Summary: Vipers enjoy turnaround win; Ikast fall short
The EHF Champions League Women sets course towards the EHF FINAL4 2024 in Budapest this weekend with the start of the knockout phase. On Saturday, Brest and CSM took important first-leg victories, while reigning champions Vipers joined them on Sunday, along with Bietigheim.
The goal was to do everything we can do. I think we proved that we are good enough for the play-offs as well. We had a chance to win, but we made too many mistakes, and maybe we were too tired at the and to pull off another feat. I hope we can play a similar match in Norway.
We knew that DVSC Schaeffler are a good team with confidence, they are especially good at one on one. We had to fight until the end to win that match. I think we have to play better at home to reach the quarter-finals.
16:21
First timeout of the match, requested by Kasper Christensen, Ikast's head coach. Bietigheim looking more stable right now, with a 9:6 advantage.
16:14
Two successful penalty shots from Bietigheim and it's 7:4 to the hosts. Already four goals from the German international Antje Döll.
16:10
Ikast showing why they had the most goals scored in the group phase (476), but Bietigheim stay in touch so far and even take the lead thanks to Behrend's fast break goal (5:4).
16:08
Seven minutes gone in Germany, Ikast with the third lead so far, 3:2.
16:00
Final match of this weekend's play-offs is under way. Just to add, Bietigheim lost the German cup final against TuS Metzingen last weekend; Ikast remained second in the Danish league after defeating Ajax København.
15:51
Bietigheim have not made it to the quarter-finals before, while Ikast are six-time quarter-finalists. In the group phase Ikast were more successful, finishing third in group B with 21 points. Bietigheim finished sixth in group A with 14 points. This will be their fourth meeting, with both teams winning once and one match ending with a draw.
15:49
Next up, we have the final match of the weekend between SG BBM Bietigheim and Ikast Handbold, teams who have won the second-tier EHF European League in recent years: Bietigheim in 2022 (after beating Ikast in the semi-finals), Ikast in 2023.
15:46
DVSC had a 26:22 lead before completely shutting down in the final stages. Lunde was excellent in the last quarter of the match, finishing with 11 saves in total, while Abbingh and Vyakhireva took most of the responsibilities in attack.
Næs Andersen scored from the wing (27:29), Planeta responded and then the entire final minute was spent with Vipers in possession. Home head coach Szilágyi received a two-minute suspension with 11 seconds to go, but Vyakhireva failed to snatch another goal for the triple reigning champions.
Abbingh scored 13 goals for Vipers out of 15 attempts, while Vyakhireva followed with seven. Szabó netted six times for DVSC, but couldn't quite keep it up it the final 10 minutes. Töpfner, Planeta and Jovovic scored five each.
In the end, Vipers dropped a three-goal lead in the first half, DVSC a four-goal lead in the second before it ended with a slim advantage for Vipers. It should be a tight one in the second leg on Saturday 23 March as well.
15:39 | FULL-TIME
DVSC SCHAEFFLER - VIPERS KRISTIANSAND 28:29
Thanks to a 7-2 run in the final 10 minutes, current champions Vipers head back to Norway with a one-goal advantage from Debrecen.
15:32
And now Vyakhireva finds the net! The scoreboard says 27:28, a 6-1 run from Vipers. Timeout DVSC before we reach the final two minutes.
15:31
Again Abbingh from outside and the score is level, 27:27! Wow. Final three and a half minutes in this match.
15:29
The tide is turning again, DVSC have gone a few minutes without a goal. Lois Abbingh is unstoppable, she scores her 11th (!) goal to make it a one-goal game, 26:25 before Planeta responds with a goal of her own for DVSC.
15:21
Finally, after almost eight minutes Vipers score (26:23). Vyakhireva kept calm from the penalty shot and now the current champions also have two minutes with a numerical advantage.
15:18
Gabriel is on a role right now, saving shot after shot and driving Vipers' players crazy! Czernyánszki then nets her first goal of the day to make it 26:22 to DVSC.
15:16
Phenomenal save from the veteran Lunde. Töpfner from the wing could have put DVSC four goals to the good, but it stays 25:22. On the other side of the court Vipers again fail to make it count. They are now five minutes without a goal.
