TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) EHF CUP GROUP PHASE

Facts and figures of the Group Phase 3

Top scorers of the Group Phase 5

Results overview of the Group Phase 6

2) EHF CUP QUARTER-FINALS

Preview of the quarter-finals 11

Fixtures overview 12

KIF Kolding vs Team Tvis Holstebro 13

RK Branik vs Frisch Auf Göppingen 17

SC Magdeburg vs Rhein Neckar Löwen 21

Important regulations 25

3) EHF CUP FINALS

EHF Cup Finals Draw 25

Official name – EHF Cup Finals 25

Media accreditation for EHF Cup Final 26

Clubs – Media contacts 26

EHF/EHF Marketing – Media contacts 26

Nantes hosting the premiere edition of the EHF Cup Finals 27

EHF Cup Finals venue – Hall information 27

Past winners of the EHF Cup and Cup Winners´ Cup 28

FACTS AND FIGURES OF THE EHF CUP GROUP PHASE

For the first time in the history of the competition a Group Phase was played in the Men’s EHF Cup. 16 teams from 12 countries played 48 matches in four groups. Six teams qualified for the quarter- finalist, while HBC Nantes directly made it to the EHF Cup Finals on home ground on 18/19 May, as the French team were among the three best second ranked teams. Four group winners and the two best second ranked teams clinched their berth for the three quarter-final pairings (Branik Maribor vs Frisch Auf Göppingen, KIF Kolding vs Team Tvis Holstebro and SC Magdeburg vs Rhein Neckar Löwen), which will be played 20/21 and 27/28 April. The three aggregate winners of those pairings qualify for the EHF Cup Finals.

Here are the most important facts and figures about the Group Phase and the quarter-finalists:

The six quarter-finalist come from only three countries – Germany is represented by three teams, which all became group winners: SC Magdeburg, Rhein Neckar Löwen and the defending champions of the old EHF Cup Frisch Auf Göppingen. is represented by the fourth group winner Team Tvis Holstebro and KIF Kolding. Additionally, Branik Maribor from Slovenia qualified for the quarter-finals as best second ranked team. KIF Kolding and Maribor Branik made it all the way, as they are the only teams to arrive in the quarter-final, who had been part of the competition since first qualification stage. Team Tvis Holstebro started in the second qualification stage, as the three German clubs and Nantes started in the third qualification stage.

Points, points, points:

SC Magdeburg are the only unbeaten team of the Group Phase with five victories and one draw against EHF Cup Finals host HBC Nantes. Rhein Neckar Löwen and Frisch Auf Göppingen also took five victories, but each were once beaten in the Group Phase. Swedish side Eskilstuna Guif were the only team which remained by zero points in the end. Only three draws occurred in the 48 matches of the Group Phase, one in the top duel of group D SC Magdeburg vs. HBC Nantes (26:26), two of Danish side Team Tvis Holstebro in group C (Holstebro vs. Maribor 26:26, Elverum vs. Holstebro 28:28). In total 29 times the home finished the matches victorious, 16 times the away teams were the winners.

Overall statistics: 29 home victories – 3 draws – 16 away victories

Göppingen, La Rioja, Rhein Neckar Löwen, and Maribor have won all their home matches, Magdeburg won all away matches.

Goals, goals, goals

Attack: Frisch Auf Göppingen were the best team concerning the attacking performance – and were the only participant to reach the mark of 200 goals in six matches (an average of 33,3 goals). Rhein Neckar Löwen had the second best attack by 185 goals, followed by RK Cimos Koper (181) and SC Magdeburg (176). Turkish champions Besiktas Istanbul are on the bottom of this ranking by 129 scored goals.

Defence: Former EHF Champions League winner SC Magdeburg had the best defence of all 16 teams, conceding only 135 goals in six matches, an average of 22,5 goals. Second ranked in this department are EHF Cup Finals host HBC Nantes (143 goals), followed by KIF Kolding (145) and Rhein Neckar Löwen (150). Koper are on the bottom by 189 conceded goals.

