 IHF World Handball Player of the Year arrived from Hamburg, where he played since 2009 not just a typical playmaker he is also a scorer and is an essential part of defence best Bundesliga player in 2013 started his career in Zagreb EURO: G 2016 Rune Dahmke left wing only Kiel-born player in the THW squad and was in his younger days sitting on the stands cheering for his idols got his first professional contract in December 2013 after being part of the THW youth teams his father Frank Dahmke was THW player and now is member of the club board at least until October 2015 replacement for Dominik Klein who tore his cruciate ligament in the previous season Joan Canellas centre back scored 50 goals in eight matches on the way to the top goal scorer title of the EHF EURO 2014 fits perfectly with Domagoj Duvnjak, with whom he played in Hamburg in 2013/14 with Barcelona and Ciudad Real Spanish champion and cup winner twice (2011, 2012) CL finalist with Ciudad Real and Atletico Madrid the club with which he also won the IHF Super Globe twice (2010, 2012) EC trophies: CL 2013 OG: B 2012, WCh: S 2009, B 2013, EURO: S 2010, B 2012, 2016 Igor Anic line player arrived at Kiel in October 2015 from HBC Nantes, after Patrick Wiencek had torn his ACT in the CL match against Flensburg had been playing for THW already from 2007 until 2010, winning in total seven titles in three seasons started his career at Montpellier, before he went to Nantes, he played for Gummersbach ( ) and Cesson-Rennes ( ) famous for his cartoons, mostly portraits other handball players EC trophies: CL 2010, EHF Cup 2011 EURO: G 2014 EC trophies: Cup Winners Cup 2008 EURO: S 2012 Marko Vujin right back in 2012 the Serbian shooter arrived to fill the gap after the departure of Kim Andersson to KIF top scorer of the 2013/14 Bundesliga (248 goals) won seven consecutive national championships with Veszprém and Kiel in the national team he is one of the stalwarts who were key to silver at the EHF EURO 2012 started his international career in Dunaferr (Hungary), then played five years in Veszprem WCh G 2013, B 2011, EURO: B 2014, S 2016 EURO: G 2016 OG: S 2012 Christian Dissinger left back U21 World Champion with Germany in 2011 and awarded MVP of this tournament right after this title left Germany to play for Swiss champions Schaffhausen tore his crucial ligament in his first CL match against Barcelona and suffered the same injury again in 2013 right after he had signed a contract at Atletico Madrid had his comeback in 2014 for the German side N-Lübbecke, signed for Kiel in 2015 Niclas Ekberg right wing spotted and signed by AG Kobenhavn in 2010 tall winger from Ystad has large variety of shots, also effective on counterattacks and reliable on penalty throws these qualities have also earned him more than 90 internationals for Sweden joined Kiel in 2012 after AG went bankrupt and after he experienced his first VELUX EHF FINAL4 top scorer of the London Olympics 2012 with 50 goals 58

59 HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) RUKOMETNI KLUB PRVO PLINARSKO DRUŠTVO Z A G R E B First leg Saturday 19 March, 20:00 hrs. local time Second leg Sunday 27 March, 19:30 hrs. local time After three years PPD Zagreb and Rhein-Neckar Löwen meet again in VELUX EHF Champions Legaue. But this time it is in a different stage of competition. Lions from Zagreb will meet Lions from Mannheim for two great matches in Last 16 stage of EHFCL. First leg will be played in Arena Zagreb, fortress of Zagreb Lions which is not that easy to conquer. Last time these two teams met was in 2013 when they played together in Group A. Rhein-Neckar Löwen won both those matches. They were especially convincing in first match by winning 34:26. In that match Stipe Mandalinic shined for Zagreb scoring nine goals. Even though he did not play much this season due to knee injury, in last few matches of EHFCL he showed he is back on track. If it is to be judged by 2013, he loves playing and scoring against Löwen. In return match in Zagreb Löwen had far more difficult assignment to complete. They won by four goals but had very tough match and that is what Zagreb is counting on in this first leg of Last 16. They can expect very tough match in Arena Zagreb and I believe that we can win, said Filip Ivic for ehfcl.com. Rhein-Neckar Löwen coach Nikolaj Jacobsen also stressed for club s official website that Zagreb plays great at home: They are having very good season and in match against Kiel where they won 29:22, they didn t show all