15:14
Incredibly, DVSC have gone to a three-goal advantage with only the one save from their goalkeepers in the second half so far.
15:11
A few mistakes from Roberts in attack open up an opportunity for DVSC to take their biggest lead of the match, 24:21. Szabó scores two goals in a row to push her tally up to six in total. Timeout Vipers.
15:05
Catherine Gabriel jumps in for Abbingh's penalty shot - and makes a save! She remained on the goal line and guessed the side correctly. It's still all tied in Debrecen (21:21) with 10 minutes gone in the second period.
15:00
Controversial moment. Zoltán Szilágyi has gone mad at the referees for not punishing Anna Vyakhireva with a two-minute suspension after the Russian scored from six meters, but only after her shot hit Gabrijela Bartulovic straight in the head. The Romanian duo Lovin - Stancu assessed that Vyakhireva did nothing wrong, so Vipers took a 20:19 lead.
It's a tussle in the second half as well between two, as it seems, evenly matched teams.
14:55
The action in Debrecen is resumed with three goals in three attacks. DVSC lead 18:17 after Jovovic's fifth goal of the match.
14:47
Here's one of Bartulovic's (ex Besen) saves that helped DVSC reduce the three-goal gap.
14:40 | HALF-TIME
DVSC SCHAEFFLER - VIPERS KRISTIANSAND 16:16
It's all tied in Debrecen after the first 30 minutes, just like the two teams were tied in the group phase in terms of points won.
Vipers enjoyed the biggest lead (12:9) powered by eight goals from Lois Abbingh, but with only three saves from Katrine Lunde.
DVSC fought hard and secured a 16:16 result at half-time following a goal from Petrus from the wing. The hosts expect more from their top scorer Gréta Kácsor who's yet to score a goal. Jovana Jovovic leads the way for DVSC with four goals, Nina Szabó follows with three, while Gabrijela Bartulovic between the posts saved six shots (42 per cent efficiency).
14:31
The pace is pretty high with both teams trying to catch their opponents on the wrong foot in transition. Sure, there are some errors along the way, but the level of grit both teams are showing is admirable. You could literally see and feel the importance of this match.
We're heading into the final five minutes. DVSC have taken the lead, but only shortly (14:13). Vipers are now again in front, 15:14 after a goal from Roberts.
14:26
Knedlikova scores to take Vipers to a three-goal lead for the first time (12:9), but soon enough we're back on level terms, 12:12 and now the guests' head coach Tomás Hlavatý stops the play for a timeout. A couple of saves from Bartulovic enabled this comeback, completed by goals from Szabó, Haggerty and Jovovic. Nine minutes to go in the first half.
14:19
Lois Abbingh is in terrific form. She's already scored five goals, which is half of all Vipers' goals so far. The guests lead 10:8 ahead of the first timeout called by DVSC's head coach Zoltán Szilágyi. His team has combined a few poor attacks so he had to react.
14:14
Vipers survived a tough period with two suspensions (Waade, Knedlikova). Haggerty took immediate advantage of it by scoring for 6:5, but Næs Andersen responded with a beautiful trick shot from the wing. Abbingh then scored again with one player down for Vipers before Jovovic equalised. It's 7:7 now.
14:08
Positive start from Vipers who took a 3:1 lead, but then Szabó scored two out of DVSC's three goals to make it 4:3 to the hosts.
14:05
Tell us what you think below!
14:01
The match is under way and immediately Vipers take the lead through Abbingh's goal.
13:52
The match in Debrecen starts in less than 10 minutes. Just a reminder that our coverage of the game is beginning on EHFTV - geo-restrictions may apply, so also check your local broadcaster.
13:43
This will be the first encounter between DVSC and Vipers, but surely both teams have done their homework in terms of analysing their opponents and preparing in the best possible way.
We've mentioned that Vipers are more experienced, but also they've lost six matches this season, which is as many as in the previous two seasons combined. They have shown certain weaknesses and we'll see if DVSC, who won four of the last five matches in group phase, can take advantage.
The second leg is played in Kristiansand on Saturday 23 March at 18:00 CET.