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Goal difference:

SC Magdeburg was the best team regarding the goal difference by +41, ahead of Rhein Neckar Löwen (+35) and Frisch Auf Göppingen (+25). Besiktas (-35), Eskilstuna (-33) and Motor Zaporozhye (-31) are on the bottom of this ranking.

Matches with the biggest number of goals:

The spectators of both legs of the encounter Frisch Auf Göppingen vs. Cimos Koper could not complaint to see less goals, as in total 145 goals were scored in both matches. And those encounters clearly lead the ranking in this department. Five of those eight matches with the highest number of goals happened in Group A.

75 goals: Cimos Koper vs. Frisch Auf Göppingen 36:39 70 goals: Frisch Auf Göppingen vs. Cimos Koper 38:32 67 goals: Tatran Prešov vs. Rhein Neckar Löwen 33:34

Matches with the lowest number of goals:

Only 39 goals were scored in the first round encounter of Stiinta Municipal Bacau vs. HBC Nantes, the only match with less than 40 goals in the Group Phase. 39 goals: Stiinta Municipal Bacau vs. HBC Nantes 18:21 44 goals: Besiktas Istanbul vs. SC Magdeburg 17:27 45 goals: Besiktas Istanbul vs. HBC Nantes 21:24

Matches with the biggest difference:

Six of 48 matches ended with a difference of more than ten goals – with the encounter KIF Kolding vs. Tatran Prešov on top with the huge margin of 20 goals.

20 goals: KIF Kolding vs. Tatran Prešov 37:17 16 goals: Rhein Neckar Löwen – Tatran Prešov 36:20 15 goals: SC Magdeburg vs. Besiktas Istanbul 33:18

Top scorers after the Group Phase (including qualification matches):

Andre Lindboe (Elverum Herrer) 76 Patrick Larsen (Team Tvis Holstebro) 68 Sergii Burka (Motor Zaporozhye) 61 Nikola Špelić (Maribor Branik) 61 Kim Andersson (KIF Kolding) 60

Top 12 of spectators:

The Danish-German top duel KIF Kolding, played at the Brondby Arena Kobenhavn, was the number 1 regarding spectators, as 4749 fans attended this match. In total, HBC Nantes was the team with the highest number of spectators in their three home matches by an average of 4433 fans at their games, followed by Naturhouse La Rioja (3500 in average). In total 12 matches were attended by 3000 or more spectators.

4749: KIF Kolding vs. Rhein Neckar Löwen 4600: HBC Nantes vs. Besiktas Istanbul 4500: HBC Nantes vs. Bacau 4200 : HBC Nantes vs. SC Magdeburg 4000: Naturhouse La Rioja vs. Cimos Koper 4

TOP SCORERS OF THE GROUP PHASE (players still active in the competition in bold letters)

