VELUX EHF FINAL4 2018

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2 VELUX EHF FINAL /27 May 2018 LANXESS arena Cologne Get the full experience - download the app. Title Sponsor Regional Premium Sponsors Partners 2 Official Website

3 Table of contents Draw information VELUX EHF FINAL4 information Media events Media contacts Media accreditation Playing system diagrams - stages and dates Facts and figures ahead of the FINAL4 Potential head-to-head stats HC Vardar Paris Saint-Germain Handball HBC Nantes Montpellier HB 2017/18 current Top scorers All-star team vote 25 years of the EHF Champions League

4 VELUX EHF FINAL4 Draw Event Information The Radisson Blu Hotel, Cologne, 2 May 2018 Draw Programme 12:00 VELUX EHF FINAL4 Finals Draw Event Live TV signal 12:15 VELUX EHF FINAL4 Draw Semi-finals Live TV signal 12:30 Media Interviews Live TV signal Draw Particpants EHF/EHF Marketing GmbH Michael Wiederer, EHF President David Szlezak, Managing Director, EHF Marketing GmbH Henriette Reker, Lord Mayor of the City of Cologne Draw Procedure The four teams qualified from the quarter-finals will be in the pot for the draw. There will be one single pot and no protection of any kind for the teams. The teams will be drawn as follows: Team 1 => Team 3 => Team 2 => Team 4 Semi-finals will be played: Team 1 versus Team 2 / Team 3 versus Team 4 Please note: The order of the semi-final matches will only be finalised after consulting TV partners in the days after the draw. The final playing schedule will be announced by the EHF on its website. About the VELUX EHF FINAL4 The VELUX EHF FINAL4 is the culmination of the European club handball season: a two-day mega sport and entertainment event that has become a must-see for every handball fan around the world. Each year tens of thousands of spectators descend on the LANXESS arena in Cologne, Germany, to watch the stars of the sport and the four best men s teams in Europe compete to decide the ultimate winners of the VELUX EHF Champions League. Introduced in the 2009/10 season, the VELUX EHF FINAL4 has quickly established itself as the European Handball Federation s flagship club event, and one of the leading events on the international sports market, attracting major international partners and sponsors and large worldwide TV audiences. New standards in organisation and entertainment have been set by the team behind the event, led by EHF Marketing GmbH, the European Handball Federation s marketing company. More than just four games over two days, the VELUX EHF FINAL4 is sports and entertainment spectacular. Playing Times confirmed The official playing times for the 2018 edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 have been confirmed. The matches will be played as in previous years at 15:15 and 18:00 hrs on both Saturday and Sunday. The playing order of the semi-final matches will be confirmed only after the draw event. 2,400 tickets available for four clubs Fans of the four teams qualified for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 have in total 2,400 tickets. These tickets will be available to purchase directly from the club itself. 4

5 Returned tickets from clubs go on sale on Thursday The remaining tickets from the allocation reserved for the four participating clubs will be made available from 10:00 hrs on Thursday, 3 May 2018 in the official VELUX EHF FINAL4 ticket shop Tickets are priced at 297 each. This is the last batch of tickets to be released ahead of the event. Tickets, travel and hotel options for French fans Handball fans in France can also purchase tickets and additional travel and accommodation options via the official travel and ticket partner: Hemispheres Voyages; VELUX EHF FINAL4 offers: matchs-final-4-velux-ehf-final-4-cologne-2018 Tickets still available for Opening Party The VELUX EHF FINAL takes place on 26/27 May but the event starts traditionally on Friday evening when thousands of handball fans from all around the world enter the area around the arena and celebrate the upcoming event. The Opening Party ticket-holders can already now look forward to an entertaining run-down. Apart from the four participating teams, there will be several handball celebrities from around the world. In the lobby of the LANXESS arena fans will have a chance to take pictures with the stars or acquire valuable autographs. The tickets for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 Opening Party are available either online or via a ticket hotline +49 (0) One ticket costs 7 euro (plus 2,00 a manipulation fee) and each ticket holder will be eligible to claim one free drink. The reduced tickets are available for five euro. American band Welshly Arms to perform at VELUX EHF FINAL4 The US band Welshly Arms has been revealed as the top music act to perform at this year s season finale, the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne on 26/27 May Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio, the American alternative band s breakout single Legendary captured the globe s attention in Initially igniting Germany after its independent release, the song quickly spread like wildfire across countless influential Spotify playlists. To date, Legendary has accrued more than 45 million Spotify streams and over 1.5 million Shazams. Welshly Arms is the latest in a series of topname music acts to have performed at the VELUX EHF FINAL4. In Cologne, the band will perform their hit Legendary as well as their new single Sanctuary on the final day of the event, Sunday, 27 May just before the release of their new album No Place Is Home on 8 June. They will also keep with FINAL4 tradition and sing their own version of We Are The Champions as the VELUX EHF Champions League 2017/18 winners lift that all-important trophy. Official merchandise collection launches The new merchandising range for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 is being unveiled at the draw for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne on 2 May The collection, developed in conjunction with the official sports outfitter of the EHF Champions League, Salming, will be available to buy online while stocks last as well as at the event itself on 26/27 May 2018 and the Opening Party at the LANXESS arena on Friday, 25 May. Consisting of t-shirts, hoodies and socks for both men and women in a unique VELUX EHF FINAL4 design. VELUX EHF FINAL4 branded socks can be purchased for 8 a pair, t-shirts for 20 and hoodies for 50. Merchandise for both the Women s EHF FINAL4 and VELUX EHF FINAL4 are now available to buy via the official website: merch.ehfcl.com 5

