Media Guide Women’s EHF Champions League Season 2015/16 Quarter-finals Table of contents

Map of participating clubs 4

Foreword 5

Women’s EHF Champions League Information 6

Media contacts - EHF/M, clubs contacts 7

2014/15 Seeding list 8

2014/15 Playing system diagram - stages and dates 9

Road to the Women’s EHF FINAL4 10

Women’s EHF FINAL4 stays in Budapest until 2016 11

Important regulations - ranking of teams 12

Facts & Figures 13

CSM Bucuresti vs Rostov-Don 14

HCM Baia Mare vs Buducnost 23

HC Vardar vs Larvik 32

FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria vs Györi Audi ETO KC 41

Extended women’s coverage on ehfTV 51

Top scorers after Main Round 52

Past winners 53

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140917_UNQ_Handball_A4.indd 1 9/18/14 14:29 PM RUS Rostov-Don, ROU Ankara WOMEN‘S EHF FINAL4 EHF FINAL4 WOMEN‘S ROU Host City Budapest, HUN Budapest, City Host Lublin, POL Lublin, MKS Selgros MKS HCM Baia Mare, CSM , CSM BNTU BelAZ BNTU Yenimahalle BSK, TUR BSK, Yenimahalle Minsk Reg., BLR Minsk Reg., Hungaria, HUN Hungaria, FTC-Rail Cargo FTC-Rail Györi Audi Györi ETO KC, HUN KC, ETO WHC Radnicki Radnicki WHC Kragujevac, SRB Kragujevac, MKD HC Vardar, HC Vardar, SWE IK Sävehof, IK Sävehof, MNE Buducnost, Buducnost, NOR Glassverket, NOR Vegeta, CRO Vegeta, HC Podravka Larvik HK, Larvik DEN Esbjerg, Team DEN RK Krim FC Midtjylland, Midtjylland, FC Mercator, SLO Mercator, Hypo SERCODAK SERCODAK Dalfsen, NED Dalfsen, GER Niederösterreich, AUT Niederösterreich, Thüringer HC, Thüringer Fleury Loiret Fleury , FRA Teams eliminated in qualification eliminated Teams Matches in Group eliminated Teams in Main Round eliminated Teams teams Quarter-final 4 WOMEN‘S EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WOMEN‘S Season 2015/16 Season Foreword

Dear media representative,

As we count down to the 2016 WOMEN’S EHF FINAL4 in Budapest on 7/8 May 2016, the next exciting phase of the WOMEN’S EHF Champions League is upon us. There are 92 matches behind us and what remains is a great interfusion of contenders with eight teams from six countries: Hungary, , FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, and Russia. The only hurdle standing between the teams and their ticket to Budapest is the quarter-final.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome two newcomers who made it all the way to the quarter-finals in their maiden season among the Europe’s elite. What makes the debut of Rostov-Don even more impressive is the fact that the Russian champions are the only unbeaten team in the competition. They lock horns with fellow novices CSM Bucuresti and no matter what the final aggregate score will be, we can already now welcome one newcomer at the season’s ending tournament in the Hungarian capital.

The second Romanian team HCM Baia Mare turned out to be the most positive surprise of the main round despite their poor performance in the group matches earlier this season. For the second straight year Baia Mare qualified to the top eight despite starting the main round with zero points. But their prospects of further gains in this season are not guaranteed as they have to deal with the defending champions Buducnost.

Both Larvik and Vardar were part of the last year’s edition of the WOMEN’S EHF FINAL4, but only one of these rivals will have the privilege of descending upon the Papp Laszlo Budapest Sportarena as they face each other in another merciless quarter-final clash.

After missing a Hungarian team at the 2015 tournament we can look forward to welcoming a home team again. But who will wear the bragging rights of being the chosen one to represent Hungarian women’s handball on home court? Will it be Györ or their arch rivals from Ferencvaros, who shockingly stunned the 2013 and 2014 winners in the final of the domestic league last season?

With any constellation of the final four teams we dare say that handball fans, both in the arena and in front of the TV screen, are bound to witness the most exciting WOMEN’S EHF FINAL4 ever.

With the teams paired off, the first leg begins in Bucharest on 31 March and the four finalists will be known on Sunday 10 April.

We wish all the teams the best of luck in their upcoming quests and to all fans in the arenas many exciting moments.

Sporting wishes.

Jean Brihault EHF President

5 EHF Champions League information

New ways to follow the Women’s EHF Champions League Team line-ups and match reports can be viewed by clicking on a particular match on the eurohandball.com or ehfCL.com websites. The live stream on ehfTV.com is not the only way fans can follow the The online system is also under further development with the action. ultimate aim being to provide live scores and statistics from EHF competitions and to be available on the EHF website. The EHF Live Ticker tracks the scores of all matches. Every goal, missed shot and yellow card will be documented and live statistics Accreditation for Main Round made available online for the first time at this stage of Europe’s elite club competition. The written media and photographer’s accreditation procedure in the Main Round is entirely in the responsibility of the participating clubs. EHF Live launched TV and Radio accreditations are subjects to approval by EHF The EHF’s social media channels provide a very different view of both Marketing GmbH – please contact Miguel Mateo Marcellán. men’s and women’s premier continental competition. Online information As well as the coverage on the EHF Champions League Facebook page and Instagram reserved typically for the final weekends of major ehfCL.com competitions, on two new channels. ehfTV.com Regulations of the Women’s EHF Champions League This season fans can follow the @EHF_Live Twitter account to keep up Twitter:@ehfmedia , @ehfcl to date with all aspects of the event and add EHF_Live on Snapchat Facebook: ehf.champions.league for a behind the scenes look.

Online match reports Official name

From the opening matches of the season, the complete team line-up The official name of the competition is: Women’s EHF Champions is available online at eurohandball.com and available to download League. The full name of the competition should always be used. as a PDF document. The change has been made possible thanks to the introduction of a new online solution, which sees the EHF match Please note: If the season is required, it has to be positioned after delegate complete the final team line-up immediately after the “Champions League” e.g. Women’s EHF Champions League 2013/14. technical meeting. This development means that team line-ups are The wording “Champions League” should be written with a capital available for commentators and reporters hours before each match letter at the beginning of each word, i.e. Champions League. The throws-off. remaining letters should be in lower case. The word Champions does not have an apostrophe after the ‘s’. A further change means that a short time after each match, a completed match report is also available online with details such as goal scorers and number of spectators.

6 EHF/M Media contacts

Media matters TV and Radio

Vlado Brindzak Miguel Mateo Marcellan Media and Communications Media Manager European Handball Federation EHF Marketing GmbH +43 1 80 151 161 +43 1 80 151 224 [email protected] [email protected]

Main Round Clubs – Media contacts

CSM Bucuresti Rostov-Don Constantin Caliman Maksim Shchennikov +40 721 800304 +7 918 5207625 [email protected] [email protected]

HCM Baia Mare Buducnost Ramona Ioana Pop Milos Pavicevic +40744839987 +382 682 226 66 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

HC Vardar Larvik HK Ivana Stojanovska Per Christian Andersen +389 71 247 218 +47 479 38800 [email protected] [email protected]

FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria Györi Audi ETO KC Andrea Pordán Andrea Szilagyi +36 20 365 8263 +36 70 394 95 96 [email protected] [email protected]

7 WOMEN'S EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2015/16 Qualification Tournaments Group Matches Main Round Quarterfinals FINAL4 Tournaments 4 groups with 4 teams 12 teams 8 teams 4 teams 16.-18.10.2015 (1) 08.-10.01.2016 (1) 12./13.09.2015 23.-25.10.2015 (2) 15.-17.01.2016 (2) 01.-03.04.2016 07./08.05.2016 tournaments 30.10.-01.11.2015 (3) 05.-07.02.2016 (3) first leg tournament played in semi finals 06.-08.11.2015 (4) 12.-14.02.2016 (4) and finals 13.-15.11.2015 (5) 19.-21.02.2016 (5) 08.-10.04.2016 NATION in one venue 20.-22.11.2015 (6) 26.-28.02.2016 (6) second leg in Budapest DRAWS: 26 June 2015 in Vienna/AUT 26 June 2015 in Vienna/AUT no draw no draw 12.04.2016 1 HUN 1 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 2 MNE 1 Buducnost 3 NOR 1 Larvik HK 4 DEN 1 FC Midtjylland 5 MKD 1 HC Vardar 6 SLO 1 RK Krim Mercator

7 ROU 1 CSM Bucuresti 8 GER 1 Thüringer HC 9 RUS 1 Rostov-Don 10 SWE 1 IK Sävehof 11 AUT 1 Hypo Niederösterreich 12 CRO 1 HC Podravka Vegeta 13 FRA 1 Fleury Loiret Handball 14 POL 1 MKS Selgros Lublin 15 HUN 2 Györi Audi ETO KC 16 DEN 2 17 NOR 2 Glassverket

18 ROU 2 HCM Baia Mare the of team placed 4th and 3rd 2nd, 1st, 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed team from each group group each from team placed 3rd and 2nd 1st, 19 BLR 1 HC BNTU-BelAZ Minsk Round Main League Champions EHF WOMEN'S 20 NED 1 Sercodak Dalfsen Qualification Qualification 21 SRB 1 WHC Radnicki Kragujevac tournaments Winners of the 2 4 Winners of WOMEN'S EHF Champions League Quarterfinals League Champions EHF WOMEN'S of Winners 4 22 TUR 1 Ankara Yenimahalle BSK

2 groups with 4 teams

4th placed teams of CL Qualification Tournaments go to Cup Winners' Cup Rd 2, 2nd and 3rd placed teams of CL Qualification Tornaments go to Cup Winners' Cup Rd 3

status: 23.06.2015 vs. vs. vs. vs. Place Match Place rd Final Semi-nals 3 FINAL4 07. / 08.05.2016 FINAL4 1 2 1 2 vs. vs. vs. vs. 4 3 Quarter-nals Quarter-nals rst leg rst 01. - 03.04.2016 second leg 08. - 10.04.2016 3 6 Main Round 08. - 10.01.2016 15. - 17.01.2016 05. - 07.02.2016 12. - 14.02.2016 19. - 21.02.2016 26. - 28.02.2016 Main Round Season 2015/16 playing dates playing Season 2015/16 Group Matches Group Home matches Home matches matches Total 3 6 16. - 18.10.2015 23. - 25.10.2015 30.10. - 01.11.2015 06. - 08.11.2015 13 - 15.11.2015 20. - 22.11.2015 Group Matches Group EHF Champions League 2015/16 playing system playing EHF League Champions 2015/16 Women’s Qualication Qualication 12/13.09.2015

9 10 Women’s EHF FINAL4 stays in Budapest until 2016

Following its successful first two editions in Budapest in 2014 and 2015, the Women’s EHF FINAL4 will stay for another year in the Hungarian capital.

Hungarian side Györi Audi ETO KC won the maiden edition in May 2014 in front of 10,000 frenetic fans, while Buducnost dominated one year later.

The agreement which was reached with the Hungarian Handball Federation as organisers sees the event being played in Budapest’s Papp Laszlo Sportarena 2016.

More information at: www.ehfFINAL4.com Media Accrediation for the Women’s EHF FINAL4

The accreditation procedure of media representatives for the Women’s EHF FINAL4 has been launched. Women’s EHF FINAL4 Draw Written media, photographers, TV and radio representatives can now submit their request for The draw for the 2016 Women’s EHF accreditation via an online form. FINAL4 in Budapest will take place on Requests for media accreditation have to be made until Friday 15 April 2016. Friday, 15 April 2016, 11:00 hrs Media accreditation is only open to professional media representatives working at the event. in the VIP Lounge of the GROUPAMA Freelance media representatives may be asked to provide additional evidence of their work. There ARENA in Budapest. are limited places and it may not be possible to accept all requests for an accreditation.

H-1091 Budapest, Üllöi str. 129 Tickets for 2016 Women’s EHF FINAL4 on sale Players will be involved in media activities following the draw. Coinciding with the event’s 200 days to go-mark, tickets for the 2016 edition of Women’s EHF FINAL4 in Budapest went on sale on 18 October 2015. Up to 12,000 spectators will be able to follow the showpiece event on 7/8 May 2016 in the Hungarian capital’s Papp László Budapest Sportaréna.

Tickets can be purchased via the official website, www.ehfFINAL4.com . All tickets are valid for both playing days.

Ticket prices: Category 1: 39,990 HUF (approx. 130 €) Category 2: 27,990 HUF (approx. 90 €) Category 3: 19,990 HUF (approx. 65 €)

Category 4 tickets at 9,900 HUF (approx. 35€) will go on sale at a later stage.

15 per cent ticket discount for clubs

The Hungarian Handball Federation and EHF Marketing GmbH, as organisers of the WOMEN’S EHF FINAL4, have come up with a special offer for clubs and federations to turn a visit to the showpiece event in women’s club handball into a true team happening.

If 15 tickets or more are being bought in bulk, a discount of 15 per cent applies to all tickets.

This means that Category 1 tickets are available for 33,900 HUF / €110 (regular price 39,990 HUF / €130), and Category 2 tickets cost 23,800 HUF / €76 (27,990 HUF / €90) and Category 3 tickets cost 16,990 HUF / €55 (19,990 HUF / €65).

Ticket requests shall be sent to [email protected]

11 Important regulations

Scoring of the matches and ranking

General The goalkeepers may be freely selected from the match report and All matches of the WOMEN’S EHF Champions League shall be exchanged in accordance with the Rules of the game. Goalkeepers played in 2 x 30 minutes with a half-time break of 10 minutes. The may take throws and throwers may play as goalkeepers. EHF reserves the right to extend the half-time break in special circumstances to 15 minutes. The referees shall choose the goal at which throws are taken. The team taking the first penalty throw shall be determined by the The matches shall be scored as follows: a) win = 2 points b) draw = 1 referees by drawing lots. The team winning the draw may choose point c) loss = 0 points whether it wishes to throw first or last.

Teams’ rankings are obtained by adding up the number of points won. If scores are equal after the first round of penalty throwing, it shall be continued until a decision is reached. In the second round, the other Quarter-finals team shall start. Again five players shall be named who are eligible to play (the players named before may be If, after completion of the two matches, both teams have won the named once again). same number of points (no extra time will be played), the teams’ standings shall be determined by the following criteria: In the second round, a decision is reached when a goal difference a) goal difference arises after both teams have taken one throw each. b) greater number of plus goals scored in away match c) penalty throws Eligible players are players entered in the match report who have not been disqualified or suspended at the time of the final whistle. RULES FOR EXECUTION OF PENALTY THROWS Serious infractions committed during penalty throwing shall be Prior to penalty throwing, each team shall name five players eligible sanctioned by disqualification. If a thrower is disqualified or suffers an to play at the end of the match by handing the referees a list of injury, an eligible substitute player shall be named supplementary. numbers. These players shall then take one throw each, alternating with their opponents. Each team is free to While the throws are being taken, only the player taking the throw, determine the sequence in which throwers will take their throws. the current goalkeeper and the referees may enter the respective half of the playing area.

If the number of eligible players falls below five, players may be named to take a second throw in the same round.