1. Markovic Zarko (MNE) Frisch Auf Göppingen (GER) 43 2. Burka Sergii (UKR) HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) 39 3. Spelic Nikola (CRO) RK Maribor Branik (SLO) 37 4. Antl Radoslav (SVK) TATRAN Presov (SVK) 33 Kristopans Dainis (LAT) TATRAN Presov (SVK) 33 Larsen Patrick Wiesmach (DEN) Team Tvis Holstebro (DEN) 33 Weber Robert (AUT) SC Magdeburg (GER) 33 8. Gavranovic Filip (CRO) RK Cimos Koper (SLO) 32 Nielsen (DEN) Team Tvis Holstebro (DEN) 32 Pavan Lopez Jorge Luis (CUB) Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) 32 Schmid Andre (SUI) Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) 32 12. Rapotec Uros (SLO) RK Cimos Koper (SLO) 31 13. Döne Ramazan (TUR) Besiktas JK (TUR) 30 Ghionea Valentin Marian (ROU) Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) 30 Rivera Folch Valero (ESP) HBC Nantes (FRA) 30 Rnic Momir (SRB) Frisch Auf Göppingen (GER) 30 Urban Tomas (SVK) TATRAN Presov (SVK) 30 18. Razgor Simon (SLO) RK Maribor Branik (SLO) 29 19. Christiansen Mads (DEN) Team Tvis Holstebro (DEN) 28 Da Costa Capote Rafael (CUB) Naturhouse La Rioja (ESP) 28 Kubisztal Michal (POL) Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) 28 Semikov Alexander (UKR) HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) 28 Spellerberg Bo (DEN) KIF Kolding (DEN) 28 24. Horak Pavel (CZE) Frisch Auf Göppingen (GER) 27 Özbahar Tolga (TUR) Besiktas JK (TUR) 27 Zarabec Miha (SLO) RK Maribor Branik (SLO) 27 27. Bombac Dean (SLO) RK Cimos Koper (SLO) 26 Ghita Radu Cristian (ROU) Stiinta Municipal Dedeman Bacau (ROU) 26 Lindboe Andre (NOR) Elverum Handball Herrer (NOR) 26 Sesum Zarko (SRB) Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) 26 31. Andersson Kim (SWE) KIF Kolding (DEN) 25 Rönnberg Andreas (FIN) Elverum Handball Herrer (NOR) 25 Sluijters Iso (NED) Elverum Handball Herrer (NOR) 25 34. Freiman Helge (SWE) Eskilstuna Guif (SWE) 24 Myrhol Bjarte Hakon (NOR) Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER) 24 Rojewski Andreas (GER) SC Magdeburg (GER) 24 37. Karlsson Lukas (SWE) KIF Kolding (DEN) 23 38. Osmajic Vladimir (MNE) RK Cimos Koper (SLO) 22 Ramba Ionut (ROU) Stiinta Municipal Dedeman Bacau (ROU) 22 Sostaric Mario (SLO) RK Maribor Branik (SLO) 22 Späth Manuel (GER) Frisch Auf Göppingen (GER) 22 42. Gullerud Magnus (NOR) Elverum Handball Herrer (NOR) 21 Maqueda Pena Jorge (ESP) HBC Nantes (FRA) 21 44. Bramming Magnus Grubb (DEN) Team Tvis Holstebro (DEN) 20 Heimisson Heimir Oli (ISL) Eskilstuna Guif (SWE) 20 Jensen Rasmus (DEN) KIF Kolding (DEN) 20 Kneer Stefan (GER) SC Magdeburg (GER) 20 Musche Matthias (GER) SC Magdeburg (GER) 20 Stegavik Steffen Stormo (NOR) Elverum Handball Herrer (NOR) 20 Wisniewski Adam (POL) Orlen Wisla Plock (POL) 20 5