13:32
And this is what Vipers's goalkeeper Sofie Börjesson expects in Debrecen:
"I think it will be a match with a lot of speed and with enormous pressure in the stands. We have to be disciplined and follow our plan and we have to be ready to run at a high pace for 60 minutes."
13:29
Gréta Kácsor, DVSC's left back and top scorer with 68 goals, reveals the atmosphere in the locker room is terrific.
"We are cheerful because we have just won bronze in the Hungarian cup. I hope the mood will be the same this weekend. Actually it is a celebration for us that we can play against Vipers in the Champions League play-offs. We want to play a close match, then anything can happen."
13:23
Sunday's first match pits DVSC against Vipers.
The Norwegian side have won this competition the last three years, but suddenly find themselves on new territory. This is their first play-off match since 2020/21 when they went on to win their maiden title. In the group phase this season Vipers' form was hot and cold. They finished group B in fourth place with 15 points and now want to prove their worth. They're taking this match seriously, they arrived in Debrecen already on Friday.
On the other hand, DVSC - who have never been this far before - took fifth place in group A with also 15 points. Experience and the know-how, one would agree, is on Vipers' side, but surely the current champions are well aware of the threat Hungarians can pose.
13:12
Also, take a look at the highlights from yesterday's matches.
13:10
On Saturday in MOTW, CSM Bucuresti developed a solid lead before the second leg against Krim Mercator Ljubljana, beating them by six goals.
Brest Bretagne Handball and FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria are separated by only two goals in favour of the French side.
Check out all the details in our day review:
It was a good fight for 60 minutes. We opened the game good but we saw the team of Krim fight all 60 minutes and somehow they put us in trouble. They showed some good individual skill, but we should prepare more in Bucharest that they show more team spirit and play longer attacks.
18:00
Krim take the first attack as the teams throw off.
17:55
Like Brest in the previous game, CSM finished third in their group, while Krim were sixth. Krim were knocked out of the competition by another Romanian side - CS Rapid Bucuresti - last season, so have something to prove here. Whoever wins this tie next week goes on to face Metz in the quarter-finals.
17:45
Next up, it's Match of the Week between Krim and CSM Bucuresti - both clubs are former EHF Champions League champions, and their squads include the two all-time top scorers in the competition, Jovanka Radicevic and Cristina Neagu.
Tune into EHFTV and follow our Instagram stories for all the coverage!
17:38
Some reaction from Allan Heine after that game - let's see if he can find a way to make those changes before next week.
We were not good enough in the start and also the start of the second half, we missed some per cent of our total abilities and we must find these small situations to be better in the next game next week. There’s some individual things when we play against certain players, but also our attack needs to be faster. Every time we play fast and play with good rhythm we make good chances, so we must try to get this in a higher level in 60 minutes.
17:31 | FULL-TIME
FTC-RAIL CARGO HUNGARIA 28:30 BREST BRETAGNE HANDBALL
Despite a timeout after Brest fail to score, FTC fumble their last attack and allow Brest to steal the ball back. Alicia Toublanc scores into the empty net, and Brest take an important, narrow away win in this first play-off. That gives them an excellent opportunity going into the return leg in France and continues their solid season, which saw them win seven games in the group phase to finish third in group A.
FTC showed composure to keep the pressure on Brest, but made a few more mistakes than their opponents which they will want to fix before next week.
17:25
It's a physical end to the game now. Audrey Dembélé is suspended for a third time and earns a red card as a result. As Brest try to score Jenny Carlson and Dragana Cvijic clash; Cvijic is suspended, Carlson goes off for a rest.
Pablo Morel takes a final timeout with 50 seconds to go.
17:22
FTC have left it late to come back, but maybe not too late! Young centre back Petra Simon equalises at 27:27, Kinga Janurik saves Pauletta Foppa's attempt on goal, and FTC have a chance to go ahead - but Foppa steals the ball, and Alexandrina Barbosa picks up the pass and scores. Brest lead 28:27.
17:17
Due credit to the FTC fans, who are singing and cheering loudly every time their team is in attack and showing their disapproval of every decision going against FTC. With just under eight minutes to play, FTC still trail by a single goal.
17:10
Brest's timeout worked wonders and they retake a 25:23 lead, so FTC have a timeout too. "Stay calm in attack," says Allan Heine.