12 Facts and figures of the group matches Unbeaten Rostov, high-scoring FTC and fan favourites Györ

Eight teams from six countries advanced to the quarter-finals, the defending champions‘ defence impressed and one team is still 15 main round matches were attended by 3,000 or more unbeaten after 12 matches this season: these are just some of spectators. the most important facts and figures after the main round of the Women’s EHF Champions League. 17 goals were the biggest final margin in the main round matches, when Rostov beat Fleury 38:21. Due to the composition of the quarter-finals, it is confirmed already that at least one 2015 MVM EHF FINAL4 participant (Larvik 22 times in the 36 main round matches, the home team was the or Vardar), one debutant (Rostov or Bucuresti) and a team from winner, ten times in Group 1 and 12 times in Group 2. Hungary (Györ or FTC) will make it to Budapest, where the final tournament will be staged on 7/8 May. 35 goals in the match Fleury vs Baia Mare (17:18) was the overall low-score of the main round. 0 points were taken by Thüringer HC in their six main round matches, the worst record of the 12 teams. +53 was the best overall goal difference, recorded by Buducnost with all ten respective matches taken into account (four group 0 team won all matches so far, but Russian champions Rostov were matches, six main round matches). closest to the clean record with eleven wins and one draw against FTC in their overall balance. 68 goals scored in the match Larvik vs FTC (37:31) was the highest scoring match of the main round. 1 club is represented in both knockout stages of VELUX EHF Champions League and Women’s EHF Champions League: 83 goals by Nora Mork (Larvik) sent her to the top the scorers list. Macedonian champions HC Vardar. 211 goals conceded by Buducnost in all respective ten matches was 1 of 36 main round matches ended with a draw: FTC vs Rostov the best defensive record. (29:29). 282 goals scored by FTC in all respective ten matches was the best 2 Champions League debutants made it to the quarter-finals: attacking record. Rostov and Romanian champions CSM Bucuresti, who will face each other for a spot in Budapest. 4,918 spectators in average attended Györ’s three main round home matches 2 teams arriving from qualification tournaments (out of two) have qualified for the quarter-finals: Györ and Baia Mare. 5,200 spectators at the match Györ vs Buducnost was the highest main round attendance. 3 former champions, with a combined five trophies, are still in the race for the 2015/16 title: Buducnost (2012, 2015), Györ (2013, 10,220 fans in total saw both duels of Györ and Buducnost. 2014) and Larvik (2011). Top 5 lists: 4 main round matches ended with a difference of 10 or more goals. Best attack: 5 quarter-finalists of the 2014/15 season are back in that stage 282 goals: FTC this season: Buducnost, Larvik (both finalists), Vardar (FINAL4 281 goals: Rostov participant), Györ and Baia Mare. 281 goals: Larvik

6 nations are represented by the eight quarter-finalists: Best defence: Hungary, Romania (each 2), Russia, Norway, FYR Macedonia and 211 goals conceded: Buducnost Montenegro. All six nations had already been part of the 2015 230 goals conceded: Györ quarter-finals, when in addition teams from Germany and 237 goals conceeded: Rostov were part of this stage. Best goal difference: 6 main round matches ended with 60 goals or more. +53: Buducnost +44: Rostov 6 main round matches ended with 45 goals or less. +24: Vardar

6 goals scored in one half, by a single team, was the lowest score of Most points (10 respective matches): all 36 main round matches: Sävehof vs Györ (6:13). 19: Rostov (23 in total) 15: Buducnost (19) 13 times the away team was victorious (six in Group 2, seven in 15: Györ (19) Group 1).

13 CSM Bucuresti (ROU) vs Rostov-Don (RUS)

First leg Thursday 31 March, 19:00 hrs. local time (18:00 CET)

Second leg Saturday 9 April, 17:00 hrs. local time (16:00 CET)

There is bound to be a newbie in the Women’s EHF Champions While both teams are at their first ever season in the Women’s EHF League’s Final 4 this season, as CSM Bucuresti will aim to end Rostov’s Champions League, this is not the only resemblance between the unbeaten streak Russian and the Romanian champions. A clash of handball styles is there to be seen, as both Rasmussen and Jan Leslie, Rostov’s coach, There is only one unbeaten team in the European premium are Danish, with a certain Nordic style imprint that could be seen in competition. But for CSM Bucuresti, Rostov’s 12-game streak is only a both of the teams. motivating factor. “The scene is set for a clash of two Danish coaches, who are As a newbie in the European top competition, the Romanian very good and understand handball very well,” said Vladlena champions had their ups and downs, boasting both an impressive Bobrovnikova, Rostov’s left back, for the Russian team’s official 23:23 draw against Buducnost and a disappointing 25:30 defeat on website. their home court against HC Vardar. “Counterattacks will be also very important, therefore we need to However, there is no room for mistake in a crucial double-header be more careful. They have speedy wings, like Managarova, who can against Russian champions Rostov, who are yet to be beaten this take advantage of every mistake”, added Rasmussen, explaining the season, cruising in their domestic championship, adding their 19th win Danish style adopted by Rostov after Leslie took over. on Sunday, 31:26, against Evgeni Trefilov’s Astrahanochka Astrakhan. On the other side, Rostov is at the business end of a near perfect “We are face to face with a powerful opponent. But, on the other season. A rare draw, 29:29, against FTC-Cargo Rail Hungaria, has been hand, we will be crucial actors in this club’s most important game the only blip in 31 matches for the Russian team. ever. So we have to be prepared,” said Kim Rasmussen, CSM’s coach. But the Russian players are preaching caution, as every mistake is set With an impressive attack, the second best in the Main Round, with to be punished in the elimination phase of this year’s competition. 281 goals scored, only one less than FTC-Cargo Rail Hungaria, Rostov are hunting for their first ever FINAL4 berth in the team’s history in “It is the most important match of our lives, it will be a hard one, but their first ever season in the competition. we have to do our best. We will try to win, because CSM does not have a great record at home. And, of course, the fact that we play the “We know how Rostov will play and we are prepared for everything away game on our court means a lot,” concluded Bobrovnikova. they will throw at us. The key of the game will be the defence and how will the keepers do. We have prepared for this every training session,” added Rasmussen.

Head-to-head stats

CSM Bucuresti vs Rostov-Don

No previous encounters in European competitions.

14 4th ranked Group 2 CSM Bucuresti (ROU) A coach change, several injuries and a leaving player were CSM Bucuresti’s biggest challenges during this season. With an already star-studded cast, the Women’s EHF Champions League had another challenger on its hands after CSM Bucuresti won the Romanian National League last season. The newbie’s ambitions were there to be seen after an impressive two-year overhaul of their roster, which saw the likes of Mayssa Pessoa, Ana Paula Rodrigues, Fernanda Franca da Silva, Linnea Torstenson, Isabelle Gullden or Maria Fisker come to the Romanian capital.

While CSM was already boasting an impressive roster, a team has never outgunned their opponents from their first year in the competition. And the Romanian champions had a seesaw performance this season. Exactly one month before the team’s maiden game in the European premium competition, the team’s management decided that Mette Klit’s stint as the CSM’s coach would end, the former Viborg HK assistant being replaced with another Danish coach, Kim Rasmussen.

Therefore, it was no surprise that the season was already an uphill battle, with the team struggling to find a new face. A painful home defeat, 22:28, at the hands of Buducnost, the current title holders, in the group stage was quickly forgotten after CSM snatched a hard- fought draw in Moraca, 23:23, in the away game.

Starting with five points in the second group of the Main Round, CSM had big ambitions against Vardar, Györ and FC Midtjylland. However, the problems began to mount, as Deonise Cavaleiro Fachinello left for Nykobing and Line Jorgensen suffered an injury. Therefore, without a proper right back and with Linnea Torstenson in and out of the lineup after setbacks in her recovery Playing hall from injury, CSM started to falter. Sala Polivalenta Ioan Kunst Ghermanescu B-Dul Tineretului, sec. 4 With only two wins against FC Midtjylland and beaten twice by the Macedonian and Hungarian Bucharest powerhouses, the Romanian champions fell down to the fourth place in the group. A two- Romania legged battle with Rostov-Don awaits, as CSM will have to beat the Russian side for the Capacity: 5,000 first time in this season if they want to progress to the Final 4 in their maiden season in the Women’s EHF Champions League.

Club Address: Calea Victoriei Street no 126 GROUP 2 FINAL STANDINGS District 1 010094 Bucharest 1. Buducnost 10 7 1 2 264:211 (53) 15 Romania 2. Györi Audi ETO KC 10 7 1 2 252:230 (22) 15 3. HC Vardar 10 7 0 3 270:246 (24) 14 Media contact: 4. CSM Bucuresti 10 4 1 5 242:239 (3) 9 Constantin Caliman +40 721 800304 5. FC Midtjylland 10 2 1 7 220:261 (-41) 5 [email protected] 6. IK Sävehof 10 1 0 9 225:286 (-61) 2

Online information: Website: www.csmbucuresti.ro Main Round results: Past achievements Facebook: CSM-Bucuresti-Oficial @ HC Vardar L22:21 (11:11) vs FC Midtjylland W24:22 (10:12) @ Györi Audi ETO KC L28:22 (12:10) Women’s EHF Champions League Kit colours vs HC Vardar L25:30 (11:17) Participations (including 2015/16 Light @ FC Midtjylland W23:28 (12:12) season): 1 Player shirt: yellow vs Györi Audi ETO KC L22:24 (8:14) Player short: yellow Other Goalkeeper shirt: orange Group Matches results: EHF Cup: Last 16 2011/12 Dark vs MKS Selgros Lublin W33:21 (14:13) Romanian league: 1 title (2015) Player shirt: black @ IK Sävehof W28:17 (13:9) Romanian cup: - runners-up 2015 Player short: black vs Buducnost L22:28 (11:15) Goalkeeper shirt: green @ Buducnost D23:23 (12:13) @ MKS Selgros Lublin W30:27 (15:13) vs IK Sävehof W27:22 (13:9)

15 CSM Bucuresti

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: 33:21 (14:13) v MKS Selgros Lublin POL (h), 16.10.2015 Biggest defeat: 22:28 (11:15) v Buducnost MNE (h), 1.11.2015 22:28 (10:12) vs Györi Audi ETO KC (a), 06.02.2016 Longest winning run: 2 matches (16.10.2015 – 23.10.2015) 2 matches (13.11.2015 - 20.11.2015) Longest unbeaten run: 3 matches (8.11.2015 – 20.11.2015) Longest losing run: 2 matches (06.02.2016-21.02.2016) Longest run without win: 2 matches (1.11.2015 - 8.11.2015) 2 matches (06.02.2016-21.02.2016)

Most goals: 33 v MKS Selgros Lublin POL 33:21W (h), 16.10.2015 Most goals opponent: 30 vs HC Vardar MKD 25:30L (h), 16.02.2016 Most goals both teams: 57 v MKS Selgros Lublin POL 30:27W (a), 13.11.2015 Fewest goals: 21 vs HC Vardar MKD 22:21L (a), 09.01.2016 Fewest goals opponent: 17 v IK Sävehof SWE 28:17W (a), 23.10.2015 Fewest goals both teams: 43 v HC Vardar MKD 22:21L (a), 09.01.2016

EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached N/A

16 CSM Bucuresti Team roster

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Goals

14 ROU Left Back 30/07/1997 Slatina, ROU 179 7 15 Aurelia Bradeanu ROU Back 05/05/1979 Slatina, ROU 180 17 81 Deonise Cavaleiro Fachinello BRA Right Back 20/06/1983 Santa Rosa, RS, BRA 180 4 5 Iulia Vasilica Curea ROU Left Wing 08/04/1982 Bacau, ROU 172 7 25 Maria Fisker DEN Left Wing 03/10/1990 Favrskov, DEN 170 22 8 Fernanda Franca da Silva BRA Left Wing 25/09/1989 Sao Bernardo, BRA 177 14 4 Isabelle Gulldén SWE Centre Back 29/06/1989 Sävedalen, SWE 178 80 10 Line Anna Ryborg Jörgensen DEN Right Back 31/12/1989 Hvidovre, DEN 186 30 22 Oana Andreea Manea ROU Line Player 18/04/1985 Bucharest, ROU 176 18 20 Carmen Dolores Martin Berenguer ESP Right Wing 29/05/1988 Almeria, ESP 169 27 18 Maria Cristina Nan ROU Line Player 19/05/1990 Bucuresti, ROU 178 2 77 Elena Magdalena Nicula ROU Centre Back 02/08/1986 bucharest, ROU 165 9 Ana Paula Rodrigues Belo BRA Centre Back 18/10/1987 Sao Luis, BRA 172 47 17 Linnea Torstensson SWE Left Back 30/03/1983 Stockholm, SWE 190 12 13 Cristina Georgiana Varzaru ROU Right Wing 05/12/1979 Bucharest, ROU 169 14 19 Ekaterina Vetkova RUS Line Player 01/08/1986 Syzran, RUS 182 2

84 Mayssa Raquel De Pessoa BRA Goalkeeper 11/09/1984 Joao Pessoa, BRA 180 1 87 Jelena Grubisic CRO Goalkeeper 20/01/1987 Zagreb, CRO 184 1 1 Madalina Ion ROU Goalkeeper 23/02/1996 Bucharest, ROU 180 12 Alina Iordache ROU Goalkeeper 22/03/1982 Bucuresti, ROU 177

Kim Rasmussen coach • started his coaching career in 1990 with the youth teams in his home country Denmark • since 2010 coach of the Poland’s national team steering them to the WCh 2013 semi-finals and to the EHF EURO 2014 (11th place) • had aslo stints with Danish Lyngby and Roskilde or Swedish Stavsten and in the 2014/15 season with HC Vardar for a very short time • hired by CSM just before the start of the 2015/16 season on his 43rd birthday (22 Sep) as a replacement for his fellow Dane Mette Klit

17 Mayssa Pessoa Jelena Grubisic goalkeeper goalkeeper • played in Brazil until she was 27, when she • played with Lokomotiva for eight seasons and five transferred to Issy Paris seasons for Krim • after one year in France, she moved to Dinamo • had her European Cup debut (Cup Winner’s Cup Volgograd and in 2014 signed with Bucharest 2002/03) when she was 15 with Lokomotiva. • her nickname is “Taffarel”, after her idol, one of • joined Györ shortly before the 2014/15 season Brazil’s greatest football goalkeepers to replace pregnant , but got injured shortly after • loves tattoos, having 32 on her body. Her favourite ones are the names of her relatives in • her national team debut was at the World Chinese and the Olympic rings made in London Championship 2007

WCh: G 2013

Maria Fisker Linnea Torstensson left wing left back • fast and has a scoring percentage well above 80% • Bucharest’s leader, a force to be reckoned with both in defence and in attack • started playing handball when she was five • most experienced player and also the most • joined Viborg in 2006 from third league club decorated player from Bucharest’s roster Vissing Hadsten, transferred to Randers HK in 2009, returned to Viborg in 2011 • named the “best Swedish handball player” three times in a row between 2010 and 2012 • in Bucharest shares the position with Brazilian world champion Fernanda Franca da Silva • MVP of the EHF EURO 2010, being the second top scorer, with 48 goals, five less than • her first experience outside Denmark, where she was studying to be a nurse

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2010, Cup Winners’ Cup 2014 EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2014, EHF Cup 2011 WCh: B 2013 EURO: S 2010, B 2014

Isabelle Gullden centre back line player • played for three clubs in her whole career: • in 2008 diagnosed with ventricular extrasystole Savehof, Viborg and CSM Bucuresti and stopped playing for six months • her uncle, Christer, was an Olympic wrestler, • can gather the team behind her, one of the who came close to the bronze medal in 1988, her reasons she has been also named captain both at boyfriend, Swedish goalkeeper Linus Persson plays Oltchim and the national team in CSM’s men’s team • her father, Dumitru, was a former football coach • creative playmaker, also deadly efficient from the at Sportul Studentesc, a first league team 7m line, scoring all 27 goals from as many shots at • make-up is her hobby, consideris to become a the EHF EURO 2014 full-time make-up artist after finishing her career • MVP and top scorer (58 goals) of EHF EURO 2014

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2014 EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2007, Champions Trophy 2007 EURO: S 2010, B 2014 EURO: B 2010, WCh: B 2015

Aurelia Bradeanu Carmen Martin right back/centre back right wing • versatile veteran is in her 16th CL season being • Spanish player started handball when she was one of the most experienced players only 7 years old, in Roquetas del Mar, her hometown • an integrant part of the Romanian national teams • named the best right wing of the EHF EURO 2014, after ranking third in the top scorers • her nickname, “Mika”, is the name of the EHF Euro 2000 mascot, a handball-loving squirrel • reached the CL final in 2011 with Itxako and the semi-final in 2013 with Krim Ljubljana • during her time in Györ, when she was pregnant, the fans came at her door and offered cookies and • loves drama movies, her favourite being “The one even made a bed for her newborn son Notebook”, also listens to a lot of Spanish movies, her favourite song being “Ojitos rojos” by the • finalist in the CL (2009), EHF Cup (2005) and Cup Spanish band Estopa Winners’ Cup (2006)

WCh: S 2005, B 2015, EURO: B 2010 EHF EURO: S 2008, S 2014, WCh: B 2011, OG: B 2012

18 1st ranked Group 1 Rostov-Don (RUS)

So far, Rostov’s season in the EHF Champions League has been great, especially for a debutant. The team coached by Denmark’s Jan Leslie has won nine out of ten matches, and has not lost a single game.

The impressive record came as no surprise since the Russian champion strengthened their squad a lot last summer. Six Russian internationals as well as Norway’s Katrine Lunde, arguably the best goalkeeper in the world, seem to have fit in perfectly.