2012/13 Men's European Cup EHF Cup Group Phase

Group A matches won draw lost goal-difference points 1 GER Frisch Auf Göppingen 6 5 0 1 200:175 25 10 2 ESP Naturhouse La Rioja 6 4 0 2 171:155 16 8 3 SLO RK Cimos Koper 6 3 0 3 181:189 -8 6 4 SWE Eskilstuna Guif 6 0 0 6 154:187 -33 0 MatchID: 201311020804- 002 SLO RK Cimos Koper vs. ESP Naturhouse La Rioja 25 : 21 (13:11) 09.02.2013 19:00 Koper / SLO Spectators: 1500 Ref.: Yudchyts, Kot BLR Del.: Posavec CRO 001 GER Frisch Auf Göppingen vs. SWE Eskilstuna Guif 37 : 26 (20:16) 09.02.2013 19:30 Göppingen / GER Spectators: 2900 Ref.: Konjicanin, Konjicanin BIH Del.: Vitzthum SUI 004 SWE Eskilstuna Guif vs. SLO RK Cimos Koper 29 : 30 (15:14) 16.02.2013 16:00 Eskilstuna / SWE Spectators: 1241 Ref.: Andorka, Hucker HUN Del.: Halldorsson ISL 003 ESP Naturhouse La Rioja vs. GER Frisch Auf Göppingen 25 : 23 (12:13) 16.02.2013 20:00 Logrono / ESP Spectators: 3500 Ref.: Togstad, Kristiansen NOR Del.: Caillet FRA 005 SLO RK Cimos Koper vs. GER Frisch Auf Göppingen 36 : 39 (14:22) 23.02.2013 19:00 Koper / SLO Spectators: 1599 Ref.: Bounouara, Sami FRA Del.: Rudinsky SVK 006 ESP Naturhouse La Rioja vs. SWE Eskilstuna Guif 29 : 23 (17:13) 23.02.2013 20:00 Logrono / ESP Spectators: 3000 Ref.: Sager, Styger SUI Del.: Tosi Brandi ITA 008 SWE Eskilstuna Guif vs. ESP Naturhouse La Rioja 24 : 30 (10:11) 09.03.2013 16:00 Eskilstuna / SWE Spectators: 1165 Ref.: Mazeika, Gatelis LTU Del.: Jensen DEN 007 GER Frisch Auf Göppingen vs. SLO RK Cimos Koper 38 : 32 (20:15) 09.03.2013 19:30 Göppingen / GER Spectators: 3000 Ref.: Herczeg, Südi HUN Del.: Rätz SUI 009 SWE Eskilstuna Guif vs. GER Frisch Auf Göppingen 25 : 31 (12:17) 16.03.2013 19:00 Eskilstuna / SWE Spectators: 909 Ref.: Kouz, Zhoba UKR Del.: Hogsnes NOR 010 ESP Naturhouse La Rioja vs. SLO RK Cimos Koper 35 : 28 (19:14) 16.03.2013 20:00 Logrono / ESP Spectators: 4000 Ref.: Pichon, Reveret FRA Del.: Donven LUX 012 SLO RK Cimos Koper vs. SWE Eskilstuna Guif 30 : 27 (16:13) 23.03.2013 19:00 Koper / SLO Spectators: 500 Ref.: Nabokau, Kulik BLR Del.: Vujisic MNE 011 GER Frisch Auf Göppingen vs. ESP Naturhouse La Rioja 32 : 31 (18:17) 23.03.2013 19:30 Göppingen / GER Spectators: 3600 Ref.: Pandzic, Mosorinski SRB Del.: Petersen DEN

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2012/13 Men's European Cup EHF Cup Group Phase

Group B matches won draw lost goal-difference points 1 GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen 6 5 0 1 185:150 35 10 2 DEN KIF Kolding 6 3 0 3 158:145 13 6 3 SVK TATRAN Presov 6 3 0 3 167:184 -17 6 4 UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye 6 1 0 5 150:181 -31 2 MatchID: 201311020804- 014 UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye vs. DEN KIF Kolding 21 : 24 (8:10) 09.02.2013 17:00 Zaporozhye / UKR Spectators: 900 Ref.: Dobrovits, Tajok HUN Del.: Reisinger AUT 013 SVK TATRAN Presov vs. GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen 33 : 34 (17:17) 09.02.2013 20:30 Presov / SVK Spectators: 3350 Ref.: Vitaku, Vitaku KOS Del.: Andorka HUN 016 GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs. UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye 35 : 22 (18:11) 16.02.2013 19:00 Mannheim / GER Spectators: 1467 Ref.: Pandzic, Mosorinski SRB Del.: Lang AUT 015 DEN KIF Kolding vs. SVK TATRAN Presov 37 : 17 (17:8) 17.02.2013 15:00 Kolding / DEN Spectators: 2775 Ref.: Pandzic, Satordzija BIH Del.: Berndtsson SWE 017 UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye vs. SVK TATRAN Presov 27 : 32 (10:15) 23.02.2013 17:00 Zaporozhye / UKR Spectators: 900 Ref.: Mitrevski, Todorovski MKD Del.: Ventsli EST 018 DEN KIF Kolding vs. GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen 25 : 23 (13:11) 24.02.2013 15:00 Brondby / DEN Spectators: 4749 Ref.: Nabokau, Kulik BLR Del.: Oie NOR 019 SVK TATRAN Presov vs. UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye 36 : 28 (19:17) 09.03.2013 20:30 Presov / SVK Spectators: 3120 Ref.: Jurinovic, Mrvica CRO Del.: Zabczynski POL 020 GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs. DEN KIF Kolding 28 : 25 (16:10) 10.03.2013 17:00 Mannheim / GER Spectators: 1900 Ref.: Bounouara, Sami FRA Del.: Hansson SWE 021 GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs. SVK TATRAN Presov 36 : 20 (21:10) 16.03.2013 19:00 Mannheim / GER Spectators: 1732 Ref.: Togstad, Kristiansen NOR Del.: Vitzthum SUI 022 DEN KIF Kolding vs. UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye 25 : 27 (13:14) 17.03.2013 15:00 Horsens / DEN Spectators: 1750 Ref.: Bernet, Wick SUI Del.: Halldorsson ISL 024 UKR HC Motor Zaporozhye vs. GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen 25 : 29 (12:13) 23.03.2013 17:00 Zaporozhye / UKR Spectators: 900 Ref.: Boricic, Markovic SRB Del.: Stanek CZE 023 SVK TATRAN Presov vs. DEN KIF Kolding 29 : 22 (18:13) 23.03.2013 18:00 Presov / SVK Spectators: 2274 Ref.: Brkic, Jusufhodzic AUT Del.: Popov SRB

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2012/13 Men's European Cup EHF Cup Group Phase

Group C matches won draw lost goal-difference points 1 DEN Team Tvis Holstebro 6 3 2 1 170:157 13 8 2 SLO RK Maribor Branik 6 3 1 2 170:165 5 7 3 POL Orlen Wisla Plock 6 3 0 3 164:158 6 6 4 NOR Elverum Handball Herrer 6 1 1 4 155:179 -24 3 MatchID: 201311020804- 026 DEN Team Tvis Holstebro vs. SLO RK Maribor Branik 26 : 26 (15:12) 10.02.2013 15:00 Holstebro / DEN Spectators: 1504 Ref.: Liachovicius, Gecevicius LTU Del.: Sigurdsson ISL 025 NOR Elverum Handball Herrer vs. POL Orlen Wisla Plock 25 : 27 (14:10) 10.02.2013 18:00 Elverum / NOR Spectators: 1209 Ref.: Kekes, Kekes HUN Del.: Hansson SWE 027 SLO RK Maribor Branik vs. NOR Elverum Handball Herrer 34 : 29 (19:14) 16.02.2013 19:00 Maribor / SLO Spectators: 1000 Ref.: Aliyev, Aghakishiyev AZE Del.: Pavicevic MNE 028 POL Orlen Wisla Plock vs. DEN Team Tvis Holstebro 28 : 29 (15:13) 16.02.2013 19:00 Plock / POL Spectators: 3800 Ref.: Vesovic, Mitrovic MNE Del.: Jaskins LAT 031 NOR Elverum Handball Herrer vs. DEN Team Tvis Holstebro 28 : 28 (16:15) 24.02.2013 18:00 Elverum / NOR Spectators: 926 Ref.: Frieser, Frieser CZE Del.: Sundell FIN 030 SLO RK Maribor Branik vs. POL Orlen Wisla Plock 26 : 23 (13:13) 24.02.2013 19:00 Maribor / SLO Spectators: 1500 Ref.: Argyridis, Mouttas CYP Del.: Popov SRB 032 POL Orlen Wisla Plock vs. SLO RK Maribor Branik 30 : 26 (15:12) 09.03.2013 18:00 Plock / POL Spectators: 3100 Ref.: Novikov, Perepilitsy UKR Del.: Schlick AUT 029 DEN Team Tvis Holstebro vs. NOR Elverum Handball Herrer 33 : 18 (16:10) 10.03.2013 15:00 Holstebro / DEN Spectators: 1673 Ref.: Leandersson, Lindroos FIN Del.: Haraldsson ISL 033 POL Orlen Wisla Plock vs. NOR Elverum Handball Herrer 30 : 25 (17:14) 16.03.2013 18:00 Plock / POL Spectators: 2500 Ref.: Pandzic, Mosorinski SRB Del.: Kazinieks LAT 034 SLO RK Maribor Branik vs. DEN Team Tvis Holstebro 31 : 27 (14:12) 16.03.2013 20:30 Maribor / SLO Spectators: 1700 Ref.: Hajek, Macho CZE Del.: Lang AUT 035 NOR Elverum Handball Herrer vs. SLO RK Maribor Branik 30 : 27 (19:15) 23.03.2013 17:00 Elverum / NOR Spectators: 545 Ref.: Bounouara, Sami FRA Del.: Berndtsson SWE 036 DEN Team Tvis Holstebro vs. POL Orlen Wisla Plock 27 : 26 (12:13) 24.03.2013 15:00 Holstebro / DEN Spectators: 1577 Ref.: Alvarez Mata, Bustamante Lopez ESP Del.: Gunnarsson ISL

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2012/13 Men's European Cup EHF Cup Group Phase

Group D matches won draw lost goal-difference points 1 GER SC Magdeburg 6 5 1 0 176:135 41 11 2 FRA HBC Nantes 6 4 1 1 154:143 11 9 3 ROU Stiinta Municipal Dedeman Bacau 6 1 0 5 148:165 -17 2 4 TUR Besiktas JK 6 1 0 5 129:164 -35 2 MatchID: 201311020804- 045 GER SC Magdeburg vs. TUR Besiktas JK 33 : 18 (17:6) 09.02.2013 15:00 Magdeburg / GER Spectators: 2639 Ref.: Alvarez Mata, Bustamante Lopez ESP Del.: Petersen DEN 038 ROU Stiinta Municipal Dedeman Bacau vs. FRA HBC Nantes 18 : 21 (9:7) 10.02.2013 18:45 Bacau / ROU Spectators: 1800 Ref.: Brkic, Jusufhodzic AUT Del.: Vizitiu MDA 040 GER SC Magdeburg vs. ROU Stiinta Municipal Dedeman Bacau 33 : 25 (16:13) 16.02.2013 15:00 Magdeburg / GER Spectators: 2355 Ref.: Johansson, Kliko SWE Del.: Baum POL 039 FRA HBC Nantes vs. TUR Besiktas JK 31 : 24 (16:10) 17.02.2013 17:00 Nantes / FRA Spectators: 4600 Ref.: Kouz, Zhoba UKR Del.: Permuy ESP 042 FRA HBC Nantes vs. GER SC Magdeburg 20 : 27 (8:13) 24.02.2013 17:00 Nantes / FRA Spectators: 4200 Ref.: Sigurjónsson, Petursson ISL Del.: Convents BEL 041 ROU Stiinta Municipal Dedeman Bacau vs. TUR Besiktas JK 26 : 24 (15:13) 24.02.2013 20:00 Bacau / ROU Spectators: 1800 Ref.: Azemi, Beqiri KOS Del.: Antonopoulos GRE 043 TUR Besiktas JK vs. ROU Stiinta Municipal Dedeman Bacau 25 : 23 (15:10) 09.03.2013 15:00 Istanbul / TUR Spectators: 550 Ref.: Pavicevic, Raznatovic MNE Del.: Tevzadze GEO 044 GER SC Magdeburg vs. FRA HBC Nantes 26 : 26 (14:17) 09.03.2013 15:00 Magdeburg / GER Spectators: 2822 Ref.: Kekes, Kekes HUN Del.: Huelin ESP 037 TUR Besiktas JK vs. GER SC Magdeburg 17 : 27 (9:10) 16.03.2013 17:00 Istanbul / TUR Spectators: 400 Ref.: Pandzic, Satordzija BIH Del.: Trespidi ITA 046 FRA HBC Nantes vs. ROU Stiinta Municipal Dedeman Bacau 32 : 27 (20:13) 17.03.2013 17:00 Nantes / FRA Spectators: 4500 Ref.: Di Domenico, Fornasier ITA Del.: Mulleners BEL 047 TUR Besiktas JK vs. FRA HBC Nantes 21 : 24 (11:12) 23.03.2013 15:00 Istanbul / TUR Spectators: 300 Ref.: Baranowski, Lemanowicz POL Del.: Hadjinikolaou GRE 048 ROU Stiinta Municipal Dedeman Bacau vs. GER SC Magdeburg 29 : 30 (20:16) 24.03.2013 18:00 Bacau / ROU Spectators: 1500 Ref.: Katsikis, Michailidis GRE Del.: Yordanov BUL

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Participants

Elverum Handball SC Magdeburg, Herrer, NOR GER

Eskilstuna Orlen Wisla Guif, SWE Plock, POL

Team Tvis Tatran Presov, Holstebro, DEN SVK

KIF Kolding, HC Motor DEN Zaporozhye, UKR

Rhein-Neckar RK Maribor Löwen, GER Branik, SLO

HBC Nantes, Stiinta Mun. FRA Dedeman Bacau, ROU

Frisch Auf RK Cimos Göppingen, GER Koper, SLO

Naturhouse Besiktas JK,

10 La Rioja, ESP TUR

PREVIEW OF THE EHF CUP QUARTER-FINALS

Three or four nations represented in the end? This is the main question before the quarter-finals in the Men’s EHF Cup. After EHF Cup Finals host HBC Nantes (France) are directly into the event, the last three spots will be decided over the next two weekends. One German and one Danish team will certainly clinch their berth for Nantes and the encounter of Maribor vs Göppingen will decide, whether Slovenia will also be represented.

KIF Kolding (DEN) vs. Team Tvis Holstebro (DEN)

Wednesday evening provided a good preview for this match, as KIF Kolding secured a spot in the semi-finals of the Danish league play-offs with a 26:19 victory at Holstebro and only four days later they face again in the first leg of this competition. KIF had already secured their spot for next season’s VELUX EHF Champions League by finishing on top of the ranking in the regular season of the Danish league. They will be boosted with the comeback of their strongest defender Joachim Boldsen, who is back on track after being out through injury for several weeks. “I feel ready to fight,” Boldsen was quoted on the club website. If Kolding progress, players like Kim Andersson, Kasper Hvidt and Boldsen will have the honour to be at two different final tournaments in consecutive seasons after they had been part of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne in 2012 with their former clubs.

RK Maribor Branik (SLO) vs. Frisch Auf Göppingen (GER)

“We never faced them, but I know Maribor very well,” said Göppingen’s coach Velimir Petković before the first leg. “I analysed our Group Phase opponent Cimos Koper by a video of their match against Branik, and I really appreciate the way Maribor plays. It will be anything but easy,” Petković added. Göppingen had won both duels against Koper on their way to finishing first in their group. Maribor let group victory slip from their hands after losing the final match at Elverum – but qualified as the only Slovenian team at this stage of any Men’s European Cup competition by finishing second their group.

Göppingen will have to replace Mitar Martez (cruciate ligament rupture), and it is still unknown, whether their top scorer Žarko Marković will be able to play in the first leg at Slovenia. Maribor had eliminated Wisła Płock in the Group Phase and have been given a huge confidence boost before these encounters. Göppingen can write history if they raise the trophy on 20 May. It would be their third straight EHF Cup, they would also be the last name on the winner’s list of the old format and the first of the new one.

SC Magdeburg (GER) vs. Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER)

The last time both teams met in Bundesliga on Easter Sunday, the first ever draw occurred between the teams (20:20). This season has already seen Löwen eliminate Magdeburg in the German Cup. “We want to end this series,” SCM goalkeeper Björgvin Gustavsson told eurohandball.com.

Both teams have injury problems, but Löwen have been hit harder: After (torn Achilles) and Oliver Roggisch (rupture of interior ligament), goalkeeper Goran Stojanović will miss the quarter-finals due to a torn muscle fibre in the thigh. On the bright side, Swedish international Kim Ekdahl du Rietz (torn muscle fibre) is back in the team. Magdeburg have to replace German international Andreas Rojewski (broken thumb), while Slovenian international Jure Natek might be back on track after nearly one year away due to a cruciate ligament tear.