17:08
Halfway through the second half and FTC level the game at 23:23. Pablo Morel calls a timeout; he is calm and measured as he gives his instructions, with Juliette Faure now key in the centre back position.
17:04
Allan Heine has changed goalkeeper again, switching back to Kinga Janurik, but Brest still lead 22:21 after a few errors from FTC. But they came back in the first half - they must have confidence they can do so again.
16:57
We've had a change in goal for both teams, with Blanka Böde-Bíró on for FTC and Katharina Filter in goal for Brest. Filter has had much the better start, and Brest lead again, with a three-goal margin actually their biggest in the game so far.
16:50
Off we go for the second half, and Brest's Jenny Carlson instantly equalises. The Swedish centre back is having a good day today.
16:45
A reminder, if any were needed, of how important Andrea Lekic is to FTC - not only is she their top scorer so far, she's also helping out her teammates at every opportunity.
16:36 | HALF-TIME
FTC-RAIL CARGO HUNGARIA 15:14 BREST BRETAGNE HANDBALL
The play-offs always produce some excellent games, and this one is starting us off right! FTC were a bit slow off the mark but after their timeout have improved in attack and are finding more ways past the Brest defence, helping them into a narrow half-time lead. But Brest have had a good first half too, and one goal is not much.
As the players head off court, Andrea Lekic and Dragana Cvijic are in conversation with Allan Heine, clearly discussing tactics for the second half. Stay tuned!
16:28
Andrea Lekic scores her fifth goal of the game into the empty net, and in doing so surpasses Anita Görbicz's all-time Champions League record of 1,016 goals - Lekic is now in third place in the elite club of players to have scored over 1,000 Champions League goals. More to the point for the here and now, FTC are level with Brest.
16:24
Both goalkeepers continue to have a good day, with five saves each (35.7 per cent) at the 20-minute mark.
Allan Heine calls his first timeout as Brest score for 11:9, and points out there's a lot of passing going on in FTC's attack. "We have to be more fierce," adds Beatrice Edwige.
16:16
Brest just have the upper hand at the moment, scoring more easily and putting up a better defence than FTC to force their hosts into small mistakes. It's 7:5 to the visitors.
16:11
Both sides have been pretty solid so far in defence, keeping the score low - Brest lead 5:3 at 10 minutes.
16:05
There's some incredible talent on the court in Hungary with both clubs having lots of quality in attack and defence. FTC started with Kinga Janurik in goal, while Brest began with Julie Foggea.
As we come through the five-minute mark, it's 2:2.
16:01
FTC throw off and start their quest to get back to the EHF FINAL4.
15:57
There's a good crowd in the Erd Arena to support FTC as they are introduced. The play-offs begin very soon!
15:45
Our coverage of the game is beginning on EHFTV - geo-restrictions may apply, so also check your local broadcaster.
Both teams in the first match are well used to the play-off stage of the EHF Champions League - since the introduction of the format in 2020/21, both Brest and FTC have got at least this far in the competition. Brest made it all the way to the EHF FINAL4 in 2020/21 and to the quarter-finals in 2021/22, but lost in the play-offs last year; FTC reached the EHF FINAL4 final last year, but were knocked out in the play-offs the two previous years.
15:30
This is just the fifth match between FTC and Brest, with Brest holding three wins to FTC's one so far. The biggest margin between the two sides was five goals, when Brest beat FTC 30:25 at home in the 2021/22 group phase, so this should be a close one.
Brest have announced their squad for the game, choosing to bring three goalkeepers.
15:15
The play-offs are scheduled so you can focus on one match at a time, and we start at 16:00 CET with FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria against Brest Bretagne Handball. Later today, it's MOTW between Krim Mercator Ljubljana and CSM Bucuresti.
Find out all the key facts about the weekend in the round preview!
15:00
Goodbye group phase, hello knockout stage! Welcome to the live blog for the first leg of the play-offs in the EHF Champions League Women.
This and next weekend, eight teams are battling it out for the remaining four spots in the quarter-finals and to get one step closer to the EHF FINAL4 on 1/2 June.
Here is how the Golden Road to Budapest looks like:
