Sola stun CSM, Podravka claim second win

• Podravka celebrated their second win of the season, with Anica Gudelj making 11 saves at a 42 per cent efficiency, while Matea Šošo scored seven goals and made six assists

• Nykøbing's Clara Lerby netted eight times, bringing her tally to 51 goals, just one behind the competition's leading scorer Henny Reistad

• Podravka recorded their biggest win against Nykøbing, having won their previous three encounters by four (28:24), three (31:28) and two goals (25:23), respectively

• Sola celebrated their second Champions League win ever and their first against CSM in three meetings

• Camilla Herrem and Pia Grønstad led the Norwegian side with five goals each, backed by Rikke Granlund's 15 saves at a 43 per cent save efficiency

• CSM's left wing Emma Friis finished as her side's top scorer for the third time this season, netting seven goals to bring her overall tally to 31

GROUP A

CSM Bucuresti (ROU) vs Sola Håndballklubb (NOR) 22:30 (11:14)

H2H: 2-0-1

Top scorers: Emma Friis 7/9 (CSM Bucuresti); Pia Grønstad 5/5, Camilla Herrem 5/6 (Sola Håndballklubb)

CSM did not get the start they had hoped for in front of their home fans, as Rikke Granlund produced a strong opening display between the posts, helping Sola race to a 3:0 lead. The Norwegian side remained in front until Catherine Gabriel began making her mark at the other end, with her saves helping CSM draw level at 7:7 through Emma Friis in the 17th minute. It was during this spell that Sola's limited squad options became apparent, with the visitors having travelled to Bucharest with just 12 players. Despite this, Sola made a strong effort to maintain their lead until half-time, helped by Granlund, who finished the first half with a 48 per cent save efficiency.

There was a glimpse of hope for CSM at the start of the second half, as three consecutive goals brought them level at 14:14, but their first-half problems soon resurfaced. The hosts struggled to find their rhythm in attack, missing numerous chances while their defence also fell short. Sola capitalised with a series of counterattacks and fast breaks, turning a narrow 19:17 lead in the 40th minute into a 22:17 advantage. The Norwegian side never looked back, extending the gap further as CSM's hopes of a comeback started to fade away. The result handed CSM their third defeat of the season and their heaviest so far, while Sola finally celebrated their first win and brought their losing streak to an end.

GROUP B

HC Podravka (CRO) vs Nykøbing Falster Håndbold (DEN) 33:26 (18:13)

H2H: 4-1-4

Top scorers: Matea Šošo 7/9 (HC Podravka); Clara Lerby 8/10 (Nykøbing Falster Håndbold)

Podravka made a strong start on home court, opening a 3:0 lead thanks in part to early saves from Lucija Bešen. Nykøbing had to wait six minutes for their first goal, but once they found their rhythm, they stepped up a gear and narrowed the gap to 7:5. However, their momentum was short-lived, as the Danish side failed to make the most of their seven-on-six play, allowing Podravka to score easy goals and stretch their advantage to four, before moving as many as six goals clear in the first half. With only 13 players in the squad, Nykøbing also struggled with their rotation, and an early red card for Nanna Andersen further reduced their options.

Nykøbing continued to struggle after the break, going scoreless from the 34th to the 41st minute. However, the Danish side refused to give up and gradually found ways through Podravka's defence. They could have narrowed the gap considerably more had it not been for Anica Gudelj, who produced several important saves to keep the hosts at a safe distance. Podravka entered the final 10 minutes with a 28:22 lead and held on to celebrate their second win of the Champions League season, handing Nykøbing their third consecutive defeat.

Main photo © CSM Bucuresti - Ovidiu Stan & Miruna Stan