6 GET YOUR GET YOUR MERCHANDISE MERCHANDISE NOW! 6

7 New official app A brand new official event app, offering fans a one-stop-shop of innovative features is now available to download. The app will provide fans with the latest news and videos and exclusive daily prize giveaways ahead of the event. Unique features of the app include a lightshow function, which will enable fans to play their own part in the event s opening shows via their mobile devices; a voting tool for fans will also allow fans both in the arena and watching at home on TV to choose their player of the match. The app is available to download now for ios and Android devices and is a must-have for all fans travelling to Cologne. EHF, SELECT & KINEXON bring iball and ball tracking to VELUX EHF FINAL The VELUX EHF FINAL4 is set to become the first major event in European sport to be played with new tracking technology enabling the distribution of data in real time. At the VELUX EHF FINAL4, all matches will be equipped with the iball capturing information such as ball speed, shot detection, position of the shot and placement of ball on target. In specific: (1) Spectators are able to observe the speed of the ball and the distance from goal for every shot in the game. (2) Further, for broadcasting and digital channels the shot distribution on the field from one team or a specific player will be displayed. (3) Finally, the placement of the ball on the goal of all shots illustrates scoring strategies. Hereby, all information is detected automated and in real-time with both interfaces for broadcasting and digital channels. The SELECT / KINEXON iball and the associated new insights to handball make the efforts of the players more tangible and will result in a significant increase of fan engagement. Europe talks handball business The EHF and EHF Marketing GmbH are to host a new sports business event on Friday, 25 May 2018 in Cologne ahead of the start of the VELUX EHF FINAL4. Taking place one day before the semi-finals of the VELUX EHF Champions League are played in front of almost 20,000 fans in the city s LANXESS arena, the European Handball Talks will bring together experts in sports business, technology and marketing to discuss the latest developments on the handball and sports markets. Taking place in Cologne s Palais Flora, the event will feature several leading experts as keynote speakers and invited panel guests. Topics include brand management and community building in the digital age as well as digitalisation and technology in sport. Media can register here: Tech experts to join first ever hackathon Parallel to the business event, the very first hackathon in handball will take place under the title of the European Handball HackDays. Together with the official data and streaming partner of the EHF club competitions, Sportradar, as well as tracking provider, Kinexon, and digital service agency, Athletia, EHF Marketing is inviting experts and young professionals from various fields including programming, technology, business development and design to work on creative solutions for data usage and visualisation. The winning team will present their ideas on stage at the European Handball Talks. Ticket sale to start for the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2019 The sale of tickets to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in 2019 will start during the final weekend, at the ticket shop in the LANXESS arena. Online ticket sales will then begin in the week after the final tournament in Cologne on 26 and 27 May. 7

8 Get the full experience download the app. The handball world at your fingertip. The official VELUX EHF FINAL4 app unites all important and interesting information about the weekend from the event area to matches, fan activities and much more. Make sure to download it from your App Store starting 2 May 2018 and see what it has to offer. Available on: 8

9 VELUX EHF FINAL4 Media Events Friday, 25 May 2018 Morning/Afternoon Team training: first 15 mins open Various venues in Cologne to the media for filming/photos 12:00-14:00 Media call: each team with five Hotel RadissonBLU, players and coach/manager for Messe Kreisel 3 30 mins for interviews 14:30 European Handball Talks Palais Flora Cologne 18:00 Opening Party: all participating LANXESS arena teams & handball legends attending, trophy photo opportunities Saturday, 26 May :30 EHF Press Conference (TBC) LANXESS arena Media Centre 15:15 Semi-final 1 LANXESS arena 15 minutes after match Post-match press conference: LANXESS arena Media Centre head coach and one player 18:00 Semi-final 2 LANXESS arena 15 minutes after match Post-match press conference: LANXESS arena Media Centre head coach and one player 20:30 Media Get-together Brauerei zur Malzmühle Heumarkt 6, Cologne Sunday, 27 May :30 EHF Press Conference LANXESS arena Media Centre 15:15 3/4 Placement Match LANXESS arena 15 minutes after match Post-match press conference: LANXESS arena Media Centre head coach and one player 18:00 Final LANXESS arena 15 minutes after winners ceremony Post-match press conference: LANXESS arena Media Centre head coach and one player 9

10 Media contacts All media and accreditation questions Media Management TV/radio Management Local Organisation Clubs media contacts Vladislav Brindzak EHF Media and Communications club competitions Tel: brindzak@eurohandball.com JJ Rowland Head of EHF Media and Communications Tel Mob: rowland@eurohandball.com Miguel Mateo Marcellan EHF Marketing GmbH Tel: mateo@ehfmarketing.com Thomas Krämer Stadionwelt kraemer@stadionwelt.de Tel.: Mobile: PSG Handball (FRA) Matthieu Brelle-Andrade mbrelleandrade@psg.fr HC Vardar (MKD) Biljana Crvenkoska biljana@rkvardar.com HBC Nantes (FRA) Kevin Morin kevin.morin@hbcnantes.com Montpellier HB (FRA) Suzy Demonte s.demonte@montpellierhandball. com Media accreditation 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. Requests for media accreditation should be made by Friday 4 May 2018, almost one week after the completion of quarter-final matches. 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 - accreditation.ehf.eu/final4/ 10

11 Opening Party Sei dabei und unterstütze dein Team! Am Freitag, den 25. Mai 2018 ab 18:00 Uhr vor der LANXESS arena in Köln. Die perfekte Einstimmung auf ein unvergessliches Wochenende: Erlebe die Stars des europäischen Spitzenhandballs so nahe wie nie zuvor mit Möglichkeiten für Fotos und Autogramme, musikalischer Unterhaltung und Challenges in der Fan Village. Liveact Ticket-Hotline Eintrittspreis 7,00 Normalpreis 5,00 Ermäßigt 26. / 27. Mai 2018 LANXESS arena Köln Title Sponsor Regional Premium Sponsors Partners 11

12 Group Phase Groups A & B (draw) Season 2017/18 playing system A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 Group Phase Groups C & D (draw) Group Phase KO Matches (no draw) C1 D1 K1 C2 D1 C2 D2 K2 D2 C1 Qualification Tournaments (draw) C3 C4 C5 C6 D3 D4 D5 D6 Qualification Tournaments Group Phase Group A & B only Group A & B only Group A & B and KO Group C & D Group A & B and KO Group C & D Season 2017/18

13 Last 16 (no draw) M1 K1 A2 Quarter-finals (no draw) M6 A1 VELUX EHF FINAL4 Semi-finals (draw) M2 K2 B2 M5 B1 M3 B6 A3 M4 M1 M4 A6 B3 M3 M2 M5 B5 A4 3 rd place match M6 A5 B4 Final playing schedule Last 16 first leg second leg Quarter-finals first leg second leg VELUX EHF FINAL4 26./