In the group round, Rostov won all six games in Group A against Larvik, HCM Baia Mare and RK Krim Mercator. Their start was already perfect as Leslie’s team comfortably beat Larvik in Norway (27:21).

The Russian side struggled a bit more in both games against Baia Mare, beating them by just two goals in Romania and by one goal on home court. Still Rostov were able to overcome all obstacles and became the only team in the tournament that had a perfect record after the group stage, six wins in six matches.

And after the main round, Rostov remains the only side in the EHF Champions League that has not lost any games yet. The only point they lost was against FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria in Budapest when the game ended in a draw (29:29). But at home, Rostov beat the Hungarian side, and they took the maximum of points from the matches against Fleury Loiret Handball and Thuringer HC, which allowed them to finish first in Group 1 with 19 points. Playing hall Palace of Sport “ Rostov Don” St. Khalturinsky str. 103 The Danish playmaker , who joined the Rostov’s squad in December, has been 344011 Rostov-Don sidelined until the end of the season due to a serious injury. But still, many experts predict that Russia the Russian side are contenders for going all the way to the EHF FINAL4 in Budapest in May. Capacity: 3,500 GROUP 1 FINAL STANDINGS

1. Rostov-Don 10 9 1 0 281:237 (44) 19 Club Address: 2. Larvik 10 6 0 4 281:263 (18) 12 Rostov-Don 1 Konnoy Army street, 4-a 3. FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 10 5 2 3 282:272 (10) 12 344029 Rostov-on-Don 4. HCM Baia Mare 10 5 0 5 259:247 (12) 10 Russia 5. Fleury Loiret Handball 10 2 2 6 252:283 (-31) 6 6. Thüringer HC 10 0 1 9 244:297 (-53) 1 Media contact: Maksim Shchennikov +7 918 5207625 [email protected] Main Round results: vs FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria W23:21 (13:11) Past achievements Online information: @ Fleury Loiret Handball W22:27 (13:11) Website: www.rostovhandball.ru vs Thüringer HC W30:24 (15:7) Women’s EHF Champions League Facebook: RostovHandball @ FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria D29:29 (15:13) Participations (including 2015/16 Twitter:@rostovhandball vs Fleury Loiret Handball W38:21 (21:12) season): 4 @ Thüringer HC W28:32 (14:15) Qualification (3): 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14 Kit colours Group Matches results: @ Larvik W27:21 (14:10) Other Light vs RK Krim Mercator W35:25 (16:12) EHF Cup: runners-up 2014/15, quarter- Player shirt: yellow-black @ HCM Baia Mare W22:20 (13:10) final 2009/10 Player short: yellow vs HCM Baia Mare W27:26 (14:15) Cup Winners’ Cup: semi-final 2012/13, Goalkeeper shirt: yellow vs Larvik W26:25 (15:14) 2013/14, quarter-final 2010/11 Dark @ RK Krim Mercator W36:31 (18:14) Player shirt: black-yellow Russian league: 4 titles (1990, 1991, Player short: black 1994, 2015) Goalkeeper shirt: dark red Russian cup: 7 titles

19 Rostov-Don (RUS)

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: 38:21 (21:12) vs Fleury Loiret Handball FRA (h), 20.02.2016 Biggest defeat: N/A Longest winning run: 9 matches (17.10.2015 – 13.02.2016) Longest unbeaten run: 12 matches (17.10.2015 – 28.02.2016) Longest losing run: N/A Longest run without win: 1 match (13.02.2016)

Most goals: 38 vs Fleury Loiret Handball FRA 38:21W (h), 20.02.2016 Most goals opponent: 31 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 36:31W (a), 20.11.2015 Most goals both teams: 67 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 36:31W (a), 20.11.2015 Fewest goals: 22 v HCM Baia Mare ROU 22:20W (a), 30.10.2015 Fewest goals opponent: 20 v HCM Baia Mare ROU 22:20W (a), 30.10.2015 Fewest goals both teams: 42 v HCM Baia Mare ROU 22:20W (a), 30.10.2015

EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached N/A

20 Rostov-Don (RUS) Team roster

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Goals

77 Elena Avdekova RUS Left Wing 07/01/1989 Novokuznetsk, RUS 180 9 17 Vladlena Bobrovnikova RUS Left Back 24/10/1987 Krasnodar, RUS 180 28 99 Viktoriya Borshchenko UKR Left Wing 05/01/1986 Herson, UKR 170 27 18 Ekaterina Davydenko RUS Right Back 07/03/1989 Togliatti, RUS 184 12 33 Ekaterina Ilina RUS Left Back 07/03/1991 Togliatti, RUS 175 80 61 Lotte Grigel DEN Centre Back 05/04/1991 Esbjerg, DEN 165 22 Oxana Kiseleva RUS Left Wing 12/07/1988 Krasnodar, RUS 162 12 19 Kseniya Makeeva RUS Line Player 19/09/1990 Ufa, RUS 182 9 6 Iuliia Managarova UKR Right Wing 27/09/1988 Dnieprpetrovsk, UKR 170 64 7 Mayya Petrova RUS Line Player 26/05/1982 Volgograd, RUS 184 17 10 Anna Punko RUS Right Back 27/03/1989 Krasnodar, RUS 185 7 8 Anna Sen RUS Left Back 03/12/1990 Krasnodar, RUS 185 31 23 Regina Shymkute RUS Left Back 21/12/1985 Herson, UKR 179 44 4 Elena Slivinskaya RUS Left Back 09/05/1980 Rostov-On-Don, RUS 186 10 71 Alexandra Stepanova RUS Line Player 21/06/1989 Lievsk, RUS 180 2 15 Marina Sudakova RUS Right Wing 17/02/1989 Volgograd, RUS 156

3 Katrine Lunde NOR Goalkeeper 30/03/1980 Kristiansand, NOR 181 21 Anna Sedoykina RUS Goalkeeper 01/08/1984 Volgograd, RUS 181 1 Galina Mekhdieva RUS Goalkeeper 17/06/1985 Rostov-On-Don, RUS 180 12 Mariya Basarab RUS Goalkeeper 19/01/1990 Uray, RUS 186 16 Marina Skladchikova RUS Goalkeeper 22/11/1990 Krasnodar, RUS 191

Jan Leslie coach • signed with Rostov-Don in 2014 • his first experience away from his home country Denmark • won the Russian league in his debut season, having led Rostov- Don to the champion’s title for the first time since 1994 • previously worked in Denamrk at Skjern, Aalborg, Esbjerg and Randers and won the EHF Cup in 2010 and the Danish league in 2012 with Randers • considered one of the top Danish coaches of the new generation

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2010 (as coach)

21 Katrine Lunde Viktoria Borshchenko goalkeeper left wing • one of the best goalkeepers in the world who has • won Russian league four times during her five a big collection of major trophies won both with seasons in Russia: with Dinamo Volgograd in 2011, clubs and the Norwegian national team 2012, 2013 and with Rostov-Don in 2015 • her move to Rostov-Don after five years at • in her native Ukraine, she played for Dnepryanka Hungary’s Györ was one of the biggest transfer Kherson, Smart Krivy Rog and Galychanka Lviv events in Europe in summer 2015 • took part in a number of World and European • missed the last season at Györ because of Championships with the Ukraine national team pregnancy and got a baby in March • can play not only as a left wing but, if necessary, • already worked with Jan Leslie at Aalborg, and also as a playmaker this was one of the factors of her moving to Rostov EC Trophies: CL 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014 OG: G 2008, 2012, EURO: G 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, S 2002, 2012 WCh: G 2011, S 2007, B 2009

Regina Shymkute Anna Sen left back left back • born in Kherson, Ukraine in the family of a • came back to Rostov-Don after a season in Lithuanian father and a Russian mother, and Hungary where she played for Gyor therefore has a Lithuanian last name • her first spell at Rostov was in 2011-14, and during • moved to Rostov-Don in 2010 after years of that time she was the Russian Cup twice, in 2012 and playing in Ukraine and Romania 2013 • played for Ukraine national team for many • has also played for Kuban Krasnodar and Zvezda years but in December 2014 decided to change her Zvenigorod, but has never been a Russian champion citizenship and got a Russian passport yet • played football at a young age and at some point • in 2008 won the Junior World Championship with even took the 4th place in the Ukrainian league with Russia and became the top scorer of that tournament her team

Ekaterina Ilina Maya Petrova centre back line player • one of the best Russian playmakers and the big • started her 13th season at Rostov-Don in 2015, revelation of the last season but had never become the Russian champion with this club before the previous season • moved to Rostov-Don in 2014 from Lada Toliatti just after winning the EHF Cup with that team • has been playing for Russian national team in beach handball as well • in 2008 became the Junior World Champion with the Russian team in Bratislava • married to a football player Alexander Petrov and has two sons Artem and Dima • won her first domestic trophies later than international ones, having become the Russian • has two diplomas of higher education after champion and Supercup winner with Rostov in 2015 graduating from the Kuban State University as well as the Architecture and Construction Institute EC trophies: EHF Cup 2014 EURO: B 2008, WCh: G 2009

Ekaterina Davydenko Iuliia Managarova right back back • came back to Russia in summer after a year spent • moved to Rostov in 2013 and quickly became one at HCM Baia Mare in Romania of the favorite players of local fans • already won her first trophy at Rostov-Don, • quiet and humble off the court but a natural namely the Russian Supercup leader in the game with a powerful shot and great scoring abilities • bBefore 2014, spent her entire career at Lada in her home town Toliatti • was a key player in the Ukraine national team but opted to change citizenship hoping to play for Russia • started to play for the Russian national team at an early age and won the bronze medal of the EHF • champion of three countries: Ukraine with Smart EURO at 19 Krivy Rog, Romania with Oltchim and Russia with Rostov-Don

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2012, 2014 EHF EURO: B 2008

22 HCM Baia Mare (ROU) vs Buducnost (MNE)

First leg Saturday 2 April, 13:00 hrs. local time (12:00 CET)

Second leg Sunday 10 April, 19:00 hrs. local time

Ever since the current system was introduced two years ago, Buducnost has been ever present in Budapest and played both Without three of his most important players, coach Aurelian Rosca finals. The path is set for the current title holder to continue their will have to tweak both HCM’s attack and defense in order to 100% presence record, as they will be overwhelming favourites compete at the highest level with Buducnost. The latest rehearsal against the Romanian side. turned up good, as Baia Mare won against SCM Craiova on Monday, 31:21. Baia Mare is developing a pattern in the Women’s EHF Champions League, as the Romanian side find their stride in the Main Round But even then it might not be enough. The current title holders have stage, after a disappointing Group stage. For the second year in a already lost two games, but both defeats came at the hands of Gyori row, HCM has started the second phase of the competition with Audi ETO KC and HC Vardar. zero points, only to end on a high, with five wins in their six matches in Group 1. “I am satisfied with the way we prepared and we analysed this game. I think Baia Mare has great players in Pineau or Jezic and their However, the ten points were only enough for the fourth place in team is top notch. We know what to expect there and I can only the hardly-fought group, as Baia Mare will have to knock out the hope that the players that came back from their national teams are current title holders if they want to achieve their first FINAL4 berth well-rested,” said Dragan Adzic for Buducnost’s website. ever. It will also be a special game for Cristina Neagu. Last year’s But the timing could not have been worse. While HCM has already topscorer will play for the second time this season against Romanian virtually lost the Romanian title, after a surprising 32:26 defeat at opponents, after Buducnost already clashed with CSM Bucuresti. the hands of Corona Brasov on 3 March, Aurelian Rosca’s team is navigating through a flurry of injuries. After qualifying for the Olympic Games in Rio with the Romania national team, Neagu will have to face Ungureanu, Perianu, Tanasie, could have played her last game for HCM, as the Elisei, Munteanu, Marin and her best friend, , for a right back has already ended her season with a torn meniscus, while place in the FINAL4. experienced right wing is also out. Baia Mare’s injury woes continued last week, with defensive stalwart Gabriella “Of course it will be a special game for me, but I am hoping to Szucs breaking her hand in the win against HCM Roman, 27:22, a leave Baia Mare with a win. I did not speak with the girls about the season-ending injury for the Romanian player. game, we only focused on the qualification during the pre-olympic tournament in Denmark,” concluded Neagu. “We can beat any team in Europe, if we have the right mindset and try to do everything in our power to win. We have to be united”, said Luciana Marin, Baia Mare’s playmaker.

Head-to-head stats

HCM Baia Mare vs Buducnost

No previous encounters in the European competitions.

23 4th ranked GROUP 1 HCM Baia Mare (ROU) After a disappointing start, Baia Mare came back swinging and won five of their six Main Round matches. After a disappointing season, HCM Baia Mare went back to the drawing board and decided to change their approach. The Romanian side, who earned their third consecutive appearance in the Women’s EHF Champions League group stage after they disposed of BNTU- BelAZ Minsk Region and Team Esbjerg in the qualification stage, went back to their roots. Aurelian Roșca was named coach, while youngsters , Ana Maria Tănăsie or Mădălina Zamfirescu were the team’s bets for the new season.

However, HCM’s biggest gamble was . After the French player suffered several injuries and changed four teams in three years, Baia Mare was ready to build the team alongside her qualities. But the Romanian’s side intentions were left red-faced, after Baia Mare was thoroughly swept by Larvik and Rostov-Don in the group matches. It was a deja-vu, as the Romanian side had been already in this position last season, having to start with zero points in the Main Round group. But not only Baia Mare did emulate last season’s antics, they got better, more focused and more clinical, winning five of their six games in the Main Round, with their only defeat coming against FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria in the last game.

While experienced stalwarts , Valentina Elisei, Adriana Nechita or oozed calmness, it was Allison Pineau who directed the show. With 82 goals scored in the first 12 matches, Pineau was only one goal behind Nora Mørk in the top Playing hall goalscorer ranking. It was Pineau who single-handedly delivered Baia Mare the two points Sala Polivalenta Lascar Pana against Fleury Handball, with a masterstroke shot in the dying seconds of the game, to put the Bd. Unirii Nr.14 A Romanians ahead, 19:18. The French centre back, who won the EHF Player of the Month in 430272 Baia Mare - Maramures February, was also the best scorer for Baia Mare in two of their three home games. Romania Capacity: 2,080 However, HCM will have to make do against Melinda Geiger, who had a season-ending knee injury in February, with also the morale being low, after being on the brink of losing the Romanian title at CSM Bucuresti’s expense. But with Buducnost coming to town, there will be Club Address: no excuses for Baia Mare, if the Romanian side wants to produce one of the biggest surprises HCM Baia Mare ever in the European top competition. BD.Bucuresti Nr. 47 A 430012 Baia Mare GROUP 1 FINAL STANDINGS Romania 1. Rostov-Don 10 9 1 0 281:237 (44) 19 Media contact: 2. Larvik 10 6 0 4 281:263 (18) 12 Ramona Ioana Pop 3. FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 10 5 2 3 282:272 (10) 12 +40744839987 [email protected] 4. HCM Baia Mare 10 5 0 5 259:247 (12) 10 5. Fleury Loiret Handball 10 2 2 6 252:283 (-31) 6 Online information: 6. Thüringer HC 10 0 1 9 244:297 (-53) 1 Website: www.hcmbaiamare.ro Facebook: hcm.baiamare.official Main Round results: vs Fleury Loiret Handball W31:28 (13:15) Past achievements @ Thüringer HC W23:25 (12:10) vs FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria W32:24 (16:14) Women’s EHF Champions League Kit colours @ Fleury Loiret Handball W17:18 (8:8) Participations (including 2015/16 vs Thüringer HC W38:27 (19:12) season): 3 Light @ FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria L21:18 (14:7) Quarter-final (1): 2014/15 Player shirt: red Group matches (1): 2013/14 Player short: red Goalkeeper shirt: black Group Matches results: Other Dark @ RK Krim Mercator W33:27 (16:15) Challenge Cup: runners-up 2002/03 Player shirt: white vs Larvik L29:31 (14:19) Player short: black vs Rostov-Don L20:22 (10:13) Romanian league: 1 title (2014) Goalkeeper shirt: green @ Rostov-Don L26:27 (15:14) Romanian cup: 3 titles vs RK Krim Mercator W35:28 (16:14) @ Larvik L22:27 (12:12)