they can do. Jacobsen said that he is happy they do not need to play against Kiel in Last 16, but is very aware of threat Zagreb can pose in this doubleheader. I want to warn that we have been marked as favorites in these encounters. Zagreb has very young team, very talented and they want to prove themselves, said Jacobsen for club s website. Zagreb wants revenge for those two defeats three years ago but they will need to be at their best performance to do so. Sebetic shined against Kiel with eight goals, Mandalinic against Celje with ten and they will both have to repeat that together with great defence and goalkeepers if they want to win. It is going to be a very tough match. Rhein-Neckar Löwen is currently leading team in Bundesliga. For us this is the most important match of the season because we are now in eight-finals. Löwen plays fast and attractive handball. They have top-class wing players and some of the best players in the world on some positions. I believe in my team because we showed that we can play with best teams, said Ivic for ehfcl.com Nikolaj Jacobsen s team experienced some surprising loses in Group B and did not showed consistency throughout group stage. They want to be in quarter-finals but for that they need to beat Zagreb youngsters who are eager to mess up their plans. We are going to prepare as best as we can - both mentally and physically. I can only promise one thing for the fans spectacular handball, said Luka Sebetic for ehfcl.com. Head-to-head stats HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen (165:180) 3: HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, EHF Champions League Group H 33:33 (16:14) Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb, EHF Champions League Group H 27:27 (11:15) HC Croatia Osiguranje ZAGREB vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 28:31 (12:15) Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Croatia Osiguranje ZAGREB, VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 27:27 (11:9) Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League Group A 34:26 (21:11) HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen, VELUX EHF Champions League Group A 24:28 (12:13) 59

60 GROUP A 5 th ranked RUKOMETNI KLUB PRVO PLINARSKO DRUŠTVO Z A G R E B HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) PPD Zagreb s road to VELUX EHF Champions League was not at all easy, but first goal that club management asked for is achieved. It all started bright and shiny for Veselin Vujovic s team. A huge 29:22 win over THW Kiel in Zagreb was a big push at the beginning of the season. It continued with a close away win over Celje 21:20 and it looked like Zagreb is on a road to make spectacular season opening. Arena Zagreb did not manage to scare and hold Veszprem who were the first team to beat Zagreb. The toughest defeat Zagreb had in Paris where PSG won by 11 goals. A win over Wisla boosted their confidence, but a surprising defeat to Besiktas in Istanbul made coach Vujovic resign for a day, but after consultations he decided to stay. In two matches against Flensburg, Zagreb experienced some changes in team. In first match they lost Luka Stepancic who suffered a knee injury (torn ACL) but signed new left wing Dobrivoje Markovic (SRB). Eventually Zagreb lost both encounters with the 2014 winners. Zagreb ended 2015 with a revenge win over Besiktas in Zagreb and a draw with Wisla in Plock where Vujovic came with youngest players he had due to series of injuries. Playing hall Arena Zagreb Laniste b.b., Zagreb Croatia Capacity: 15,200 Club Address: HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb Veprinecka Zagreb Croatia Media contact: Goran Roknić glasnogovornik@rk zagreb.hr Online information: Website: Facebook: RK-Zagreb Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white Goalkeeper shirt: orange Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: yellow Croatia winning bronze medal at EHF EURO in Poland was a huge boost for handball fans in Zagreb who filled all seats in Zagreb Arena (15,200) for the match against PSG, but Zagreb failed to win. That was first match for defence specialist Velko Markoski (MKD) who signed with Zagreb in December. In last three matches Zagreb experienced two defeats and one win. Veszprem and Kiel in last round secured close wins. Winning against Celje in Zagreb was very important because Zagreb secured fifth position in Group B. What also marked February for Zagreb was return of injured Stipe Mandalinic who came