14 Facts and figures after the quarter-finals: All numbers you need to know before the VELUX EHF FINAL4 draw Here are the most important facts and figures on the 2017/18 VELUX EHF Champions League season and the history of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne. 0 times a club has defended the trophy at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 since the implementation in the 2009/10 season 1 player can win his third straight trophy in three years: Vardar s Croat Ivan Cupic, who had become VELUX EHF Champions League winner in 2016 with Kielce and 2017 with Vardar. The last players to win the Champions League three times in a row were those of Barcelona s golden generation, which took the trophy five times in a row from 1996 to for the first time neither a German nor a Spanish team at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 and for the first time neither Kiel, nor Barcelona are at the VELUX EHF FINAL4. 1 Jonas Truchanovicius (Montpellier) will be the first ever Lithuanian at the VELUX EHF FINAL4. 2 VELUX EHF FINAL4 debutants are among the four participants: Nantes and Montpellier. 2 players only have won the FINAL4 with two different clubs: Besides Cupic, it is German Tobias Reichmann (THW Kiel in 2010 and 2012, Kielce in 2016). 3 players, who won the Champions League in 2003 with Montpellier, are still on court at Cologne 14 years later: Michael Guigou (Montpellier), Thierry Omeyer and Nikola Karabatic (both PSG). 3 of the four coaches have already won the EHF Champions League: Patrice Canayer (Montpellier/2004), Noka Serdarusic (Kiel/2007) and Raul Gonzalez (Vardar/2017). 4 former or current CL top scorers are still on court in the quarter-finals: Uwe Gensheimer (2016/ for PSG, 2010/ goals, Rhein Neckar Löwen), Mikkel Hansen (2011/12-98 goals for AG Kobenhavn, 2015/ goals for PSG), Kiril Lazarov (2007/08-96 goals and 2005/06-85 goals for Veszprem), Nikola Karabatic (2006/07-89 goals for Kiel). 4 times, teams coached by a Spaniard won the trophy at Cologne: Barcelona (2011, 2015/Xavi Pascual), Kielce (2016/ Talant Dujshebaev) and Vardar (2017/Raul Gonzalez). 5 former or current IHF World Handball Players of the Year are still in competition: Nikola Karabatic (2007, 2014, 2016/ PSG), Mikkel Hansen (2011, 2015/PSG), Daniel Narcisse (2012/PSG), Thierry Omeyer (2008/PSG) and Arpad Sterbik (2005/Vardar). 5 different German clubs qualified for previous FINAL4s: Kiel (6 times), Hamburg (2), Rhein-Neckar Löwen, Flensburg and Berlin (each 1). This year, only two German players are part: Uwe Gensheimer (PSG) and Dominik Klein (Nantes). 7 th appearance at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 for Dominik Klein (6x THW Kiel, 1 x HBC Nantes) and Thierry Omeyer (4x Kiel, 3x PSG). Kiril Lazarov has his sixth appearance (1x Ciudad Real, 1x Atletico Madrid, 3x FC Barcelona, 1x Nantes). 11 of 196 matches since the start of the group phase ended with a difference of ten or more goals, one (Montpellier Flensburg/29:17) in the quarter-finals goals were the biggest margin in this season s quarter-finals, scored by Montpellier against Flensburg (57:45) after a draw in the first leg. 21 matches since the start of the group phase ended by draws, two of them in the quarter-finals: Flensburg Montpellier 28:28 and Skjern Nantes 27: seasons including the current one, Patrice Cannayer is at the helm of Montpellier. 29 CL matches in a row since November 2014, PSG are unbeaten on home ground. 43 matches since the start of the group phase - including three in the quarter-finals - were attended by 5,000 and more fans. 56,37 goals have been scored in average of all 200 matches of the 2017/18 season so far. +60 is the impressive goal difference of Montpellier after 16 VELUX EHF Champions League matches so far. 67 goals in the match PSG Kielce (35:32) was the high score in the quarter-finals. In total, 72 goals was the highest number of goals this season so far - and it occurred twice in the group phase: At Szeged s 37:35 away win at Löwen and at Elverum s 40:32 victory against Bucuresti. 80 goals were scored in the record breaking 2014 semi of Flensburg Barcelona (41:39 after extra-time and penalties) to top this ranking ahead of those 77 goals in the 2016 final Kielce Veszprem (39:38 after extra-time and penalties). 109 matches since the start of the group phase were won by the home teams, including three in the quarter-finals. 245 goals were in total scored at the 2016 edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 to top this ranking and to be highly close ahead of 2014 (244 goals), and 2013 (243). The lowest overall score of a FINAL4 event were 191 goals only in goals were scored by Nantes in their 18 matches so far, while PSG hit 493 times in only 16 matches. 9,500 fans at the match Kiel Vardar was the highest number in the eight quarter-finals. 11,275 goals have been scored so far in this VELUX EHF Champions League season in the qualification tournament, 9911 in the group phase including playoffs, 672 in the Last 16 and 457 in the eight quarter-finals. 15,000 fans in total saw both leg of the quarter-final pairing Kiel Vardar. 42,567 spectators attended eight quarter-final matches, which means an average of 5320

15 Potential head-to-head stats in the EC competitions Montpellier HB HBC Nantes (59:49) 4: HBC Nantes Montpellier Agglomeration HB, EHF Cup Quarter-final 25:26 (13:15) Montpellier Agglomeration HB HBC Nantes, EHF Cup Quarter-final 33:24 (17:9) Montpellier HB Paris Saint-Germain Handball No previous encounters in European competitions Montpellier HB HC Vardar (111:128) 1: Montpellier Agglomeration HB HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League Group C 34:34 (19:17) HC Vardar Montpellier Agglomeration HB, VELUX EHF Champions League Group C 30:26 (18:13) Montpellier HB HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League Group B 25:30 (12:9) HC Vardar Montpellier HB, VELUX EHF Champions League Group B 34:26 (17:17) HBC Nantes Paris Saint-Germain Handball (53:61) 1: HBC Nantes Paris Saint-Germain Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 26:26 (15:14) Paris Saint-Germain Handball HBC Nantes, VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 35:27 (15:13) HBC Nantes HC Vardar (50:53) 2: HC Vardar HBC Nantes, VELUX EHF Champions League Group A 27:23 (14:10) HBC Nantes HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League Group A 27:26 (18:12) Paris Saint-Germain Handball HC Vardar (82:73) 3: HC Vardar Skopje PSG Handball, VELUX EHF Champions League Group C 24:24 (9:12) PSG Handball HC Vardar Skopje, VELUX EHF Champions League Group C 35:25 (15:12) Paris Saint-Germain Handball HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League FINAL4 Final 23:24 (12:11) 15