24 HCM Baia Mare (ROU)

Biggest win: 38:27 (19:12) vs Thüringer HC GER (h), 19.02.2016 Biggest defeat: 21:33 (10:16) v Györi Audi ETO KC HUN (h), 12.10.2013 Longest winning run: 5 matches (10.01.2016-27.02.2016) Longest unbeaten run: 5 matches (10.01.2016-27.02.2016) Longest losing run: 3 matches (25.10.2014-5.11.2014) 3 matches (23.10.2015-7.11.2015) Longest run without win: 3 matches (25.10.2014-5.11.2014) 3 matches (23.10.2015-7.11.2015)

Most goals: 38 vs Thüringer HC GER 38:27W (h), 19.02.2016 Most goals opponent: 36 v Thüringer HC GER 36:29L (a), 06.10.2013 Most goals both teams: 65 v Thüringer HC GER 36:29L (a), 06.10.2013 65 vs Thüringer HC GER 38:27W (h), 19.02.2016 Fewest goals: 18 v Györi Audi ETO KC 18:26L (h), 08.02.2015 18 vs Fleury Loiret Handball FRA 17:18W (a), 14.02.2016 18 vs FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria HUN 21:18L (a), 27.02.2016 Fewest goals opponent: 17 vs Fleury Loiret Handball FRA 17:18W (a), 14.02.2016 Fewest goals both teams: 35 vs Fleury Loiret Handball FRA 17:18W (a), 14.02.2016

Women’s EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage

2013/14 HCM Baia Mare ROU 6 2 0 4 140:162 -22 4:8 4th Gr. A 2014/15 HCM Baia Mare ROU 14 7 0 7 370:370 0 14:14 1/4-finals Total 20 9 0 11 510:532 -22 18:22

25 HCM Baia Mare (ROU) Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Goals 10 Lois Abbingh NED Centre Back 13.8.1992 Groningen, NED 177 51 15 Valentina Neli Ardean Elisei ROU Left Wing 5.6.1982 Focsani, ROU 171 28 14 Alexandra L. Ciunt ROU Left Back 14.6.1992 Simisna, ROU 184 3 Alexandra Priscilla Do Nascimento BRA Right Wing 16.9.1981 Sao Paulo, BRA 179 47 5 Melinda Geiger ROU Right Back 28.3.1987 Baia Mare, ROU 174 34 18 Elena Gjeorgjievska MKD Right Back 27.3.1990 Struga, MKD 179 2 17 Katarina Jezic CRO Line Player 19.12.1992 Rijeka, CRO 173 29 8 Andrada Maior Pasca ROU Left Wing 21.2.1993 Baia Mare, ROU 168 22 Luciana Andreea Marin ROU Centre Back 13.10.1988 Slatina, ROU 176 6 77 Adriana Nicoleta Nechita ROU Right Wing 14.11.1983 Bailesti, ROU 172 8 4 Ioana Laura Oltean ROU Centre Back 20.7.1989 Bistrita, ROU 174 1 11 Gabriela Perianu ROU Left Back 20.6.1994 Braila, ROU 186 12 7 Allison Marie Pineau FRA Centre Back 2.5.1989 Chartres, FRA 180 82 2 Aneta Pirvut ROU Right Wing 22.6.1989 Dr. Severin, ROU 166 44 Gabriela Preda ROU Left Back 22.7.1987 Tirgu Neamt, ROU 184 1 9 Ibolya Gabriella Szucs HUN Left Back 31.8.1984 Oradea, ROU 184 6 Ana-Maria Tanasie ROU Left Wing 6.4.1995 Hunedoara, ROU 170 12 23 Timea Judita Tatar ROU Line Player 28.7.1989 Baia Mare, ROU 175 1 95 Bianca Elena Tiron ROU Left Back 31.5.1995 Iasi, ROU 180 25 Andrada ROU Line Player 30.7.1991 Baia Mare, ROU 180 88 Patricia Maria Vizitiu ROU Right Back 15.10.1988 Petrosani, ROU 177 13 73 Madalina Maria Zamfirescu ROU Centre Back 31.10.1994 Rm. Valcea, ROU 178

16 Yuliya Dumanska ROU Goalkeeper 15.8.1996 Gorodenka, UKR 177 12 ROU Goalkeeper 7.1.1979 Bucharest, ROU 175 30 Paula Claudia Ungureanu ROU Goalkeeper 30.3.1980 Brasov, ROU 181

Aurelian Rosca coach • first started handball as a player, but retired at only 21 years old to focus on coaching • before an important game, he stays up all night to thoroughly explore the opponent’s weaknesses • considered one of the best youth coaches in the history of Romanian handball, with gold medals with the Under18 team in EURO 1999 and WCh 2014 • has been an assistant coach at Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea from 2009 to 2013

26 Paula Ungureanu Valentina Elisei goalkeeper left wing • twice named the “best handball player in • one of the most experienced players in Baia Romania”, in 2012 and 2014 Mare’s roster • after Luminita Hutupan’s retirement in 2009, she • after a ligament tear, made a one-year break from became Romania’s first choice in the goal handball and had a baby, Robert, in January 2013 • after a ligament tear in 2010 she has taken a two- • signed only two weeks after the birth year hiatus and had a baby, Paul, in January 2012 • will split her duties with Norwegian ace Camilla • her husband is a football player, also a Herrem, who came to Baia Mare in the 2014 goalkeeper, and has followed Paula almost summer, from Byasen everywhere she played

WCh: S 2005, B 2015, EURO: B 2010 EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2007, Champions Trophy 2007, Challenge Cup 2002 WCh: S 2005, B 2015, EURO: B 2010

Ana Maria Tanasie Lois Abbingh left wing left back • national junior champion in 800 metres, but • played four years at German side VfL Oldenburg switched to handball (2010-2014) before she transferred to Baia Mare last summer • one of the youngest players to start in a National League game, making her debut in Zalau when she • made her comeback on the court after an eight- was only 17 and at only 20, she has already won month injury break in January 2015 a national title, two Romanian Cups and a bronze • top scorer and member of the All-star team at the medal at the World Championship 2010 U18 World Championship and top scorer of the • considered to be one of the most attractive 2011 U19 EHF EURO with the Netherlands handball players in Romania, already making • top scorer of the Dutch league in the 2009/10 headlines for her playing style and appearance season at the age of only 18 WCh: B 2015 WCh: S 2015

Katarina Jezic Allison Pineau line player centre back • joined Baia Mare in the summer of 2015 after • French star has been named the “World Player of stints with Lokomotiva Zagreb and Buducnost the Year” in 2012 • the Croatian player has represented her country • suffered two knee injuries, but came back more at all age categories powerful than before • first taken up swimming, but she decided that • a social-media addict, she has a page on which handball was her big passion she posts on a daily basis and has over 43,000 fans • first started wearing the “mohawk” when she was • after leaving Oltchim in 2013, she changed three 14, spends 20 minutes a day for her hairstyle and clubs – Vardar Skopje, Krim Ljubljana and HBC Nimes uses a lot of gel WCh: S 2009, 2011, EURO: B 2010

Patricia Vizitiu Alexandra do Nascimento right back right wing • her love for sport has been instilled by her father, • after 11 seasons played for Hypo she took a new Dumitru, who was a professional footballer in challenge and accepted Baia Mare’s offer in 2014 Petrosani, Patricia’s birthplace • 2012 World Handball Player of the Year • started skiing and then playing football, but • with over 500 goals scored over 13 seasons one without a proper women’s football team in of the top scorers of the CL history Petrosani, she took up handball at the age of 12 • her husband, the Chilean right wing Patricio • renowned in Romania as one of the most brave Martinez, followed her to Baia Mare and plays for players, her “all in” style bringing a lot of injuries, the men’s team including a broken nose • Cristina Neagu’s best friend

WCh: B 2015 EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2013 WCh: G 2013, Panamerican Games: G 2003, 2007, 2011

27 1st ranked Group 2 Buducnost (MNE)

For the first time since 2012/13 season, Buducnost finished the main round with some defeats. “If we have to be defeated, it is better now than in the later stages,” Buducnost’s coach Dragan Adzic stated in January, after the first defeat against Györ, which ended their 20-month old unbeaten run. Buducnost started the 2015/16 season without German goalkeeper Clara Woltering, one of main stalwarts of 2012 and 2015 EHF Champions League titles, but keeping all other stars and the same playing philosophy, based mainly on a strong defence.

Montenegrin powerhouse started the group matches with three easy wins, at home against IK Sävehof (33:20), and away with MKS Selgros Lublin (31:23) and CMS Bucuresti (28:22). Buducnost risked to be defeated at home against CMS Bucuresti, in the fourth round, but somehow escaped with a draw (23:23) and concluded their successful run with two more victories, against IK Sävehof (25:18) and MKS Selgros Lublin (29:25).

With seven points, Buducnost were on the top of their group at the start of the main round, but still to face some top class teams such Györi Audi ETO KC, HC Vardar and FC Midtjylland. Due to Radmila Petrovic’s illness (mononucleosis) and inconsistant display of Marta Zderic Buducnost decided to bring two reinforcements for the rest of the season – Slovenian right wing Neli Irman and Tunisian goalkeeper Echraf Abdallah (she left the club after just one game due to family reasons).

On 9 January Buducnost lost their first game, in Hungary against Györ (20:22), and ended a Playing hall series of 22 consecutive games without defeat (20 victories and two draws). Without injured defence specialist Suzana Lazovic, Buducnost still recorded three wins in a row, against Vardar S.C. Morača (31:19), FC Midtjylland (28:18) and Györ (25:22), practically securing the first place in the group. Str. Ivana Milutinovića b.b. The top spot was not questioned even after first defeat ever against their regional rivals 81000 Podgorica Vardar, in Skoplje (24:26). Montenegro Capacity: 5,000 GROUP 2 FINAL STANDINGS

1. Buducnost 10 7 1 2 264:211 (53) 15 Club Address: Budućnost 2. Györi Audi ETO KC 10 7 1 2 252:230 (22) 15 Ivana Milutinovica B.B. 3. HC Vardar 10 7 0 3 270:246 (24) 14 81000 Podgorica 4. CSM Bucuresti 10 4 1 5 242:239 (3) 9 Montenegro 5. FC Midtjylland 10 2 1 7 220:261 (-41) 5 6. IK Sävehof 10 1 0 9 225:286 (-61) 2 Media contact: Milos Pavicevic +382 682 226 66 Main Round results: Past achievements [email protected] / milos_ps@ @ Györi Audi ETO KC L22:20 (13:11) yahoo.com vs HC Vardar W31:19 (16:8) Women’s EHF Champions League @ FC Midtjylland W18:28 (9:13) Participations (including 2015/16 Online information: vs Györi Audi ETO KC W25:22 (12:12) season): 20 Website: www.zrkbuducnost.com @ HC Vardar L26:24 (11:11) Winners (2): 2011/12, 2014/15 Facebook: ZrkBuducnost vs FC Midtjylland W27:21 (14:7) Runners-up (1): 2013/14 Semi-final (6): 1997/98, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2001/02, 2010/11 Group Matches results: Main Round (1): 2012/13 vs IK Sävehof W33:20 (17:8) Kit colours Quarter-final (2): 2002/03, 2003/04 @ MKS Selgros Lublin W31:23 (17:13) Last 16 (1): 1995/96 Light @ CSM Bucuresti W28:22 (15:11) Group Matches (6): 1996/97, 2004/05, Player shirt: white vs CSM Bucuresti D23:23 (12:13) 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10 Player short: blue @ IK Sävehof W25:18 (14:11) Goalkeeper shirt: blue vs MKS Selgros Lublin W29:25 (12:13) Other Dark Cup Winners Cup: Winners 2005/06, Player shirt: blue 2009/10 Player short: blue Goalkeeper shirt: green Montenegrin league: 27 titles (1985,1989,1990,1992-2015) Montenegrin cup: 20 titles

28 Buducnost

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: 39:20 (19:8) v RK Krim Mercator SLO (h), 15.03.2015 Biggest defeat: 36:21 (18:11) v Viborg HK DEN (a), 19.01.1997 Longest winning run: 14 matches (23.11.2014 – 01.11.2015) Longest unbeaten run: 22 matches (19.10.2014 – 20.11.2015) Longest losing run: 7 matches (21.02.2004 – 30.01.2005) Longest run without win: 7 matches (21.02.2004 – 30.01.2005)

Most goals: 40 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 36:40W (a), 04.03.2011 Most goals opponent: 40 v Mar El Osito L’Eliana ESP 26:40L (h), 05.04.1998 Most goals both teams: 76 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 36:40W (a), 04.03.2011 Fewest goals: 16 v Dunaferr SE HUN 16:18L (h), 06.02.2005 16 v Larvik NOR 28:16L (a), 16.03.2013 Fewest goals opponent: 14 v Thüringer HC GER 23:14W (h), 09.11.2014 Fewest goals both teams: 34 v Dunaferr SE HUN 16:18L (h), 06.02.2005

EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1996/97 Buducnost Podgorica YUG 6 2 2 2 130:143 –13 6:6 3rd Gr. A 1997/98 Buducnost Podgorica YUG 10 5 1 4 292:305 –13 11:9 1/2-finals 1998/99 Buducnost Podgorica YUG 10 8 1 1 297:238 +59 17:3 1/2-finals 1999/00 Buducnost Podgorica YUG 10 5 2 3 287:274 +13 12:8 1/2-finals 2000/01 Bud. Brillant Podgorica YUG 10 5 3 2 265:246 +19 13:7 1/2-finals 2001/02 Bud. Brillant Podgorica YUG 10 5 2 3 297:277 +20 12:8 1/2-finals 2002/03 RK Buducnost MONET YUG 8 4 0 4 215:216 -1 8:8 1/4-finals 2003/04 RK Buducnost MONET SCG 8 4 0 4 209:219 –10 8:8 1/4-finals 2004/05 ZRK Buducnost MONET SCG 6 1 0 5 141:165 –24 2:10 4th Gr. A 2005/06 ZRK Buducnost MONET SCG 6 3 0 3 150:154 -4 6:6 3rd Gr. C 2006/07 ZRK Buducnost T-Mobile MNE 6 0 0 6 141:174 -33 0:12 4th Gr. B 2007/08 Buducnost T-Mobile MNE 6 1 1 4 153:189 –36 3:9 3rd Gr. D 2008/09 Buducnost T-Mobile MNE 12 6 2 4 317:326 -9 14:10 3rd MR Gr. 2 2009/10 Buducnost T-Mobile MNE 6 2 1 3 138:155 -17 5:7 3rd Gr. D 2010/11 ‘Buducnost’ MNE 14 10 0 4 417:360 +57 20:8 1/2-finals 2011/12 Buducnost MNE 16 14 0 2 453:385 +68 28:4 Winner 2012/13 Buducnost MNE 12 5 1 6 265:273 -8 11:13 3rd MR Gr. 1 2013/14 Buducnost MNE 14 8 3 3 349:298 +51 19:9 Runner-up 2014/15 Buducnost MNE 16 15 1 0 444:326 +118 31:1 Winner Total 186 103 20 63 4960:4723 +237 226:146

29 Buducnost Team roster

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Goals

89 Kinga Achruk (Byzdra) POL Centre Back 09/01/1989 Pulawy, POL 181 11 14 Vanesa Agovic MNE Centre Back 30/03/1996 Berane, MNE 184 32 Katarina Bulatovic MNE Right Back 15/11/1984 Kragujevac, SRB 186 70 10 Itana Cavlovic MNE Line Player 27/08/1997 Podgorica, MNE 72 Dragana Cvijic SRB Line Player 15/03/1990 Beograd, SRB 184 41 6 Neli Irman SLO Right Wing 07/04/1986 Celje, SLO 172 14 9 Djurdjina Jaukovic MNE Left Back 24/02/1997 Niksic, MNE 185 17 24 Jovana Kovacevic SRB Back 09/04/1996 1 92 Suzana Lazovic MNE Line Player 28/01/1992 Podgorica, MNE 176 2 25 Djurdjina Malovic MNE Right Back 05/05/1996 Niksic, MNE 182 2 77 Majda Mehmedovic MNE Left Wing 25/05/1990 Bar, MNE 169 33 8 Cristina Georgiana Neagu ROU Left Back 26/08/1988 Bucharest, ROU 180 62 88 Biljana Pavicevic MNE Left Wing 12/05/1988 Podgorica, MNE 170 23 6 Ivona Pavicevic MNE Left Wing 21/04/1996 Podgorica, MNE 167 2 2 Radmila Petrovic MNE Right Wing 19/04/1988 Niksic, MNE 174 8 3 Matea Pletikosic CRO Centre Back 24/04/1998 Sinj, CRO 170 5 90 Milena Raicevic (Knezevic) MNE Back 12/03/1990 Podgorica, MNE 178 32 66 Ema Ramusovic MNE Line Player 28/11/1996 Berane, MNE 182 1 4 Dijana Ujkic MNE Right Wing 05/07/1996 Podgorica, MNE 172

43 Marta Zderic CRO Goalkeeper 20/04/1990 Metkovic 184 12 Ljubica Nenezic MNE Goalkeeper 15/01/1997 Podgorica 179 1 Ana Rajkovic MNE Goalkeeper 04/09/1996 Podgorica 177 Echraf Abdallah TUN Goalkeeper 14/01/1987

Dragan Adzic coach • retired due to injury in 1998 • almost a decade was an assistant to many coaches in Buducnost • became head coach in 2010 • in 2012 won the CL in May with Buducnost and EHF EURO in December with Montenegro • met his wife Timea after she came to the club as an interpreter to former coach, Hungarian Gyula Zsiga EC trophies: CL 2012, 2015, Cup Winners’ Cup 2010 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012

30 Marta Zderic goalkeeper Majda Mehmedovic left wing • playing her ninth consecutive CL season, and her second with Buducnost, after she moved from • her mother played handball as a goalkeeper Podravka in 2013 • started handball in Bar at the age of 12 with her • started as a back, but soon she moved into goal brother Musa and immediately loved it • in Buducnost she chose number 43, the decision • it took her two years to get into the first team to use that unusual number for a goalkeeper was after being signed by Buducnost made by her niece Lara • voted for the 2013/14 CL All-Star Team as the best • despite an early exit at the EHF EURO 2014 on left wing home court in Varazdin she has had an impressive season in the Buducnost goal so far

EC trophies: CL 2015 EC trophies: CL 2012, 2015, Cup Winners’ Cup 2010 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012

Biljana Pavicevic Milena Rajcevic (Knezevic) left wing left back • at 2008 Women’s Junior World Championship • started playing handball with her sister Dragana, suffered a severe knee injury followed by two her brother Ivan is a professional soccer player operations, two years of rehabilitation, and two • at 2012 EHF EURO first in assists (29) and shared seasons playing in Biseri and Macedonian Zito Prilep second place in scoring with Anita Görbicz (41 goals) • at the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia stepped in for the • two-time Montenegrin player of the year game against Hungary and played very well the rest of the tournament, won by Montenegro at the end • voted second best young player of the CL in 2012 • graduated with a degree in Economics EC trophies: CL 2015 EC trophies: CL 2015, Cup Winners’ Cup 2010 EHF EURO: G 2012 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012

Cristina Neagu Dragana Cvijic centre back line player • named the World Handball Player of the Year • started handball at the age of 10, first as after leading Romania to bronze medals at the EHF goalkeeper, but being very tall for her age, Dragana’s EURO 2010 first coach put her at left back • top scorer (53 goals) and All-Star member of the • in 2007 at Crvena Zvezda she switched to a line EHF EURO 2010 and the 2014/15 CL season (102 player goals), also MVP of the WCh 2015 • joined Buducnost in 2011 just in time to help • missed nearly two of the last four years, after a them on the way to the CL title shoulder injury and a torn ligament in her knee • Serbian national team player voted the best line • lost two CL finals, one with Oltchim (2013) and player of the WCh 2013 one with Buducnost (2014) EC trophies: CL 2015 EC trophies: CL 2012, 2015 EHF EURO: B 2010, WCh: B 2015 WCh: S 2013

Katarina Bulatovic Radmila Petrovic right back right wing • Serbia-born shooter arrived to Buducnost in 2014 • started training handball at 12, in her home town after one-year stints with Oltchim and Györ of Nikšić, where she played for five years as a right back • made it to the CL final for the first time in 2007 with Slagelse • when transferred to Buducnost in 2005, she was moved to the wing • won the CL title with three different clubs - Slagelse, Buducnost and Györ • strong alternative to Jovanka Radicevic in Montenegro national team • key player in Montenegro’s biggest achievements, when she was the top scorer at both the London • in 2014 she won her 100th cap with Montenegro Olympics and EHF EURO in 2012

EC trophies: CL 2007, 2012, 2014, 2015, Cup Winners’ Cup 2010 EC trophies: CL 2012, 2015, Cup Winners’ Cup 2010 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012 OG: S 2012, EHF EURO: G 2012

31 HC Vardar (MKD) vs Larvik (NOR)

First leg Saturday 2 April, 17:30 hrs. local time

Second leg Sunday 10 April, 15:30 hrs. local time

There was one season of “armistice” before these two teams meet On the other hand Vardar got the Russian right back – Tatiana again. In the season 2013/14 Vardar take on Larvik during the group Khmyrova back on the track as she has recovered after a knee stage and prevailed by taking three out of four points courtesy of surgery which sidelined her from the last five Main Round matches. a draw and an away victory. This achievement paved the way of Indira Kastratovic’s squad to the premiere FINAL4, while Norwegian “Same like in the last two seasons, our start in the Champions champions missed the opportunity to find themselves among the League was weaker because we do not have enough matches. Then best four teams in Budapest. we raised our shape match by match and we showed this in the last four matches. I hope that we will keep the winning balance in the However this was not the case last season when Larvik climbed on quarter finals and play our best. the second position at the podium after remaining unbeaten in all stages prior to the final match. “Another reason why we could be positive is that we have Tatiana Khmyrova back in the squad and the team is free of injuries so we On the other side Vardar did not surpass their 2014 success and once enter the clash in full strength,” says Indira Kastratovic more they ended third but also had the best scorer of the season – Andrea Penezic and in addition Siraba Dembele was part of the Larvik head coach is aware of what is at stake in the quarter-finals. All-star team at the left wing position. “I think it’s the strongest quarter-finals we have ever seen in the When it comes to the performance this season both teams Champions League, the eight remaining teams are incredible strong. demonstrated some weaknesses but also showed real character in the crucial matches and placed themselves in the quarter-finals. We are facing our toughest match of the season. Vardar have shown that they are strong, and have a lot of qualities, but so have we. We Throughout the season Larvik missed the Polish backcourt ace Alina have to play the best match of the season if we want to come to Wojtas and prior to this game also has problems with Anja Edin theFINAL4,“ said Tor Odvar Moen. injury. “Larvik are a great team and they didn’t finish on the second position “In general I can say that we got through the main round okay. We in the main round by accident. They have very good players and play were hoping to have all the players well and healthy, but Anja Edin typical Scandinavian handball which means they don’t stop and play has injured her thumb, and will be out for five weeks. Other than 60 minutes with the same pace. We faced them twice and we didn’t that, all the players are ready for the upcoming game in Saturday in lose and I hope it will stay this way,” concluded Indira Kastratovic. Skopje,“ says Larvik head coach Tor Odvar Moen.

Head-to-head stats HC Vardar vs Larvik 1-1-0 ((58:56) 3:1 11.10.2013 WHC Vardar SCBT vs Larvik, EHF Champions League – Group D 27:27 (12:15) 16.11.2013 Larvik vs WHC Vardar SCBT, EHF Champions League – Group D 29:31 (15:15)

32 3rd ranked GROUP 2 HC Vardar (MKD) Inconsistent game with many ups and downs, changes in the coaching stuff and injuries characterised the season for the bronze medallists of the two Women’s EHF FINAL4 editions until now. The start of the season was satisfactory as Vardar in their six group matches had the best attack of all 16 participants. After two defeats from Györ, Macedonian champions finished on the second position in the group matches and entered the Main Round from the fourth position.

After starting the New Year with an one-goal victory over Romanian CSM Bucuresti (22:21) a heavy defeat followed one week later in Podgorica where the current champions simply demolished Vardar with a 31:19 result. The difficult situation became even worse when the Russian right back – Tatiana Khmyrova was ruled off the court due to knee injury and had to miss the remaining matches of the main round. This wasn’t the only problem that Vardar faced at the end of January as the Danish assistant coach due to family reasons terminated his contract with Vardar which had been originally supposed to last until July 2017. However quick reaction followed from the club management and the assistant coach in the men’s team David Davis got a double role and turned out to be a great replacement for Jan Pytlick.

With the new coaching duo, Vardar faced the “to be or not to be” question in the remaining decisive clashes in which they simply had to improve their performance if they wanted to proceed to the quarter-finals. The team managed to achieve this and gained 100 % record in the last four matches. The easy game against IK Sävehof at home was followed by a valuable Playing hall victory in Romania against Bucuresti (25:20). However the most important victory for the Jane Sandanski Macedonian champions was against Buducnost The end of the Main Round was marked by an Skopje away victory against the Swedish champion and with this winning record Vardar ended on the FYR Macedonia third position. Capacity: 5,500

GROUP 2 FINAL STANDINGS Club Address: WHC Vardar 1. Buducnost 10 7 1 2 264:211 (53) 15 Preseka 55/10 2. Györi Audi ETO KC 10 7 1 2 252:230 (22) 15 1000 Skopje 3. HC Vardar 10 7 0 3 270:246 (24) 14 FYR Macedonia 4. CSM Bucuresti 10 4 1 5 242:239 (3) 9 Media contact: 5. FC Midtjylland 10 2 1 7 220:261 (-41) 5 Ivana Stojanovska 6. IK Sävehof 10 1 0 9 225:286 (-61) 2 +389 71 247 218 [email protected]

Online information: Website: www.zrkvardar.mk Facebook: ZRK-Vardar-SCBT Main round results: Past achievements Twitter:@zrkvardar vs CSM Bucuresti W22:21 (11:11) @ Buducnost L31:19 (16:8) Women’s EHF Champions League vs IK Sävehof W37:25 (19:10) Participations (including 2015/16 Kit colours @ CSM Bucuresti W25:30 (11:17) season): 3 Light vs Buducnost W26:24 (11:11) Semi-final (2): 2013/14, 2014/15 (third Player shirt: white @ IK Sävehof W26:29 (14:14) rank at MVM EHF FINAL4) Player short: black Goalkeeper shirt: green Group matches results: Other vs Györi Audi ETO KC L22:27 (10:13) Dark EHF Cup: Last 16: 2012/13 @ Hypo Niederösterreich W38:25 (22:9) Player shirt: red vs FC Midtjylland W33:24 (16:8) Player short: red Macedonian league: 2 titles (2013, @ FC Midtjylland W25:15 (12:11) Goalkeeper shirt: black 2014, 2015) @ Györi Audi ETO KC L27:28 (17:14) Macedonian cup: 3 titles vs Hypo Niederösterreich W37:25 (15:14)

33 HC Vardar

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: 17:35 (10:16) v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO (a), 03.11.2013 29:47 (12:24) v RK Krim Mercator SLO (a), 06.03.2015 Biggest defeat: 19:31 (8:16) vs Buducnost MNE (a), 17.01.2016 Longest winning run: 5 matches (19.10.2013 – 02.02.2014) Longest unbeaten run: 9 matches (06.10.2013 – 15.02.2014) Longest losing run: 2 matches (22.11.2014 – 30.01.2015) Longest run without win: 3 matches (16.11.2014 – 30.01.2015)

Most goals: 47 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 29:47W (a), 06.03.2015 Most goals opponent: 33 v Dinamo-Sinara RUS 33:25L (a), 15.02.2015 Most goals both teams: 76 v RK Krim Mercator SLO 29:47W (a), 06.03.2015 Fewest goals: 17 v Buducnost MNE 23:17L (a), 19.10.2014 17 v Buducnost MNE 27:17L (a), 09.05.2015 Fewest goals opponent: 17 v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 17:35W (a), 03.11.2013 Fewest goals both teams: 40 v Buducnost MNE 23:17L (a), 19.10.2014

EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 2013/14 WHC Vardar SCBT MKD 14 9 3 2 393:333 +60 21:7 Third Place 2014/15 WHC Vardar SCBT MKD 16 9 2 5 435:403 +32 20:12 Third Place Total 30 18 5 7 828:736 +92 41:19

34 HC Vardar Team roster

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Goals

20 Anja Althaus GER Line Player 03/09/1982 Magdeburg, GER 177 23 25 Olga Chernoivanenko RUS Right Wing 17/04/1989 Samarsk, RUS 176 8 27 Andrea Covic CRO Line Player 09/10/1993 Sinj, CRO 180 7 11 Sanja Damnjanovic SRB Centre Back 25/05/1987 Beograd, SRB 181 19 17 Siraba Dembele FRA Left Wing 28/06/1986 Dreux, FRA 172 24 96 Itana Grbic MNE Left Wing 01/09/1996 Podgorica, MNE 169 7 30 Alena Ikhneva RUS Left Back 30/07/1995 Orenburg, RUS 183 12 71 Tatiana Khmyrova RUS Right Back 06/02/1990 Volgograd, RUS 180 12 5 MNE Right Back 05/05/1991 Podgorica, MNE 174 18 15 Barbara Lazovic SLO Right Back 04/01/1988 Brezice, SLO 183 29 77 Andrea Lekic SRB Centre Back 06/09/1987 Beograd, SRB 178 56 23 Andrea Penezic CRO Left Back 13/11/1985 Zagreb, CRO 186 58 4 Jovanka Radicevic MNE Right Wing 23/10/1986 Podgorica, MNE 169 29 91 Sara Ristovska MKD Right Wing 09/09/1996 Skopje, MKD 169 9 19 Maja Sokac CRO Left Wing 31/05/1982 Split, CRO 178 33

12 Amandine Leynaud FRA Goalkeeper 02/05/1986 Aubenas, FRA 178 1 31 Inna Suslina RUS Goalkeeper 05/01/1979 Tashkent, USSR 184 1 Dragana Petkovska MKD Goalkeeper 12/06/1996 Skopje, MKD

Indira Kastratovic coach • in her second coaching season led Vardar to their historical third place at the first women’s FINAL4 and repeated that also in 2015 with help of her coaching partner Jan Pytlick • her greatest success as a player achieved with Kometal, for whom she played twice in the CL final, winning the title in 2002 • in 1997 she was the top scorer of the WCh with 71 goals as part of the Macedonian team • in 2006 she retired as a player and concentrated her attention on coaching youth players

EC trophies: CL 2002 (as player)

35 Inna Suslina Siraba Dembele goalkeeper left wing • former Russia national team player graduated • French left wing signed with Vardar ahead of last from the University RGPU Rostov Don as a teacher season and played an important role in the team in 2013/14, scoring 35 goals • Vardar is her second stint outside of Russia – she previously spent four seasons with GOG in Denmark • Vardar is the seventh team in her career – she previously played for five different French teams • has twice been voted in All-Star teams – at the and spent one season with Danish club Randers EHF EURO 2006 and the WCh 2009 • captain of the France national team • as team captain led the team to the bronze medal at the first two FINAL4 editions in 2014 and 2015 • will transfer to Rostov-Don in the summer of 2016

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2002 WCh: S 2009, 2011, EHF EURO B 2006 OG: S 2004, WCh: G 2001, 2007, 2009, EHF EURO: S 2006, B 2008

Andrea Penezic Sanja Damnjanovic left back left back/centre back • extended her contract with Vardar until 2017 • played for a number of clubs in Serbia, also for Krim and Podravka • raised the Slovenian title and cup four times with Krim Mercator • haunted by several injuries while with Viborg (2013-2015) • best left back in the All-Star Team at the WCh 2011 • named in the All-star team at the EHF EURO 2012 and WCh 2013 – both played in Serbia • played also for Lokomotiva and Podravka • awarded Handball Player of the Year in Serbia for • Croatian player of the year six consecutive times the 2013/14 season • together with Cristina Neagu the top scorer of the 2014/15 season with 102 goals WCh: S 2013

Andrea Lekic Anja Althaus centre back line player • competed in karate and reached blue belt • first German player to play in FYR Macedonia. before moving on to ball sports including volleyball, • switched from being a designer in advertising basketball, football and tennis to a hairdresser, and is known as stylist to her • voted the 2013 World Handball Player of the Year teammates in both her club and national team • All-Star Team at the EHF EURO 2012. • two EHF Champions League titles with Viborg (2009, 2010) • organises her own handball camp every other year • one of the most famous German players with over 200 caps for Germany and more than 500 goals • extended her contract with Vardar until 2017

EC trophies: CL 2013 EC trophies: CL 2009, 2010 WCh: S 2013 WCh: B 2007, Junior WCh: B 2001

Barbara Lazovic Jovanka Radicevic right back right wing • arrived from Krim together with Andrea Penezic • as the daughter of a handball player, started in the summer of 2014 playing handball at the age of 12 • before she joined Vardar she played only for Krim • best right wing at the EHF EURO 2012 and at the besides a year-long stint in Zaječar, Serbia World Championship 2015 • married to Vuk Lazovic, a handball player from • in 2013 she won the CL title with Györ. Serbia • with Buducnost, she won seven championships • contemplated a switch to Serbia, but remained and cup titles in Montenegro (2005-2011), two loyal to the Slovenian national team regional league titles (2010, 2011) and two titles in the Cup Winners’ Cup (2006, 2010) • expected to share more time with Tatiana Khmyrova who is back after a long injury EC trophies: CL 2013, Cup Winners’ Cup 2006, 2010 OG: S 2012, EURO: G 2012

36 2nd ranked Group 1 Larvik (NOR) It has been a long and winding road for Larvik HK to the quarter-finals in the Women´s EHF Champions League. Injuries and a narrow squad have played their parts along the way to the meetings with HC Vardar for a ticket to Budapest. Still, the Norwegian record champions took a second place in their preliminary group as well as in their main round group, which gives them the supposed advantage of having the second leg against Vardar on 10 April at home.

In their first group match, at home against Russian Champions League debutants Rostov-Don, Larvik saw themselves down 9:1 after 16 minutes. Head coach Tor Odvar Moen’s team stopped the free fall to a certain extent, but they still opened their Champions League campaign with a clear 27:21 defeat. However, it only took Larvik a week to bounce back, as the Mörk twins, Nora and Thea scored 18 goals all together in the 31:29 win in Romania against HCM Baia Mare. The last season’s finalists were back on track, and the following two matches against Krim - 37:21 – Larvik’s 100th Champions League win in history - and 32:28, before Rostov-Don became too much of a handful again, this time in their own arena. After another win against Baia Mare, 27:22 this time, Larvik were ready for the main round, taking the four points from their matches against Baia Mare with them.

Stability did not exactly characterise Larvik, as the main round started at the beginning of the new year, but the inconsistency turned out to have low costs, as the team rose again in time. Scandinavia’s strongest women’s team, who were still missing long-term injured left back Alina Wojtas as well as right wing Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth Koren, who was on maternity leave, did start with a quite convincing 28:19 win at home against German champions Thüringer Playing hall HC, but that win was followed by two straight losses, neither of which was expected - against Arena Larvik Hungarian FTC and at home to French champions Fleury. At this point, the Champions League Hoffsgate 6 future looked a bit gloomy for Larvik who proved able to rise again, though. The rest of their 3262 Larvik main round matches were simply won, starting with a 28:20 away win against Thüringer. Norway Capacity: 4,000 GROUP 1 FINAL STANDINGS

1. Rostov-Don 10 9 1 0 281:237 (44) 19 Club Address: 2. Larvik 10 6 0 4 281:263 (18) 12 Larvik 3. FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 10 5 2 3 282:272 (10) 12 Sverresgate 7 4. HCM Baia Mare 10 5 0 5 259:247 (12) 10 N-3256 Larvik Norway 5. Fleury Loiret Handball 10 2 2 6 252:283 (-31) 6 6. Thüringer HC 10 0 1 9 244:297 (-53) 1 Media contact: Per Christian Andersen Main round results: Past achievements +47 33 138 230 vs Thüringer HC W28:19 (14:7) [email protected] @ FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria L30:27 (19:14) Women’s EHF Champions League vs Fleury Loiret Handball L26:31 (14:15) Participations (including 2015/16 Online information: @ Thüringer HC W20:28 (11:13) season): 17 Website: www.larvikhk.no vs FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria W37:31 (20:15) Winners (1): 2010/11 Facebook: larvikhk @ Fleury Loiret Handball W28:31 (16:15) Runners-up (2): 2012/13, 2014/15 Twitter:@LarvikHK Semi-final (4): 2001/02, 2003/04, Group matches results: 2009/10, 2011/12 vs Rostov-Don L21:27 (10:14) Quarter-final (3): 2000/01, 2002/03, @ HCM Baia Mare W31:29 (19:14) 2006/07 Kit colours @ RK Krim Mercator W37:21 (21:10) Main Round (1): 2013/14 Light vs RK Krim Mercator W32:28 (17:15) Group Matches (5): 1994/95, 1997/98, Player shirt: white @ Rostov-Don L25:26 (14:15) 2005/06, 2007/08, 2008/09 Player short: red vs HCM Baia Mare W27:22 (12:12) Goalkeeper shirt: orange Other Dark Cup Winners‘ Cup: Winners 2004/05, Player shirt: black 2007/08, Semi-final 1996/97, 2005/06 Player short: black EHF Cup: Runners-up 2005/06 Goalkeeper shirt: green Norwegian league: 17 titles (1994, 1997, 2000-03, 2005-2015) Norwegian cup: 15 titles

37 Larvik (NOR)

Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: 41:20 (24:9) v Dinamo RUS (h), 12.02.2011 Biggest defeat: 29:17 (17:7) v RK Krim Neutro Roberts SLO (a), 10.03.2001 Longest winning run: 15 matches (18.10.2014 – 09.05.2015) Longest unbeaten run: 15 matches (18.10.2014 – 09.05.2015) Longest losing run: 4 matches (03.11.2007 – 05.01.2008) Longest run without win: 5 matches (16.11.2013 – 01.03.2014)

Most goals: 41 v Dinamo RUS 41:20W (h), 12.02.2011 Most goals opponent: 35 v HC ‘Lada Togliatti’ RUS 35:25L (a), 10.11.2007 Most goals both teams: 70 v IK Sävehof SWE 39:31W (h), 13.10.2012 Fewest goals: 13 v Buducnost MNE 23:13L (a), 08.04.2012 Fewest goals opponent: 16 v Oltchim Valcea ROU 22:16W (h), 10.02.2001 16 v Buducnost MNE 28:16W (h), 16.03.2013 Fewest goals both teams: 35 v HC Dinamo RUS 18:17W (h), 08.11.2009

EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1994/95 Larvik HK NOR 6 2 1 3 141:144 -3 5:7 3rd Gr. A 1997/98 Larvik HK NOR 6 3 0 3 165:150 +15 6:6 3rd Gr. C 2000/01 Larvik HK NOR 8 5 0 3 193:181 +12 10:6 1/4-finals 2001/02 Larvik HK NOR 10 7 1 2 262:253 +9 15:5 1/2-finals 2002/03 Larvik HK NOR 8 4 1 3 216:193 +23 9:7 1/4-finals 2003/04 Larvik HK NOR 10 5 1 4 287:262 +25 11:9 1/2-finals 2005/06 Larvik HK NOR 6 3 0 3 153:154 -1 6:6 3rd Gr. A 2006/07 Larvik HK NOR 8 5 0 3 236:211 +25 10:6 1/4-finals 2007/08 Larvik HK NOR 6 2 0 4 166:179 –13 4:8 3rd Gr. C 2008/09 Larvik HK NOR 6 3 0 3 179:169 +10 6:6 3rd Gr. C 2009/10 Larvik HK NOR 14 10 0 4 365:339 +26 20:8 1/2-finals 2010/11 Larvik NOR 16 13 0 3 469:376 +93 26:6 Winner 2011/12 Larvik NOR 14 6 2 6 336:330 +6 14:14 1/2-finals 2012/13 Larvik NOR 16 10 0 6 435:379 +56 20:12 Runner-up 2013/14 Larvik NOR 12 5 2 5 304:280 +24 12:12 3rd MR Gr. 2 2014/15 Larvik NOR 16 15 0 1 444:355 +89 30:2 Runner-up Total 162 98 8 56 4351:3955 +396 204:120

38 Larvik (NOR) Team roster

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Goals

20 Frida Helene Bjaaland NOR Left Back 05/07/1995 Porsgrunn, NOR 179 14 Kristine Breistøl NOR Left Back 23/08/1993 Oslo, NOR 191 34 8 NOR Centre Back 10/05/1980 Oslo, NOR 172 13 4 NOR Line Player 25/11/1985 Tromso, NOR 182 25 21 Helene Glemming NOR Right Wing 03/01/1997 Oslo, NOR 171 3 Anja Hammerseng-Edin NOR Back 05/02/1983 Porsgrunn, NOR 179 13 10 Gro Hammerseng-Edin NOR Centre Back 10/04/1980 Gjovik, NOR 180 33 13 Vilde Ingeborg Johansen NOR Line Player 25/07/1994 Tønsberg, NOR 3 11 Linn-Kristin Koren Riegelhuth NOR Right Wing 01/08/1984 Lorenskog, NOR 175 22 Amanda Kurtovic NOR Right Back 25/07/1991 Karlskrona, NOR 176 47 23 Lena Lowe NOR Left Back 20/03/1997 Tønsberg, NOR 9 Nora Mørk NOR Right Back 05/04/1991 Oslo, NOR 167 83 19 Thea Mørk NOR Left Wing 05/04/1991 Oslo, NOR 168 24 5 Jenny Osnes Graesholt NOR Right Wing 05/01/1989 Oslo, NOR 167 15 Mari Kristine Søbstad Molid NOR Back 08/08/1990 Trondheim, NOR 178 8 22 Sanna Charlotte Solberg NOR Left Wing 16/06/1990 Bærum, NOR 178 32 17 NOR Left Back 14/05/1986 Tønsberg, NOR 179 20 18 Hanne Svela NOR Centre Back 18/06/1996 Stavanger, NOR 173 28 Alina Wojtas POL Left Back 21/03/1987 Nowy Sacz, POL 191

1 DEN Goalkeeper 18/10/1989 Gribskov, DEN 176 12 Alma Hasanic MNE Goalkeeper 13/05/1989 Sije, BIH 176 Cecilie Wick Ullitz NOR Goalkeeper 1/11/1997 Tønsberg, NOR

Tor Odvar Moen coach • has made a comeback to the job as head coach ahead of the 2015/16 season, succeeding Ole Gustav Gjekstad, to whom he was assistant coach for the previous three and a half years • has been with Larvik since 1997, taking care of several different jobs in the club • head coach in the club for the second time, as he took over at New Year 2011, as now late Karl Erik Bohn left with immediate effect • led Larvik to the club’s only CL triumph so far – in 2011 • has his strongest qualities in the tactical area and in communication with the players

39 Sanna Solberg Sandra Toft left wing goalkeeper • joined Larvik from Norwegian league colleagues • her 25th birthday on 18 October 2014 marked her Stabaek in the summer of 2014. debut in the CL (against Metz Handball) • 2014/15 is her first CL season, she has European • 2014/15 is her first season outside her native experience from the Cup Winners` Cup with country Denmark after she came from Holstebro Stabaek, though. • became number one for Denmark when Karin • her twin sister Silje plays for Danish league club Mortensen and Christina Nymand Pedersen quit the Team Tvis Holstebro as a goalkeeper national team after the London Olympics 2012 • Silje had played 36 internationals already, when • broke a neck vertebra in a car accident in 2009 Sanna had her debut in the autumn of 2013. and was close to being paralysed from the neck down – she was back on the court in five months EHF EURO: G 2014, WCh: G 2015

Tine Stange Gro Hammerseng-Edin left back left back • played for Larvik all her senior career • World Handball Player of the year (2007) • actually playing as an amateur this season, as the • excluding the 2011 WCh title and the 2012 Olympic Norwegian Federation has limited Larvik’s right to gold - she has the same medals as Riegelhuth-Koren sign contracts due to last season’s financial trouble. • several times the 32-year-old Norwegian was • her performances for Larvik also caught the eye nominated for All-Star Teams at major tournaments of national coach who called her • in 2011 she was a key part of Larvik’s CL winning back into the national team this spring team • mother of a 2-year-old boy • in 2013 she retired from the national team

EC trophies: CL 2011 EC trophies: CL 2011, Cup Winners’ Cup 2004 EURO: G 2010. WC: B 2009 OG: G 2008, WCh: S 2001, 2007, EHF EURO: G 2004, 2006, 2010, S 2002

Marit Malm Frafjord Amanda Kurtovic line player right back • used to play for Larvik’s rivals Byasen, but • made a comeback to Larvik in summer 2015 after joined Larvik in 2014 after a three year long foreign three years joining from league colleagues Oppsal adventure at Viborg HK • for a long time, she seemed to be heading for • crucial in the centre of defence as well in the Danish Nykobing Falster, but ended in Larvik attack, to Larvik and the Norwegian national team • mainly seen as back up to Nora Mork in the right • an Achilles tendon injury kept her out of the last back after Linn Jorum Sulland has left for Györ part of last season, and the first half of this one, but • has been bothered quite a lot by injuries through since new year, she has been back at full strength her career and an injury also meant that she missed the triumph of winning the Cup Winners’ Cup in 2014 with Danish Viborg HKNamdiusque potiaet; EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup 2014 OG: G 2012, WCh: G 2011, 2015 OG: G 2008, 2012, EHF EURO: G 2006, 2008, 2010, S 2012, WCh: G 2011, S 2007, B 2009

Nora Mørk Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth Koren right back right wing • best scorer of the Norwegian team at the EHF • recently returned to the Larvik team after giving EURO 2014 (41 goals) birth to a girl shortly before Christmas • voted the best right back of the EHF EURO 2014 • married to left wing and former Norwegian international Einar Riegelhuth Koren • can also play on the right wing, her twin sister and teammate Thea plays on the left wing • known best to all Norwegians under her nickname Linka has played in Larvik all her senior career, apart • joined Larvik in the 2009/10 season and debuted from one year in Danish FCK in the 2009-10 season in the national team in 2010 as 19-year-old • her younger sister, left back Betina, who also plays • in 2013/14 she had her record-breaking CL season in the national team, plays for Danish Team Esbjerg so far with 71 goals • has qualified as a nurse

EC trophies: CL 2011 EC trophies: CL 2011 EHF EURO: G 2010, 2014, WCh: G 2015 EURO: G 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, S 2012 WCh: S 2007, B 2009, G 2011. OG: G 2008, 2012. WCL: G 2011

40 FTC Rail-Cargo Hungaria (HUN) vs Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN)

First leg Saturday 2 April, 15:00 hrs. local time

Second leg Saturday 9 April, 17:00 hrs. local time

Group 2 runners-up Győr travel to Budapest to lock horns with “They attack brilliantly. If you don’t concentrate 100 percent in Group 1 third-placed Ferencváros in the quarter-final of the defence, they will get you. Our defence will surely have a hard time Women’s EHF Champions League. FTC claim to be underdogs but stopping their attacks.” their home support and fast attacks can take them far against the yet again injury-hit Győr. Ferencváros are the top scorers of the Champions League as none of the Main Round outfits managed to score more goals (282) than After eight years Ferencváros managed to dethronize Győr in 2015 the Budapest greens. It must be added that FTC haven’t yet met but despite FTC await the quarter-final clash with their domestic a defence as compact, tall and massive as Győr’s. Ambros Martín, arch-rivals as Hungarian title holders, Győr seem to be the favourites who once again had to start building a team almost from scratch, to reach the FINAL4 in Budapest. lost Zsuzsa Tomori but his team’s back line remained composed all season long. “They have the tallest wall in women’s handball and Ferencváros had a great run in the Women’s EHF Champions League, there are two excellent goalkeepers behind it.” however, top drawer performances were usually delivered at home. FTC lost only one point at home during the entire season but “Needless to say, they make use of their outstanding defence managed to win just once against Main Round opponents. by scoring a lot of fastbreak goals. Judging by our match in the Hungarian league last weekend this is something we need to work “Away form is a major problem for us but as long as we can make up on,” said Elek, whose team suffered a heavy defeat (33:22) in Győr. for it at home, I am content with our overall performance,” claimed Gábor Elek, head coach of FTC. Statistics back the opinion: only Buducnost conceeded less goals than Győr, whose 230 is 42 less than FTC’s 272. Kari Aalvik Grimsbö Ambros Martín knows about his opponents’ tendency to stumble obviously has a lot to do with that, the Norwegian goalkeeper is in in away games but the Spanish coach is more concerned about the top form and could make life difficult for Nerea Pena, Szandra Zácsik intimidating atmosphere created by the Ferencváros faithful. and Zita Szucsánszki.

“We want to be the first team to defeat FTC in their home. If you However, the goalie of Ferencváros is also on fire, Melinda Szikora take a look at the list of teams that failed the mission you will have had some excellent games, most recently against Baia Mare, when a better picture of how strong Gábor Elek’s team really is,” referred she made sure FTC finish third in Group 1. Martín to the likes of Larvik, Baia Mare, Fleury Loiret and Thüringer. “We are overachievers, there’s no doubt about that. But I feel my However, Martín claims FTC deserve the support they get. According players are still hungry for more and being the underdogs against to the Győr coach FTC are one of the top teams of the Women’s EHF Győr makes them even more determined,” added Gábor Elek. Champions League.

Head-to-head stats FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria vs Györi Audi ETO KC No previous encounters in the European Cup competitions

41 3rd ranked GROUP 1 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN) Hungarian champions are enjoying an excellent run in the Women’s EHF Champions League but finishing third in Main Round Group 1 meant they will face domestic rivals Győri Audi ETO. Gábor Elek has a difficult task at hand but Ferencváros have already caused upsets to top sides this year. Among the many who capitalized on the storm-tossed season of then holders Győri Audi ETO last year were Ferencváros, who sat on the prestigious Hungarian throne after eight years. However, doubts were raised about the European competitiveness of the Budapest Greens especially after inspirational leader Zsuzsa Tomori re-joined Győr and the summer passed without any major signings. But Ferencváros were to prove all doubters wrong. Szandra Zácsik’s six-months old daughter saw her mommy get back to her best with breathtaking speed, (right handed) right back Dóra Hornyák proved to be a clutch singing, Piroska Szamoránsky is having a great season and young goalie Melinda Szikora stepped in and performed well after the injury of Serbian international Katarina Tomasevic. Group B was not the strongest of the groups, yet it had the excellent Spanish-French commando of Fleury Loiret and last year’s quarter-finalist Thüringer HC along with the young Podravka side. Unbeaten Ferencváros finished on top with astonishing confidence as Gábor Elek’s team even escaped a near-death situation in Orleans. There were excellent performances from to-be club legend Zita Szucsánszki, the cool 7 meter shooter Luca Szekerczés and defensive stalwart Klára Szekeres but the player of the first part of the season is undoubtedly Nerea Pena. The Spanish star always stepped in when despair struck and delivered with her trademark shots. However, it was the Main Round when FTC first locked horns with the elite of Europe’s top Playing hall handball competition and Ferencváros have proved they are worthy opponents. Their fortress (either of the three they have been using lately) remained impregnable, only the extremely lucky City Hall Dabas Rostov Don snatched a draw in Budapest while Larvik and Baia Mare were thoroughly beaten. Iscola utca 5 Ferencváros are clearly the underdog against Győr as far as squad strength is concerned but their 2370 Dabas domestic rival will need 100 percent concentration to take the heat of the FTC arena. Hungary Capacity: 2,498 GROUP 1 FINAL STANDINGS

1. Rostov-Don 10 9 1 0 281:237 (44) 19 2. Larvik 10 6 0 4 281:263 (18) 12 3. FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 10 5 2 3 282:272 (10) 12 Club address: 4. HCM Baia Mare 10 5 0 5 259:247 (12) 10 FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria Kobanyai ut 47/a. 5. Fleury Loiret Handball 10 2 2 6 252:283 (-31) 6 1101 Budapest 6. Thüringer HC 10 0 1 9 244:297 (-53) 1 Hungary Past achievements

Media contact: Main round results: Women’s EHF Champions League Andrea Pordán @ Rostov-Don L23:21 (13:11) Participations (including 2015/16 +36 20 365 8263 vs Larvik W30:27 (19:14) season): 16 [email protected] @ HCM Baia Mare L32:24 (16:14) Runners-up: 2001/02 vs Rostov-Don D29:29 (15:13) Semi-finals: 1996/97, 2000/01 Online information: @ Larvik L37:31 (20:15) Quarter-finals: 1999/2000, 2002/03, Website: kezilabda.fradi.hu vs HCM Baia Mare W21:18 (14:7) 2003/04 Facebook: ftckezilabda Main Round: 2012/13 Group Matches results: Group Matches/Champions League: vs HC Podravka Vegeta W28:16 (13:5) 1994/95, 1995/96, 1997/98, 2006/07, @ Fleury Loiret Handball D28:28 (11:14) 2007/08, 2013/14 @ Thüringer HC W30:27 (18:13) Qualification: 2009/10, 2014/15 Kit colours vs Thüringer HC W32:28 (19:12) Light @ HC Podravka Vegeta W24:27 (12:16) Other Player shirt: white vs Fleury Loiret Handball W36:23 (24:12) EHF Cup: winners: 2005/06, semi-finals: Player short: white 2004/05 Goalkeeper shirt: red Cup Winners’ Cup: winners 2010/11, Dark 2011/12, semi-finals: 2006/07, 2014/15 Player shirt: green Player short: green Hungarian league: 12 titles (1966, 1968, Goalkeeper shirt: blue/black 1969, 1971, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2015) Hungarian cup: 12 titles

42 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN) Club records – EHF Champions League

Biggest win: 42:16 (19:7) v Anagennisi Artas GRE (h), 18.01.1997 Biggest defeat: 22:32 (11:13) v CS ‘Oltchim’ Rm. Valcea ROU (h), 04.11.2007 Longest winning run: 5 matches (14.10.2012 – 11.11.2012) Longest unbeaten run: 6 matches (17.02.1996 – 05.01.1997) 6 matches (18.10.2015 - 22.11.2015) Longest losing run: 4 matches (12.01.2007 – 17.02.2007) 4 matches (27.10.2007 – 16.11.2007) 4 matches (02.03.2013 – 06.10.2013) Longest run without win: 5 matches (04.01.1998 – 31.10.1999)

Most goals: 42 v Anagennisi Artas GRE 42:16W (h), 18.01.1997 Most goals opponent: 39 v Viborg HK A/S DEN 39:30L (a), 13.01.2008 Most goals both teams: 70 v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 34:36L (h), 10.02.2007 Fewest goals: 17 v Volgograd AKVA RUS 22:17L (a), 03.03.2001 Fewest goals opponent: 16 v Anagennisi Artas GRE 42:16W (h), 18.01.1997 16 v TUS Walle Bremen GER 27:16W (h), 25.01.1997 16 v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 28:16W (h), 18.10.2015 Fewest goals both teams: 36 v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 18:18D (h), 31.03.1996

EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage Reached 1994/95 Ferencvaros Budapest HUN 6 3 1 2 135:129 +6 7:5 3rd Gr. B 1995/96 Ferencvaros Budapest HUN 6 3 2 1 145:137 +8 8:4 2nd Gr. B 1996/97 Ferencvaros Budapest HUN 10 6 1 3 264:208 +56 13:7 1/2-finals 1997/98 HERZ – FTC Budapest HUN 6 1 1 4 147:159 –12 3:9 3rd Gr. B 1999/00 HERZ – FTC Budapest HUN 8 4 0 4 204:201 +3 8:8 1/4-finals 2000/01 HERZ – FTC Budapest HUN 10 5 0 5 264:232 +32 10:10 1/2-finals 2001/02 HERZ – FTC Budapest HUN 12 6 2 4 348:341 +7 14:10 Runner-up 2002/03 HERZ – FTC Budapest HUN 8 6 0 2 252:228 +24 12:4 1/4-finals 2003/04 FTC Budapest HUN 8 5 0 3 220:221 -1 10:6 1/4-finals 2006/07 FTC Budapest HUN 6 2 0 4 177:188 -11 4:8 3rd Gr. D 2007/08 Budapest Bank-FTC HUN 6 1 0 5 165:192 –27 2:10 4th Gr. D 2012/13 FTC Rail Cargo Hungaria HUN 12 8 0 4 346:336 +10 16:8 3rd MR Gr. 2 2013/14 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria HUN 6 3 0 3 162:161 +1 6:6 3rd Gr. B Total 104 53 7 44 2829:2733 +96 113:95

43 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN) Team roster

No. First name Surname Nat. Position Date of birth Place of birth Height Goals

3 Anita Cifra HUN Line Player 6.8.1989 Bekes, HUN 180 2 45 Noemi Hafra HUN Centre Back 5.10.1998 Cegléd, HUN 180 1 92 Dora Hornyak HUN Left Back 24.1.1992 Debrecen, HUN 176 33 19 Monika Kovacsicz HUN Right Wing 20.11.1983 Komarno, SVK 171 20 22 Viktoria Lukacs HUN Right Wing 31.10.1995 Budapest, HUN 165 20 21 Greta Marton HUN Left Wing 3.10.1999 Mohacs, HUN 175 14 Rea Reka Meszaros HUN Line Player 14.4.1994 Vac, HUN 172 3 29 Noemi Mod HUN Centre Back 20.4.1997 Mohacs, HUN 175 98 Piroska Pappne Szamoransky HUN Line Player 9.7.1986 Györ, HUN 173 33 25 Nerea Pena Abaurrea ESP Centre Back 13.12.1989 Pamplona, ESP 175 59 6 Nadine Schatzl HUN Left Wing 19.11.1993 Munich, GER 173 28 4 Adrienn Szarka HUN Left Wing 28.6.1991 Kiskunhalas, HUN 176 3 94 Luca Szekerczes HUN Right Back 18.6.1994 Bonyhád, HUN 175 51 10 Klára Szekeres HUN Left Back 1.12.1987 Békéscsaba, HUN 186 3 2 Szandra Szollosi-Zacsik HUN Right Back 22.4.1990 Komarno, SVK 183 44 8 Zita Szucsanszki HUN Centre Back 22.5.1987 Budapest, HUN 172 37

16 Alena Abramovich BLR Goalkeeper 18.07.1981 Minsk, BLR 192 27 Katarina Tomasevic SRB Goalkeeper 6.2.1984 Belgrade, SRB 179 12 Melinda Szikora HUN Goalkeeper 19.11.1988 Kiskunhalas, HUN 175 72 Petra Hlogyik HUN Goalkeeper 28.2.1999 Tatabánya, HUN 180

Gabor Elek coach • son of legendary Ferencváros coach, who led the team for almost three decades, now plays in the arena that is named after his father, Gyula Elek • has been at the helm in Ferencváros since 2008 but he won his first domestic gold medal in 2015 having already won an enermous amount of silvers behind Györ • won back-to-back Cup Winners’ Cups with his team in 2011 and 2012 • respected member of the Ferencváros family, apart from his father his mother also played for the club

EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup: 2011, 2012

44 Katarina Tomasevic Nadine Schatzl goalkeeper left wing • youngster is already a two-time Hungarian • the Serbian goalkeeper is a real globetrotter, champion and cup winner and played in the CL final played in Austria, Denmark, Spain, Serbia, Germany with Györ at the age of nineteen in 2012 and France before Ferencváros • despite her young age she has already featured in • has four national championship titles (Austrian, the EHF Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup with Érd Serbian, German and Hungarian) under her belt • born in Munich, Germany but started playing • signed a two-year contract in 2014 handball in Mohács at the age of 10 • veteran goalie has already participated in all • member of the Hungarian national team, is international EHF tournaments and reached the getting more and more time on the court at FTC semi-finals of both WCh and EURO

WCh: S 2013

Nerea Pena Szandra Szöllősi-Zácsik left back left back • Spanish international signed from Itxako in 2012 • back in business for 2015/16 after two serious and has been a clutch player for Elek ever since shoulder injuries, which saw her out of action for almost two years after a maternity leave • injury-prone sharp shooter has been through difficult times injuring the same knee twice but • Ferencváros and national team teammate Mónika when fit she is the focal point of FTC’s attacks Kovacsicz is Zácsik’s niece, her husband, Szabolcs Szöllősi is also a member of the Hungarian men’s • finished as runner-up both at the EURO 2014 with national team as line player Spain and in the CL with Itxako in 2011 • won both Hungarian and Slovenian titles; scored a • versatile player and is the perfect partner for Zita last second penalty against then CL holders Viborg, Szucsánszki in the Ferencváros artillery unit which saw her team triumph on away goals in 2011 • voted to the All-stars of the EURO 2010

EURO: S 2014, WCh: B 2011 EC trophies: Cup Winners’ Cup: 2011, 2012

Zita Szucsánszki Piroska Szamoransky centre back line player • versatile player, who can also play in middle and • one of the longest serving members of left back positions. Ferencváros joined the club in 2005 • despite her young age part of the old guard at • Cup Winners’ Cup specialist, who won three Ferencváros, she was only 17 when debuted in the consecutive trophies between 2010 and 2012 (one green jersey ten years ago with Buducnost, two with Ferencváros) • voted player of the year in Hungary in 2011 • experienced Hungarian international and a clutch player both in defence and attack for Ferencváros • the 1,75 tall brunette was voted the Hottest and the Hungarian national team Player in the EHF EURO 2014, which was held in Hungary and Croatia • her twin sister, Aniko is a fellow handball player

EC trophies: EHF Cup 2006, Cup Winners’ Cup 2011, 2012 EC trophies: EHF Cup 2006, Cup Winners’ Cup 2010, 2011, 2012 EURO: B 2012 EURO: B 2012

Luca Szekerczés Monika Kovacsicz right back right wing • widely considered to be the best right back of her • veteran wing was born in the Slovakian half of generation in Hungary border town Komarno, but has over 130 games with the Hungarian national team under her belt • voted to the All-star teams of both the EURO in 2013 (where Hungary finished as runners-up) and • won national titles (both championship and WCh in 2014 national cup) in Hungary and Denmark • youngster will have to fill in for the team’s most • won back-to-back international titles twice – the prolific scorer, Zsuzsa Tomori, who signed to Györ CL with Viborg and the Cup Winners’ Cup with FTC • was offloaded a couple of times but was called • top scorer of Ferencváros when the team won the back in the summer CWC in 2011 • voted Youth Player of the Year in Hungary in 2012 EC trophies: CL 2009, 2010, Cup Winners’ Cup 2011, 2012 EURO: B 2012, WCh: B 2005

45 2nd ranked Group 2 Győri Audi ETO KC (HUN) After a season marred by injuries Győri Audi ETO KC are back among the top contenders of the Women’s EHF Champions League amid yet another injury crisis. Ambros Martín’s team has finally found consistency and are eager to reach Budapest after they won the first edition of the women’s FINAL4. Injuries just don’t seem to let Győr go. This year’s crisis, however, is nowhere near as heavy as last year’s but the tsunami of ligament injuries continued and the management had to hire a special team to check if the floor of their new arena was to blame. It turned out it was simply (very-very) bad luck as Anita Görbicz and Zsuzsa Tomori both suffered injuries at international games with the latter missing the entire season. Ambros Martín handled the enermous pressure well and despite the difficulties managed to find the right track with his team. The Norwegian unit, Heidi Löke, Linn Sulland and Kari Aalvik Grimsbö performed extremely well, while is getting closer and closer to her best and FTC-bound Anikó Kovacsics had some strong performances. The player of the autumn rounds was Nycke Groot, who also led the Dutch team to the World Cup final and was the focal point of Győr’s attacks this season. Győr had problems with consistency, the roller-coaster brought mixed result with highs and lows. The former Champions League winner won in Skopje only to lose the next game against Midtjylland at home (both by five goals) but they soon found the rhythm even after Tomori and Görbicz suffered injuries in the World Cup. First the defence reached top form as the notorius Győr wall covered extremely well and made life easier for the magnificent Grimsbö, who has been enjoying a huge season so far. Attacks faltered more often but with excellent performances from Groot, Löke and the returning Amorim Győr managed to beat Buducnost, Vardar and Bucuresti at home. However, the home defeat to Midtjylland proved costly as Győr finished second in the Main Round behind the mighty Buducnost. Playing hall In the Hungarian league Győr were unable to cover FTC’s Zácsik and Hornyák and lost the derby AUDI Arena by one goal (29-28) in November. However, the second leg proved Győr’s superiority as Martín’s Kiskút liget team gave Ferencváros a thorough beating at home thus taking over on top of the League. 9027 Györ Hungary Capacity: 5,000 GROUP 2 FINAL STANDINGS