back with style scoring 10 goals against Celje. GROUP A Final Table: 1. PSG Handball :389 (53) MVM Veszprém :364 (38) SG Flensburg-Handewitt :380 (49) THW Kiel :388 (12) HC PPD Zagreb :367 (-9) Orlen Wisla Plock :397 (-25) 8 7. RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko :398 (-13) 7 8. Besiktas Jimnastik Kulubu :487 (-105) 2 Group Phase results: (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) vs THW Kiel W29:22 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko W20:21 (10:9) vs MVM Veszprém L20:21 PSG Handball L34:23 (18:8) vs Orlen Wisla Plock W29:25 Besiktas JK L32:30 SG Flensburg-Handewitt L28:27 (12:13) vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt L23:30 (10:15) vs Besiktas JK W32:26 Orlen Wisla Plock D23:23 (11:12) vs PSG Handball L23:25 MVM Veszprém L27:25 (16:12) vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko W24:23 THW Kiel L31:29 (14:17) Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 22 Final (4): 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99 Semi-final (1): 1999/00 Quarter-final (6): 2000/01, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2008/09, 2011/12, 2014/15) Last 16 (3): 2005/06, 2009/10, 2010/11 Main Round (1): 2007/08 Group Phase (4): 1993/94, 2004/05, 2006/07, 2012/13 Other EHF Cup: Runners-up 2004/05 Cup Winners Cup: Semi-finals 2006/07 SEHA League: 1 title (2013) Croatian league: 25 titles (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) Croatian Cup winner: 22 times 60

61 HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) RUKOMETNI KLUB PRVO PLINARSKO DRUŠTVO Z A G R E B VELUX EHF Champions League record Biggest win 34:15 (16:8) v HC Bosna Sarajevo BIH (h), Biggest defeat: 21:43 (10:23) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), Longest winning run: 6 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches ( ) 6 matches ( ) 6 matches ( ) 6 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 7 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 8 matches ( ) Most goals: 38 v Kadetten Schaffhausen SUI 38:30W (h), Most goals opponent: 43 v FC Barcelona ESP 43:21L (a), Most goals both teams: 69 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 36:33L (a), Fewest goals: 15 v Portland San Antonio ESP 31:15L (a), Fewest goals opponent: 13 v THW Kiel GER 22:13W (h), v Pelister Bitola MKD 37:13W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 36 v ZTR Zaporozhye UKR 18:18D (a), v HC Metalurg MKD 19:17W (h), MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 1993/94 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO : :10 4th Gr. A 1994/95 Badel Zagreb CRO : :5 Runner-up 1995/96 Croatia Banka Zagreb CRO : :7 3rd Gr. B 1996/97 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO : :9 Runner-up 1997/98 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO : :10 Runner-up 1998/99 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO : :7 Runner-up 1999/00 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO : :5 1/2-finals 2000/01 Badel 1862 Zagreb CRO : :7 1/4-finals 2002/03 RK Zagreb CRO : :8 1/4-finals 2003/04 RK Zagreb CRO : :12 1/4-finals 2004/05 RK Zagreb CRO : :6 3rd Gr. B 2005/06 RK Zagreb CRO : :5 Last /07 RK Zagreb CRO : :6 3rd Gr. D 2007/08 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO : :13 3rd MR Gr /09 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO : :7 1/4-finals 2009/10 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb CRO : :12 Last /11 HC Croatia Osiguranje ZAGREB CRO : :9 Last /12 Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO : :9 1/4-finals 2012/13 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO : :15 5th Gr. D 2013/14 HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb CRO : :12 5th Gr. A 2014/15 HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb CRO : :14 1/4-finals Total : :188 61

62 HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight 18 Zlatko Horvat CRO Right Wing Zagreb, CRO Arijan Jovic CRO Zagreb, CRO Tin Kontrec CRO Line Player Nasice, CRO Antonijo Kovacevic CRO Left Wing Zagreb, CRO Stipe Mandalinic CRO Left Back Split, CRO Velko Markoski MKD Left Back Struga, MKD Dobrivoje Markovic SRB Left Wing Teslic, BIH Petar Medic CRO Zagreb, CRO Lovro Mihic CRO Left Wing Zagreb, CRO Sandro Obranovic CRO Centre Back Karlovac, CRO Domagoj Pavlovic CRO Left Back Zagreb, CRO Luka Rakovic CRO Right Wing Zagreb, CRO Stanko Sabljic CRO Line Player Mostar, BIH Josip Sandrk CRO Left Back Zagreb, CRO Luka Sebetic CRO Right Back Bjelovar, CRO Lovro Sprem CRO Left Wing Zagreb, CRO Luka Stepancic CRO Right Back Pula, CRO Leon Susnja CRO Line Player Siroki Brijeg, BIH Josip Valcic CRO Centre Back Zadar, CRO Tonci Valcic CRO Left Back Zadar, CRO Jakov Vrdoljak CRO Zagreb, CRO Stefan Vujic CRO Centre Back Rijeka, CRO Marko Vukic CRO Left Back Split, CRO Filip Ivic CRO Goalkeeper Zagreb, CRO Ivan Stevanovic CRO Goalkeeper Rijeka, CRO Veselin Vujovic coach hired by Zagreb right before the beginning of the 2014/15 CL campaign one of the best players ever, worked as a head-coach in Ciudad Real, Vardar, Yugoslavian national team, Serbia and Montenegro (fourth place the OG in Sydney 2000) and is in charge of Slovenia now with Vardar won the regional SEHA League title in its first season known as an outstanding specialist but also as an impulsive coach EC: Champions Cup 1985, 1986, 1991 (as player) OG: G 1984, WCh: G 1986 (as player) 62

63 Filip Ivic goalkeeper home-grown goalkeeper from Zagreb s school won European gold and was fourth in the world as the captain of Croatian junior national team in the 2013/14 season he was given a chance in Zagreb s first team used the opportunity to open gates of senior handball in great style through some great saves in his first senior season he also made it to the national team and backed Mirko Alilović on the way to bronze at the 2013 WCh WCh: B 2013 WCh: B 2013 Lovro Sprem left wing well-known surname in Croatian handball, his older brother Goran won many medals with Croatia Goran s copy in speed, aggresiveness and rhythm became the junior world champion in Tunisia in 2009 very skillful at counter attacks and playing out front in a 5-1 defence Domagoj Pavlovic left back born in Ivanic, where he began playing handball before joining RK Dubrava club where he rose to prominence, which took him to HC PPD Zagreb in 2014 came through all Croatian youth selections, before establishing himself as the key member of junior national team playing his second season for HC PPD Zagreb, alongside Croatian youth selection teammates Filip Ivic, Sandro Obranovic and Stipe Mandalinic Enjoys working with Veselin Vujovic, who is said to give him great confidence WCh: G 2003, S 2009, EURO: S 2008, S 2010 Tonci Valcic left back made a debut for Zagreb in 1999, currently playing his ninth season for the club. older brother to Zagreb and Croatia teammate Josip Valcic defensive specialist, known for his great anticipation of player movement in 6-0 zone made Croatia national team debut in 2003 and has since made 109 appearances scoring 189 goals Sandro Obranovic left/centre back having started handball as a member of RK Karlovac youth squad, working his way up to the first team and the Challenge Cup berth joined Zagreb in 2013, from Croatian vicechampions and the EHF Cup outfit RK NEXE Nasice flourished under guidance of Veselin Vujovic in the 2014/15 season, becoming one of the key players for Zagreb coming off the bench awarded best left back of the 2015 SEHA League Final tournament WCh: B 2016 Stipe Mandalinic left back Susn voted MVP of U20 EHF EURO 2012, where he also won a silver medal with his team his best season in the CL was 2013/14 when he scored 43 goals nicknamed Little Lacković (or Little Lac ) because of similar style of shooting and playing had a great return from the second knee injury (torn ACL) scoring 25 goals in four matches in early 2016 Luka Sebetic right back holds gold medal from U18 EHF EURO 2010 scored his first goal in the CL when he was 17 in his 21 years he had already six CL seasons under his belt first choice on right back after his namesake Luka Stepancic got injured Zlatko Horvat right wing captain and speedy wing is a counter-attack specialist, but he is an important part of defence at the same time had his debut in the national team in 2006 and since then he has won four medals played in Zagreb from the beginning of his career and has already 13 campaigns in the CL under his belt in the 2010/11 season the third top scorer with 94 goals EURO: B 2016 OG: B 2012, EURO: B 2012, WCh: S 2009, B

64 GROUP B 4 th ranked Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) The Löwen appearances in the VELUX EHF Champions League group phase were something like a roller-coater ride: Beating defending Barcelona in the opener and a draw against Kielce was a start close to perfection, but then the German runners-up mainly caused a lot of surprising weaknesses in their away matches. They lost at Kristianstad, Skopje and Szeged to miss a better position than the fourth rank they finally have. But for coach Nicolaj Jacobsen, the significance of fighting for the Bundesliga title in the last season of team captain Uwe Gensheimer was higher than to be victorious on international ground. Due to the schedule we have, we have to rotate to save powers, was his regular statement, why he left his top stars such as Andy Schmid or Gensheimer out in several Champions League matches. And finally, Löwen had to shiver until the last attack of the group phase, when Kielce beat Szeged, not to finish on the fifth position and to face their German rivals Kiel in the Last16. Now they duel with Zagreb, knowing about the home strengths of the Croats. The decision, which team will make it to the quarter-finals, will be taken in the Zagreb arena, says Jacobsen. Playing hall SAP Arena Xaver-Fuhr-Str Mannheim Germany Capacity: 12,900 Club Address: Rhein-Neckar Löwen Mollstraße 49a Mannheim Germany In between, he had to struggle with injuries of Gensheimer (Achilles) and the broken leg of German international Patrick Groetzki. Besides, Löwen already had four different goalkeepers during this season, as Darko Stanic left early to Qatar, followed by an intermediate signing of Richard Stochl. Now Mikael Apelgren and Borko Ristovski are the ones between the posts. In Bundesliga, they top the ranking, but are equal with Kiel, in the German Cup Löwen will face Flensburg in the semi-final and in case they make it to the Champions League quarter-finals, they will face Paris Saint-Germain - so they fear that another season ends without any title. GROUP B Final Table: 1. FC Barcelona Lassa :372 (51) KS Vive Tauron Kielce :399 (26) HC Vardar :373 (43) Rhein-Neckar Löwen :353 (16) MOL-Pick Szeged :390 (14) Montpellier HB :413 (-41) 7 7. IFK Kristianstad :437 (-28) 7 8. KIF Kolding Kobenhavn :429 (-81) 4 Media contact: Christopher Monz monz@rhein-neckar-loewen.de Online information: Website: Facebook: rnloewen Kit colours Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: yellow Goalkeeper shirt: red/white Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: red/green Group Phase results: (W - win, D - draw, L - loss) vs FC Barcelona Lassa W22:21 KIF Kolding Kobenhavn W18:30 (8:12) vs KS Vive Tauron Kielce D32:32 HC Vardar L25:19 (11:10) vs MOL-Pick Szeged W30:25 IFK Kristianstad L32:29 Montpellier HB W28:30 (15:16) vs Montpellier HB W25:21 (16:10) vs IFK Kristianstad W29:20 MOL-Pick Szeged L30:24 (14:12) vs HC Vardar W28:27 KS Vive Tauron Kielce L28:27 (12:10) vs KIF Kolding Kobenhavn W24:20 FC Barcelona Lassa L26:20 (11:10) Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2015/16 season): 7 Semi-final (2): 2008/09, 2010/11 Quarter-final (2): 2009/10, 2013/14 Last 16 (1): 2014/15 Qualification (1): 2011/12 Other Cup Winners Cup: Runners-up 2007/08 EHF Cup: Winners 2012/13, Semi-finals 2011/12, Quarter-finals 2006/07 German league: none German Cup winner: none 64

65 Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) Biggest win: 40:25 (19:10) v Chambery Savoie HB FRA (h), :24 (20:10) v HC Bosna BH Gas BIH (a), :22 (19:11) v Chambery Savoie HB FRA (h), Biggest defeat: 37:23 (20:8) v THW Kiel GER (a), Longest winning run: 5 matches ( ) Longest unbeaten run: 8 matches ( ) 8 matches ( ) Longest losing run: 3 matches ( ) Longest run without win: 4 matches ( ) Most goals: 40 v Chambery Savoie HB FRA 40:25W (h), Most goals opponent: 38 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 38:38D (h), Most goals both teams: 76 v FC Barcelona Borges ESP 38:38D (h), Fewest goals: 22 v FC Barcelona Lassa ESP 22:21W (h), Fewest goals opponent: 17 v St. Petersburg HC RUS 31:17W (h), Fewest goals both teams: 43 v FC Barcelona Lassa ESP 22:21W (h), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage 2008/09 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER : :8 1/2-finals 2009/10 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER : :8 1/4-finals 2010/11 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER : :14 Fourth Place 2013/14 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER : :8 1/4-finals 2014/15 Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER : :12 Last 16 Total :