16 HC Vardar Club Address HC Vardar Marko Savoki BUL 8 mi Septemvri 20 FYR Macedonia Media contact Biljana Crvenkoska biljana@rkvardar.com HC Vardar ROAD TO THE LAST 16 THW Kiel W28:29 (12:14) THW Kiel L27:28 (13:13) Last 16 bye Group Orlen Wisla Plock W22:26 (9:13) HBC Nantes W27:23 (14:10) HC PPD Zagreb W28:21 MOL-Pick Szeged D26:26 (14:13) FC Barcelona Lassa W27:24 IFK Kristianstad W23:26 HC PPD Zagreb W23:29 (10:15) Rhein-Neckar Löwen W30:26 Rhein-Neckar Löwen D21:21 (11:11) IFK Kristianstad W31:15 FC Barcelona Lassa L29:28 (15:14) MOL-Pick Szeged W34:30 HBC Nantes L27:26 (18:12) Orlen Wisla Plock D31:31 (16:16) FINAL STANDINGS GROUP A 1. HC Vardar : FC Barcelona Lassa : HBC Nantes : Rhein-Neckar Löwen : MOL-Pick Szeged : IFK Kristianstad : Orlen Wisla Plock : HC PPD Zagreb : Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white GK shirt: red Dark Player shirt: black/red Player short: black GK shirt: green, black CURRENT TOP SCORERS Timur Dibirov 68 Vuko Borozan 65 Luka Cindric 53 Dainis Kristopans 49 Ivan Cupic 43 Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 12 Winners (1): 2016/17 Quarter-final (3): 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16 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: 4 titles (2012, 2014, 2017, 2018) Macedonian league: 11 titles (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017) Macedonian cup: 12 titles 1616

17 HC Vardar EHF Champions League club records MATCHES Longest winning run GOALS Most goals GOALS Most goals both teams Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run Longest run without win Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams 31:15 (14:8) v IFK Kristianstad SWE (h), :19 (19:8) v FC Barcelona ESP (a), matches ( ) 15 matches ( ) 7 matches ( ) 8 matches ( ) 8 matches ( ) 40 v KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 40:34W (h), v FC Barcelona ESP 41:19L (a), v IFK Kristianstad SWE 38:36W (h), v KS Vive Tauron Kielce POL 40:34W (h), v FC Barcelona ESP 12:26L (h), v IFK Kristianstad SWE 15:31W (h), v FC Barcelona ESP 12:26L (h), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/ /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 2015/16 HC Vardar MKD : :14 1/4-finals 2016/17 HC Vardar MKD : :8 Winner 2017/18 HC Vardar MKD : :9 FINAL4 Total : :

18 Paris Saint-Germain Handball Paris Saint- Germain Handball Club Address Paris Saint-Germain Handball 82 avenue Georges Lafont Paris France Media contact Matthieu Brelle-Andrade mbrelleandrade@psg.fr ROAD TO THE LAST 16 PGE Vive Kielce W28:34 (10:22) PGE Vive Kielce W35:32 (17:15) Last 16 bye Group THW Kiel W22:25 (10:12) HC Meshkov Brest W32:28 SG Flensburg-Handewitt L33:29 (13:14) RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko W32:27 Aalborg Handbold W26:33 (11:18) PGE Vive Kielce W33:28 (18:16) Telekom Veszprém HC W33:28 Telekom Veszprém HC W24:29 PGE Vive Kielce W29:30 (11:15) Aalborg Handbold W31:28 RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko W26:31 (13:17) SG Flensburg-Handewitt W29:21 HC Meshkov Brest L29:28 (19:13) THW Kiel D29:29 (16:11) FINAL STANDINGS GROUP B 1. PSG Handball : Telekom Veszprém HC : SG Flensburg-Handewitt : THW Kiel : PGE Vive Kielce : HC Meshkov Brest : RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko : Aalborg Handbold : Kit colours Light Player shirt: yellow Player short: yellow GK shirt: red Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: red CURRENT TOP SCORERS Uwe Gensheimer 87 Nikola Karabatic 65 Nedim Remili 65 Sander Sagosen 61 Mikkel Hansen 43 Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 6 Runners-up (1): 2016/17 Semi-final (1): 2015/16 (3rd) Quarter-final (2): 2013/14, 2014/15 Last 16 (1): 2005/06 Other EHF Cup: Quarter-finals 2006/07, Last /04 French league: 4 titles (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017) French cup: 2 titles 1818

19 Paris Saint-Germain Handball EHF Champions League club records MATCHES Longest winning run GOALS Most goals GOALS Most goals both teams Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run Longest run without win Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams 42:24 (22:10) v THW Kiel GER (h), :28 (22:12) v THW Kiel GER (a), matches ( ) 10 matches ( ) 4 matches ( ) 4 matches ( ) 42 v THW Kiel GER 42:24W (h), v THW Kiel GER 44:28L (a), v THW Kiel GER 44:28L (a), v Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO 20:26L (h), v Caja Cantabria Santander ESP 26:20L (a), v MVM Veszprém HUN 28:20L (a), v HC Banik Karvina CZE 21:18W (h), v HC Banik Karvina CZE 21:18W (h), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/ /97 PSG Asnières FRA : :10 4th Gr. D 2005/06 Paris Handball FRA : :7 1/8-finals 2013/14 PSG Handball FRA : :13 1/4-finals 2014/15 Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA : :11 1/4-finals 2015/16 Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA : :7 Third Place 2016/17 Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA : :8 Runner-up 2017/18 Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA : :5 FINAL4 Total: : :

20 HBC Nantes HBC Nantes Club Address HBC Nantes 91 rue de la Trocardiere Reze France Media contact Kevin Morin hbcnantes.com HBCNantesOfficiel HBCNantes ROAD TO THE LAST 16 Quarter-finals Skjern Handbold W33:27 Skjern Handbold D27:27 (12:15) Last HC Meshkov Brest W24:32 (14:16) HC Meshkov Brest D28:28 (14:17) Group Phase MOL-Pick Szeged W30:26 HC Vardar L27:23 (14:10) Rhein-Neckar Löwen D26:26 FC Barcelona Lassa L31:25 (13:16) IFK Kristianstad W34:25 Orlen Wisla Plock W30:32 MOL-Pick Szeged W30:33 (15:17 HC PPD Zagreb W28:27 (13:12) Orlen Wisla Plock W32:30 (18:12) FC Barcelona Lassa W29:25 IFK Kristianstad W26:31 HC PPD Zagreb L23:22 (12:8) HC Vardar W27:26 Rhein-Neckar Löwen D30:30 (13:15) FINAL STANDINGS GROUP A 1. HC Vardar : FC Barcelona Lassa : HBC Nantes : Rhein-Neckar Löwen : MOL-Pick Szeged : IFK Kristianstad : Orlen Wisla Plock : HC PPD Zagreb : Kit colours Light Player shirt: white/purple/ gold Player short: white/purple/ gold GK shirt: green or blue Dark Player shirt: black/purple/ gold Player short: black/purple/ gold GK shirt: yellow CURRENT TOP SCORERS Eduardo Gurbindo 74 Nicolas Tournat 68 David Balaguer 65 Dominik Klein 50 Nicolas Claire Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 2 Last 16 (1): 2016/17 Other EHF Cup: runners-up 2012/13, 2015/16, quarter-finals 2013/14 French Cup: 1 title (2017) French League Cup: 1 title (2015) Trophée des Champions: 1 title (2017)

21 HBC Nantes EHF Champions League club records MATCHES Longest winning run GOALS Most goals GOALS Most goals both teams Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run Longest run without win Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams 33:19 (16:9) v Besiktas Mogaz HT TUR (h), :27 (15:13) v Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA (a), matches ( ) 7 matches ( ) 1 match ( ) 1 match ( ) 1 match ( ) 1 match ( ) 1 match ( ) 3 matches ( ) 37 v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 37:31W (h), v Paris Saint-Germain Handball FRA 35:27L (a), v ABC/UMinho POR 35:33W (h), v Naturhouse La Rioja ESP 37:31W (h), v HC PPD Zagreb CRO 23:22D (a), v Besiktas Mogaz HT TUR 33:19W (h), v HC PPD Zagreb CRO 23:22L (a), VELUX EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/ /17 HBC Nantes FRA : :6 1/8-finals 2017/18 HBC Nantes FRA : :10 FINAL4 Total : :16 21

22 Montpellier HB Montpellier HB ROAD TO THE LAST 16 SG Flensburg-Handewitt D28:28 (17:15) SG Flensburg-Handewitt W29:17 (14:9) Last 16 FC Barcelona Lassa W28:25 FC Barcelona Lassa L30:28 (15:14) C+D Elimination Abanca Ademar Leon W24:28 (12:14) Club Address Abanca Ademar Leon W20:19 (13:8) Montpellier HB Group Phase Centre Jean Paul Lacombe Montpellier HC Metalurg W32:22 (19:11) Chekhokie Medvedi W24:28 (13:14) HC Motor Zaporozhye W28:20 (18:13) Media Besiktas Mogaz HT W32:36 (16:20) Suzy Sporting CP W29:33 (11:19) s.demonte@ Sporting CP W33:32 (16:17) HC Metalurg W21:27 (14:16) Chekhokie Medvedi W34:23 (15:11) montpellierhandball.com Besiktas Mogaz HT L28:33 HC Motor Zaporozhye MHB - Montpellier Handball L31:30 FINAL STANDINGS GROUP D 1. Montpellier HB : HC Motor Zaporozhye : Besiktas Mogaz HT : Sporting CP : HC Metalurg : Chekhokie Medvedi : Kit colours Light Player shirt: white Player short: white GK shirt: green, orange, light blue Dark Player shirt: blue Player short: blue GK shirt: green, orange CURRENT TOP SCORERS Valentin Porte 56 Melvyn Richardson 54 Jonas Truchanovicius 54 Vid Kavticnik 53 Michael Guigou 47 Past achievements VELUX EHF Champions League Participations (including 2017/18 season): 20 Winners (1): 2002/03 Semi-final (1): 2004/05 Quarter-final (5): 2000/01, 2005/06, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2016/17 Last 16 (6): 1995/96, 2003/04, 2006/07, 2011/12, 2014/15, 2016/17 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, Quarter-final: 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: 13 titles 22