1. Buducnost 10 7 1 2 264:211 (53) 15 Club Address: Győri Audi ETO KC 2. Györi Audi ETO KC 10 7 1 2 252:230 (22) 15 Kiskutliget 3. HC Vardar 10 7 0 3 270:246 (24) 14 92027 Győr 4. CSM Bucuresti 10 4 1 5 242:239 (3) 9 Hungary 5. FC Midtjylland 10 2 1 7 220:261 (-41) 5 6. IK Sävehof 10 1 0 9 225:286 (-61) 2 Media contact: Andrea Szilagyi +36 70 394 95 96 Main round matches Past achievements [email protected] vs Buducnost W22:20 (13:11) @ IK Sävehof W18:26 (6:13) Women’s EHF Champions League Online information: vs CSM Bucuresti W28:22 (12:10) Participations (including 2015/16 Website: www.gyorietokc.hu @ Buducnost L25:22 (12:12) season): 13 Facebook: Győri-Audi-ETO-KC vs IK Sävehof W32:26 (19:14) Winners (2): 2012/13, 2013/14 Twitter:@GyoriaudiETO @ CSM Bucuresti W22:24 (8:14) Runners-up (2): 2008/09, 2011/12 Semi-final (4): 2006/07, 2007/08, 2009/10, 2010/11 Kit colours Group matches results @ HC Vardar W27:22 (13:10) Quarter-final (1): 2014/15 Light vs FC Midtjylland L21:26 (11:11) Group Matches (2): 2000/01, 2005/06 Player shirt: white @ Hypo Niederösterreich W29:21 (15:6) Qualification (1): 2004/05 Player short: green vs Hypo Niederösterreich W37:16 (17:9) Goalkeeper shirt: white/red vs HC Vardar W28:27 (14:17) Other Cup Winners’ Cup: Runners-up 2005/06, Dark @ FC Midtjylland D22:22 (10:12) Semi-final 2002/03 Player shirt: green/black EHF Cup: Runners-up 1998/99, 2001/02, Player short: green/black 2003/04, 2004/05 Goalkeeper shirt: blue, black Hungarian league: 11 titles (1957, 1959, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Hungarian cup: 12 titles

46 Győri Audi ETO KC (HUN)

Biggest win: 37:16 (17:9) v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT (h), 08.11.2015 Biggest defeat: 28:39 (12:20) v Spartak Kiev UKR (a), 17.02.2001 Longest winning run: 13 matches (13.10.2012 – 06.04.2013) Longest unbeaten run: 22 matches (05.05.2013 – 23.11.2014) Longest losing run: 3 matches (11.02.2001 – 07.01.2006) Longest run without win: 4 matches (28.01.2001 – 07.01.2006) 4 matches (20.03.2011 – 02.10.2011)

Most goals: 41 v Hypo Niederösterreich AUT 41:22W (h), 05.10.2013 Most goals opponent: 39 v Spartak Kiev UKR 39:28L (a), 17.02.2001 Most goals both teams: 73 v HC Podravka Vegeta CRO 33:40W (a), 13.01.2008 Fewest goals: 18 v Larvik NOR 18:24L (h), 20.03.2011 18 v WHC Vardar SCBT 24:18L (a), 04.04.2015 Fewest goals opponent: 14 v SD Itxako ESP 14:20W (a), 14.11.2009 Fewest goals both teams: 34 v SD Itxako ESP 14:20W (a), 14.11.2009

Women’s EHF Champions League record

MP W T L GF GA GD PTS Stage

2000/01 Györi Graboplast ETO HUN 6 1 2 3 156:168 –12 4 4th Gr. D 2005/06 Györi ETO Kezilabda Club HUN 6 3 0 3 154:169 -15 6 3rd Gr. D 2006/07 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 10 6 0 4 291:267 +24 12 1/2-finals 2007/08 Györi Audi ETO HUN 14 11 0 3 415:366 +49 22 1/2-finals 2008/09 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 16 11 1 4 454:415 +39 23 Runner-up 2009/10 Györi AUDI ETO KC HUN 14 8 2 4 355:337 +18 18 1/2-finals 2010/11 Györi AUDI ETO KC HUN 14 10 1 3 387:334 +53 21 1/2-finals 2011/12 Györi AUDI ETO KC HUN 16 10 1 5 472:422 +50 21 Runner-up 2012/13 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 16 15 0 1 435:346 +89 30 Winner 2013/14 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 14 12 2 0 408:337 +71 26 Winner 2014/15 Györi Audi ETO KC HUN 14 10 1 3 385:313 +72 21:7 1/4-finals Total 140 97 10 33 3912:3474 +438 204:76

47 Győri Audi ETO KC (HUN)

Team roster

No. First Name Surname Nat. Position Date of Birth Place of Birth Height Goals 4 NOR Back 13.6.1985 Trondheim, NOR 172 13 18 Eduarda Idalina Amorim Taleska BRA Left Back 23.9.1986 Blumenau/BRA 186 42 33 Bernadett Bognar-Bodi HUN Right Wing 9.3.1986 Szeged/HUN 175 13 14 Yvette Broch NED Line Player 21.12.1990 Monster/NED 184 18 28 Beatrix Elö HUN Right Back 28.1.1997 Györ/HUN 182 13 Anita Görbicz HUN Centre Back 13.5.1983 Veszprem/HUN 173 21 27 Cornelia Nycke Groot NED Centre Back 4.5.1988 Alkmaar/NED 170 39 8 Anette Emma Hudak HUN Left Back 25.3.1998 Bratislava/SVK 178 3 Jana Knedlikova CZE Right Wing 22.6.1989 Praha/CZE 167 17 11 Dorina Korsos HUN Left Wing 3.9.1995 Kecskemét/HUN 168 10 14 Aniko Kovacsics HUN Centre Back 29.8.1991 Nagyatad/HUN 170 31 17 Rita Lakatos HUN Centre Back 6.7.1999 Dunajska Streda/SVK 174 88 Luca Linder HUN Line Player 8.6.1996 Mohacs/HUN 171 5 Heidi Loke NOR Line Player 12.12.1982 Tnsberg/NOR 177 44 21 Szimonetta Planeta HUN Right Back 12.12.1993 Kazincbarcika/HUN 198 6 15 Linn Jorum Sulland NOR Right Back 15.7.1984 Oslo/NOR 178 41 23 Zsuzsanna Tomori HUN Left Back 18.6.1987 Budapest/HUN 187 19 96 Gabriella Toth HUN Back 23.9.1996 Berettyóújfalu/HUN 175 22 Adrienn Orban HUN Right Wing 1.10.1986 Györ/HUN 168 2 9 Julia Harsfalvi HUN Centre Back 12.11.1996 Zalaegerszeg/HUN 168 1

16 Alexa Weninger HUN Goalkeeper 25.6.1997 Györ/HUN 177 21 Eva Kiss HUN Goalkeeper 10.7.1987 Debrecen/HUN 189 85 Kari Aalvik Grimsbø NOR Goalkeeper 4.1.1985 Bergen/NOR 180 1

Ambros Martín coach • born in Lanzarote, Canary Islands • joined Győr in 2012 • previously coached top Spanish side Estrella Itxako for seven years, winning the EHF Cup in 2009 • also eliminating Györ in the semi-final on the way to the CL final in 2010/11 during that spell • in his first season with Győr he won their first European trophy

EC trophies: CL 2013, 2014, EHF Cup 2009

48 Kari Aalvik Grimsbø Aniko Kovacsics goalkeeper left wing/centre back • joined Györ from Danish Team Esbjerg during • the playmaker was propelled into the starting the 2014/15 season, as Croatian Jelena Grubisic, a seven due to the pregnancy of Anita Görbicz in the replacement for pregnant Katrine Lunde, got injured 2014/15 season • before joining Esbjerg, had a long career in • the 23-year-old made her CL debut at 16 and is Norwegian Byasen, including a lot of appearances in already in her eighth season. the CL, the EHF Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup • also able to play left wing and was deployed in • All-star goalkeeper of the 2012 Olympics that position by Hungary during EHF EURO 2014 • started her career at the age of 5, had her debut • awarded best young player of the 2012/13 CL for Byasen in the Norwegian league at the age of 17 season

OG: G 2008, 2012, EURO: G 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, WCh: G 2011, 2015, S 2007, B 2009 EC trophies: CL 2013, 2014 EURO: B 2012

Eduarda Amorim Anita Görbicz left back centre back • 2014 IHF Player of the Year • being among the best players in the world over the last decade • Brazilian international arrived in Europe in 2006 • the team captain was waiting to secure one of big • first joining Kometal Skopje in FYR Macedonia, prizes at either club or national level for many years transferred to Győr in 2009 until 2013 • passed the 300 goals milestone in the European • individual titles: 2011/12 CL top scorer and World top flight in the 2013/14 season Handball Player of Year (2005), voted for the best • All-star left back at the WCh 2013 and the CL centre back at three WCh in a row (2003-07) 2013/14 • missed almost the entire 2014/15 season due to maternity leave

EC trophies: CL 2013, 2014 EC trophies: CL 2013, 2014 WCh: G 2013, Pan-American Games: G 2003, 2007, 2011 WCh: S 2003, B 2005, EHF EURO: B 2004, 2012

Nycke Groot Heidi Loke centre back line player • expected to have a major share on the playing • World Handball Player of the Year (2011) time at the playmaker’s position with Anita Görbicz • famous daughter in a big handball family as both • her entire career at top level in Denmark until she of her siblings are professional players and all of joined Györ in the summer of 2015 (started in Team them are line players Tvis Holstebro and since 2011 in FC Midtjylland) • in 2011 she took the title with Larvik as the CL top • with FCM the top scorer of the 2014 MVM EHF scorer, and in 2012 she only narrowly missed it with FINAL4 (20 goals) Győr only to achieve it one year later • player of the year in the Danish league in 2014 • member of the All-Star teams at the London Olympics, 2011 WCh and EHF EURO 2010, 2012 & 2014 WCh: S 2015 EC trophies: CL 2011, 2013, 2014 OG: G 2012, WCh: G 2011, 2015, EURO: G 2008, 2010, 2014, S 2012

Linn-Jørum Sulland Ida Alstad right back left back/centre back • recent new reinforcement from Larvik, whom she • joined Györ from Norwegian league club Byasen joined in 2009 from league rivals Stabæk Trondheim as per New Year 2016 • in 2005/06 the best player of the domestic league • not part of Norwegian national coach Thorir and also was the top scorer Hergeirsson’s original squad for the 2015 WCh, but was called up before the last 16 phase • reached the 500-goal plateau in the national team • started her career in Trondheim, the city where • top scorer of the European Beach Handball she was born, but has also had a foreign career in Championship in 2007 the Danish clubs Holstebro and FC Midtjylland • has scored over 300 goals for Norway

EC trophies: CL 2011 EC trophies: CWC 2015 OG: G 2012, WCh: G 2011, 2015, S 2007, EURO: G 2008, 2010, S 2012 OG: G 2012, WCh: G 2011, 2015, S 2009, EURO: G 2010, 2014, S 2012

49 Home of European Live-Handball

>> Men’s EHF EURO 2016 >> VELUX EHF Champions League >> Women’s EHF Champions League >> DKB Handball Bundesliga >> Liga Bauhaus Asobal >> And much more…

>> Matches live and on demand >> Highlights, features and best-of >> Compatible with smartphones and tablets

Check it out now! ehfTV.com 50 Extended women’s coverage on ehfTV.com

The complete coverage of all matches means that only during the group stage of both competitions handball fans will be spoilt by over 300 matches.

ehfTV.com extends the coverage of the Women’s CL

Since the 2014/15 season, handball’s leading live streaming platform ehfTV.com has been preparing a special package for all fans of women’s handball.

From the opening round of the group matches ehfTV produces a new magazine compiling the most interesting scenes of the round.

Every Monday after a playing round “REWIND - The Women’s Handball Show” will not only show the highlights of the games, but also All matches of new season live interviews with players and selections of the top five goals and saves.

Handball fans across Europe will not miss a single match in the new During the 26 minute long programme fans will also be introduced to a season of both elite European club competitions. All matches starting rookie of the round followed by best scenes of the three biggest stars from Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League and Group of the round. Matches of the Women´s EHF Champions League will be broadcast live and free of charge on ehfTV.com and the videos of all matches will be also on demand (subject to geo-blocking restrictions).

TV stations broadcast matches all over the world

The matches of this season in both the VELUX EHF Champions League and the Women’s EHF Champions League are shown live or delayed almost all over the world. Not less than 40 TV stations will broadcast matches live or delayed.

Only in Europe fans are able to watch matches in 19 countries, but also the handball TV audience in America (USA and Brazil), Asia and Africa (countries of Middle East and North Africa, Malaysia and Singapore) can enjoy a television coverage.

See the list of TV stations and countries below:

Europe • MNE Arena Sport Asia & Africa • AUT ORFsportplus • NOR Viasat Sport • MENA beIN Sports MENA • BEL Eleven Sports • POL NC+ • MYS Eleven Sports • BIH Arena Sport • ROU Digisport Romania • SGP Eleven Sports • CRO HRT • ROU Dolce Sport News • CRO Hrvatski Telekom/ Arena Sport • RUS NTV+ • HUN MTVA • DEN DR 1/2 • SLO Sport TV Slovenia • SLO RTVSLO • DEN Viasat Denmark • SRB Arena Sport • SWE SVT • FRA beIN Sports • SVK/CZE Sport 1 Slovakia • GER MDR • SWE Viasat 10 • HUN sport1/2 • MKD MKRTV America • BRA Esporte Interactivo • MKD Arena Sport • USA beIN Sports USA • MNE PRVA TV

51 Top Scorers after Main Round

Rank Player Club Goals 1 Nora Mørk (NOR) Larvik (NOR) 83 2 Allison Pineau (FRA) HCM Baia Mare (ROU) 82 3 Isabelle Gulldén (SWE) CSM Bucuresti (ROU) 80 Ekaterina Ilina (RUS) Rostov-Don (RUS) 80 5 Katarina Bulatovic (MNE) Buducnost (MNE) 70 6 Barbosa (ESP) Fleury Loiret Handball (FRA) 68 7 Julia Eriksson (SWE) IK Sävehof (SWE) 67 8 Gnonsiane Niombla (FRA) Fleury Loiret Handball (FRA) 66 9 Iuliia Managarova (UKR) Rostov-Don (RUS) 64 10 Cristina Neagu (ROU) Buducnost (MNE) 62 11 Nerea Pena (ESP) FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN) 59 12 (ROU) Thüringer HC (GER) 58 Andrea Penezic (CRO) HC Vardar (MKD) 58 14 Johanna Ahlm (SWE) FC Midtjylland (DEN) 57 15 Andrea Lekic (SRB) HC Vardar (MKD) 56 16 Lois Abbingh (NED) HCM Baia Mare (ROU) 51 Luca Szekerczes (HUN) FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN) 51 18 Stine Jörgensen (DEN) FC Midtjylland (DEN) 48 19 Alexandra Do Nascimento (BRA) HCM Baia Mare (ROU) 47 Svenja Huber (GER) Thüringer HC (GER) 47 Amanda Kurtovic (NOR) Larvik (NOR) 47 Ana Rodrigues (BRA) CSM Bucuresti (ROU) 47 23 Heidi Loke (NOR) Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN) 44 Regina Shymkute (RUS) Rostov-Don (RUS) 44 Szandra Szollosi-Zacsik (HUN) FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN) 44

52 Past Winners

1994 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT

1995 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT

1996 Podravka Koprivnica CRO

1997 Mar El Osito L´Eliana Valencia ESP

1998 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT

1999 Dunaferr SE HUN

2000 Hypo Niederösterreich AUT

2001 RK Krim Neutro Roberts SLO

2002 Kometal D.P. Skopje MKD

2003 Krim ETA Kotex Ljubljana SLO

2004 Slagelse FH DEN

2005 Slagelse FH DEN

2006 Viborg A/S DEN

2007 Slagelse FH DEN

2008 Zvezda Zvenigorod RUS

2009 Viborg A/S DEN

2010 Viborg A/S DEN

2011 Larvik HK NOR

2012 Buducnost Podgorica MNE

2013 Gyõri Audi ETO KC HUN

2014 Gyõri Audi ETO KC HUN

2015 Buducnost Podgorica MNE

2015/16 Women’s EHF Champions League Quarter-finals Media Information by

EHF Media & Communications, 30/03/2016

Contributors: Björn Pazen, Peter Bruun, Adrian Costeiu, Amina Idrizi, Sasa Joncic, Nemanja Savic, Sergey Nikolaev, Bence Martha, Kevin Domas,

Sergey Nikolaev, Jelena Bagaric, all stats by Roy Knoppert

53 For further information please contact: Vladislav Brindzak EHF Media & Communications +43 1 80151 161 [email protected]

European Handball Federation EHF Marketing GmbH Hoffingergasse 18 Hoffingergasse 18 1120 Vienna 1120 Vienna Austria Austria

Tel +43 1 80151 0 Tel +43 1 80151 224