66 Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) Team roster No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Weight 26 Michal Abt GER Line Player Heidelberg, GER Rafael Baena Gonzalez ESP Line Player Estepa, ESP Kim Ekdahl du Rietz SWE Left Back Lund, SWE David Ganshorn GER Line Player Mannheim, GER Uwe Gensheimer GER Left Wing Mannheim, GER Marvin Gerdon GER Right Wing Speyer, GER Patrick Groetzki GER Right Wing Pforzheim, GER Gedeon Guardiola Villaplana ESP Line Player Petrer, ESP Max Haider GER Line Player Heidelberg, GER Rico Keller GER Left Back Heidelberg, GER Stefan Kneer GER Left Back Bühl, GER Mads Mensah Larsen DEN Centre Back Holbæk, DEN Hendrik Pekeler GER Line Player Itzehohe, GER Alexander Petersson ISL Right Back Riga, LAT Harald Reinkind NOR Right Back Trondheim, NOR Andre Schmid SUI Centre Back Horgen, SUI Stefan Rafn Sigurmannsson ISL Left Wing Hafnarfjördur, ISL Marius Steinhauser GER Right Wing Karlsruhe, GER Borko Ristovski MKD Goalkeeper Skopje, MKD Mikael Appelgren SWE Goalkeeper Uddevalla, SWE Marco Bitz GER Goalkeeper Schwetzingen, GER Nikolaj Jacobsen coach new face on the Löwen bench since 2014 as his predecessor Gudmundur Gudmundsson became Danish national team coach coached Viborg, Bjerringbro (both as an assistant) and Aalborg in the past, steering Aalborg to a surprising title and the CL in 2013 six league titles and seven cup titles in Denmark and Germany during his playing career TV expert in 2007 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2002, 2004 (as player) 66

67 Mikael Appelgren goalkeeper arrived from MT Melsungen last summer as successor of Niklas Landin was supposed to build the goalkeeper duo with Darko Stanic, but the Serb left to Qatar, so now he shares the job with Borko Ristovski was part of Sweden s EURO squad in Poland, as number 2 behind Mattias Andersson was from the number of saves the best Bundesliga goalkeeper in the 2013/14 and the 2014/15 seasons EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 Uwe Gensheimer left wing born in Mannheim, he is the 100% local hero playing for his club since 2003 his talent discovered early as he became Junior European champion in 2006, one year later awarded MVP at the Junior WCh in 2011 and 2012 German player of the year top scorer of 2010/11 CL season declined offers from Kiel and Barcelona Kim Ekdahl Du Rietz left back despite the huge competition at left back in the previous seasons, the Swede became number 1 arrived in Mannheim in 2012 from Nantes after beginning his career at Lugi Lund made his first league debut at the age of 16 important part of the Löwen defence as well, but famous for his long-range shots in the attack particularly large shoe size of 51 Mads Mensah Larsen centre back started his international career at AG Kobenhavn & made it to the 2012 VELUX EHF FINAL4 became Danish champion for the second time at Aalborg, where he firstly was coached by Nikolaj Jacobsen, when Jacobsen became Löwen coach in 2014, he followed him to Mannheim was U20 EHF EURO champion with Denmark his father is from Ghana, his mother Danish EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 OG: S 2012 WCh: S 2013, EHF EURO: S 2014 Andre Schmid centre back five-time Swiss handball player of the year played for both Zürich clubs Grasshoppers and ZMC Amicitia until 2009 joined Löwen after one season with Bjerringbro-Silkeborg key in attack both as playmaker and as shooter best Bundesliga player in the 2013/14 season EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 WCH G 2013 EHF EURO B 2014, EHF Cup winner 2013 EURO: S 2016 Gedeon Guardiola Villaplana line player defence boss of Löwen as the successor of Oliver The Rogg Roggisch arrived in Mannheim in 2012 with his twin brother Isaias, who then left to Aalborg in 2014 played at Logrono and San Antonio before he joined Löwen had been a karateka in his younger days when scores for Löwen, the whole arena shouts Ole! Alexander Petersson right back born in Latvia, took over Icelandic citizenship and became an Olympic silver medallist in 2008 and EHF EURO bronze medallist in 2010 moved to Germany in 2003, playing for Düsseldorf, Großwallstadt, Flensburg-Handewitt, and Füchse, before transferring to RNL in 2012 more a playmaker on the right back position but is also strong in man-to-man-actions member of the 2011 WCh All Star Team and the most experienced player of Löwen Patrick Groetzki right wing born in Pforzheim only a few kilometres away from Mannheim right after ending his youth career he switched to Löwen and became part of the German younger age category national teams MVP and silver medallist of the Men s 20 EHF EURO in 2008 and junior world champion in 2009 key player right after he was nominated for the men s national team for the first time EC trophies: EHF Cup 2013 OG: S 2008, EURO: B 2010 EC trophies: EHF Cup