23 Montpellier HB EHF Champions League club records MATCHES Longest winning run GOALS Most goals GOALS Most goals both teams Biggest win Biggest defeat Longest winning run Longest unbeaten run Longest losing run Longest run without win Most goals Most goals opponent Most goals both teams Fewest goals Fewest goals opponent Fewest goals both teams 46:20 (26:9) v AC PAOK GRE (h), :20 (16:10) v Prosesa Ademar Leon ESP (a), matches ( ) 8 matches ( ) 11 matches ( ) 6 matches ( ) 6 matches ( ) 46 v AC PAOK GRE 46:20W (h), v Kolding KIF DEN 38:29L (a), v Pick Szeged HUN 38:35L (a), v VfL Gummersbach GER 41:37W (h), v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 26:17L (a), v FC Barcelona ESP 24:17L (a), v HC Portovik Yuzhny UKR 26:16W (h), v Fotex KC Veszprém HUN 21:17W (h), EHF Champions League record MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage1994/ /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 1/8-finals 2004/05 Montpellier HB FRA : :6 1/2-finals 2005/06 Montpellier HB FRA : :8 1/4-finals 2006/07 Montpellier HB FRA : :5 1/8-finals 2007/08 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 Agglom. HB FRA : :8 1/4-finals 2011/12 Montpellier Agglom. HB FRA : :12 1/8-finals 2012/13 Montpellier Agglom. HB FRA : :14 5th Gr. A 2014/15 Montpellier Agglom. HB FRA : :14 1/8-finals 2015/16 Montpellier HB FRA : :25 1/8-finals 2016/17 Montpellier HB FRA : :9 1/4-finals 2017/18 Montpellier HB FRA : :7 FINAL4 Total : :161 23

24 Current Top Scorers Current top scorers Rank Player Club Goals 1 Markuss Olsson (SWE) Skjern Handbold (DEN) 88 2 Uwe Gensheimer (GER) Paris Saint-Germain Handball (FRA) 87 3 Andre Schmid (SUI) Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) 83 4 Alex Dujshebaev (ESP) PGE Vive Kielce (POL) 79 5 Mate Lekai (HUN) Telekom Veszprém HC (HUN) 75 6 Michal Jurecki (POL) PGE Vive Kielce (POL) 74 Eduardo Gurbindo (ESP) HBC Nantes (FRA) 74 Bjarte Myrhol (NOR) Skjern Handbold (DEN) 74 9 Dika Mem (FRA) FC Barcelona Lassa (ESP) Momir Ilic (SRB) Telekom Veszprém HC (HUN) Hampus Wanne (SWE) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 70 Kasper Sondergaard (DEN) Skjern Handbold (DEN) Albin Lagergren (SWE) IFK Kristianstad (SWE) 69 Marko Vujin (SRB) THW Kiel (GER) 69 Patrick Wiencek (GER) THW Kiel (GER) Timur Dibirov (RUS) HC Vardar (MKD) 68 Holger Glandorf (GER) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 68 Karol Bielecki (POL) PGE Vive Kielce (POL) 68 Nicolas Tournat (FRA) HBC Nantes (FRA) Valero Rivera (ESP) FC Barcelona Lassa (ESP) 66 Niclas Ekberg (SWE) THW Kiel (GER) Tim Sörensen (DEN) IFK Kristianstad (SWE) 65 Nedim Remili (FRA) Paris Saint-Germain Handball 65 Rasmus Lauge Schmidt (DEN) SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 65 Vuko Borozan (MNE) HC Vardar (MKD) 65 Nikola Karabatic (FRA) Paris Saint-Germain Handball (FRA) 65 David Balaguer (ESP) HBC Nantes (FRA) 65 Anders Eggert (DEN) Skjern Handbold (DEN) 65 24

25 All-star team vote All-star team vote All handball fans can now have their say on the selection of the greatest stars of this season as the All-star team voting opens. The past five editions of the vote generated a great interest and new opportunity to choose the star selection of the European top flight is here again. In its sixth year, the All-star team vote will again ask the fans to cast their online ballots for ten positions - the starting seven plus the best defender, the best coach and the best young player (born in 1995 or younger). There are five nominees in the selection for each position. Players and coaches from 16 clubs and from 15 nations in the current season have been selected. While five members of the 2016/17 All-star team can make it back to the elite company, there are no fewer than 30 new names (60 %) in the nomination list. The vote will be open until Tuesday 22 May 2018 (midnight) and also the media representatives and a panel of experts will contribute to the final selection. The combined choice of all three branches will be announced during the VELUX EHF FINAL4 event in Cologne on 26/27 May Fans participating in the vote can win some interesting prizes including an official semi-final match ball, a signed jersey from one FINAL4 team by the fan s choice and Salming official merchandise for the event. Players have been nominated on the basis of their comprehensive performance throughout the season so far; not just their goal-getting prowess, but also their performance in defence, the number of blocks, assists and reaction in crucial moments during each match. Enter the vote of the VELUX EHF Champions League 2017/18 All-star team here. The players nominated for the 2017/18 season are: Goalkeeper Tibor Ivanisevic (SRB) - Skjern Handbold Niklas Landin (DEN) - THW Kiel Arpad Sterbik (ESP) - HC Vardar Mattias Andersson (SWE) - SG Flensburg-Handewitt Vincent Gerard (FRA) - Montpellier Handball Left wing Uwe Gensheimer (GER) - Paris Saint-Germain Handball Valero Rivera (ESP) FC Barcelona Lassa Timur Dibirov (RUS) - HC Vardar Manuel Strlek (CRO) - PGE Vive Kielce Dominik Klein (GER) - HBC Nantes Left back Markus Olsson (SWE) - Skjern Handbold Michal Jurecki (POL) - PGE Vive Kielce Vuko Borozan (MNE) - HC Vardar Sander Sagosen (NOR) - Paris Saint-Germain Handball Rasmus Lauge (DEN) - SG Flensburg-Handewitt Centre back Andre Schmid (SUI) - Rhein-Neckar Löwen Mate Lekai (HUN) - Telekom Veszprem HC Luka Cindric (CRO) - HC Vardar Miha Zarabec (SLO) - THW Kiel Nikola Karabatic (FRA) - Paris Saint-Germain Handball Line player Bjarte Myrhol (NOR) - Skjern Handbold Patrick Wiencek (GER) - THW Kiel Nicolas Tournat (FRA) - HBC Nantes Julen Aguinagalde (ESP) - PGE Vive Kielce Rastko Stojkovic (SRB) - HC Meshkov Brest Right back Dika Mem (FRA) FC Barcelona Lassa Albin Lagergren (SWE) - IFK Kristianstad Alex Dujshebaev (ESP) - PGE Vive Kielce Holger Glandorf (GER) - SG Flensburg-Handewitt Valentin Porte (FRA) - Montpellier Handball Right wing Rene Rasmussen (DEN) - Skjern Handbold Niclas Ekberg (SWE) - THW Kiel David Balaguer (ESP) - HBC Nantes Blaz Janc (SLO) - PGE Vive Kielce Lasse Svan (DEN) - SG Flensburg-Handewitt Defender Luka Karabatic (FRA) - Paris Saint-Germain Handball Tobias Karlsson (SWE) - SG Flensburg-Handewitt Viran Morros (ESP) FC Barcelona Lassa Timuzsin Schuh (HUN) - Telekom Veszprem HC Ilja Abutovic (SRB) - HC Vardar Young player Dmitrii Santalov (RUS) - Chekhokie Medvedi Halil Jaganjac (CRO) - HC Metalurg Bence Banhidi (HUN) - MOL-Pick Szeged Romain Lagarde (FRA) - HBC Nantes Nikola Bilyk (AUT) - THW Kiel Coach Patrice Canayer (FRA) - Montpellier Handball Ole Norgaard (DEN) - Skjern Handbold Raul Gonzalez (ESP) - HC Vardar Maik Machulla (GER) - SG Flensburg-Handewitt Thierry Anti (FRA) - HBC Nantes 25

26 Timeline Number of goals Number of matches Number of spectators 242, , , , , , ,700 5,181 60, ,000 4,871 4,942 4,973 4,805 4,907 3,822 3,827 3, ,055 5, ,030 7, /11/1991 EHF founded 29/08/1993 first EHF CL match (qualification): Pelister Bitola (MKD) Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO) 1993/1994 group phase with eight teams in two groups, followed by a final 1993 EHF takes over all the club and national team competitions including the former IHF European Champions Cup renaming it to the EHF Champions League 26/04/1996 Thomas Svensson defends the title as the first player after repeating his Elgorriaga Bidasoa 1995 success with FC Barcelona 1996/1997 group phase with 16 teams, quarter- and semi-finals added 1997 first official website launched 26 April 2002 Olafur Stefansson scores 16 goals against Fotex Veszprém in two final legs to lead SC Magdeburg to the title as the first non-spanish team in history marketing, TV, media, organisation competition and players 2003/2004 group phase with 32 teams, Last 16 added

27 882, , ,647 7, ,550 8, ,850 8, ,500 9, ,889 9, ,196 9, ,418 9, , ,349 9,201 9, ,883 9, ,251 8,989 11,522 11, EHF Marketing founded, the EHF s daughter company dealing with the marketing rights of the CL 2006 introduction of the blue lagoon and black Gerflor flooring system 2006/07 29/04/2007 Andrei Xepkin raises the trophy for the alltime record seventh time group matches (32 teams) followed by main round (16) and semi-finals /08 group matches(32 teams) followed by main round (16) and semi-finals first match streamed live on ehftv.com 30/05/ /10 group phase (24 teams) followed by Last 16; first FINAL4 event THW Kiel win the premiere VELUX EHF FINAL4 07/09/2010 contract signing with the VELUX Group, the title sponsor /12 new corporate identity and new competition s logo 2013/14 a media rights deal signed with MP Silva 31/05/2013 first opening party at the FINAL4 takes place at the LANXESS arena with over 5,000 fans celebrating 2014/15 Kiril Lazarov becomes the first player to reach 1,000 goals on the way to the FC Barcelona s eighth title 2012/13 20,000 fans take part in the first All-star team online vote 2015/16 total TV audience of 383 millions spectators /18 sportradar enters the CL matches first use of the goalline and goal-light technology and referees cameras May ,000 likes on the official Facebook page

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