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2012/13 Men's European Cup EHF Cup Quarter Finals

MatchID: 201311020805- 001 DEN KIF Kolding 002 DEN Team Tvis Holstebro 21.04.2013 16:50 Brondby 28.04.2013 16:50 Holstebro Ref.: Togstad, Kristiansen NOR Del.: Sundell FIN 003 SLO RK Maribor Branik 004 GER Frisch Auf Göppingen 20.04.2013 18:00 Maribor 27.04.2013 19:30 Göppingen Ref.: Dobrovits, Tajok HUN Del.: Sokol CRO 005 GER SC Magdeburg 006 GER Rhein-Neckar Löwen 21.04.2013 17:00 Magdeburg 27.04.2013 19:00 Mannheim Ref.: Buache, Meyer SUI Del.: Lang AUT

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KIF KOLDING vs TEAM TVIS HOLSTEBRO (Denmark) (Denmark)

1st leg: Sunday, 21 April, 16:50, Brøndby Hallen, Brøndby 2nd leg: Sunday, 28 April, 16:50, Gråkjær Arena, Holstebro

Qualification for the quarter-finals: second place Qualification for the quarter-finals: first place in in Group B Group C

Road to the quarter-finals: Kolding had to start Road to the quarter-finals: For the first time in the their campaign in Round 1, on their way to the season they let know about their ambitions in the Group Phase they only lost one of six matches, last qualification round when they rolled over the away to Russian side Permskie Medvedi, but the French team St Raphael Var who only narrowly Danes comfortably won in the return leg. They missed the VELUX EHF Champions League Group certainly had a group of two halves as they Phase a few weeks before. Team Tvis Holstebro stumbled into the quarter-finals. After winning were the group winners with the lowest points total their opening three games, all looked well for the in the EHF Cup Group Phase, with eight points, Danish club, but three losses, including a surprise edging out Maribor and Wisła Płock in a tight Group defeat at home to Zaporozhye, put them in C. After a steady but unspectacular first half of the danger of making an early exit from the group (one win and two draws), a defeat in the competition. With HBC Nantes’ direct qualification penultimate game left their qualification hopes to the EHF Cup Finals, Kolding were forced to wait going to the wire. But a final day victory against and see if they would qualify as the seventh best Płock and a surprise win for Elverum over Branik team overall. Naturhouse La Rioja’s narrow defeat gave the Danish side top spot and a tie against their in Göppingen gave Kolding their place in the domestic rivals. quarter-final.

Top scorers: 28, Kim Andersson Top scorers: Patrick Wiesmach Larsen 33, Michael 25, Lukas Karlsson 23 Damgaard Nielssen 32, 28

Current situation in the domestic league (as of Current situation in the domestic league (as of 19 19 April): They have already clinched a berth in April): They finished fifth in the regular season’s the next season of the VELUX EHF Champions final standing. After four rounds of the Main Round Leagiue after having won the regular season of the they are already out of the race for the title and for Danish league. They have also already secured a the second Danish ticket to the VELUX EHF semi-final ticket leading the Main Round Group A Champions League trailing by six points behind by six points ahead of the third Holstebro two second Aalborg in Group A. They are 18-1-11 in rounds to go. In total they are 23-1-2 in 26 league this season of the Danish league, winning just one matches this season. out of four matches in the Main Round so far.

Notes: … missed only three seasons of the EC Notes: … only in their third season in the EC competitions since 1993/94 … their biggest competitions, the first one in the EHF Cup … never success was the semi-finals of the CL in 2001/02 played against Danish opponent in the EC … the … played just one match against Danish club still has both male and female team in the EHF opponents in the EC winning over Virum Cup, women have qualified for the final and the Sorgenfri 36:34 in the 3rd place match of the men are now one step away from Nantes … since 1996/97 EHF Champions Trophy in Irún (ESP) ... 2002/03 season they met Kolding 27 times three players Kasper Hvidt, Joachim Boldsen (both winning 7, tying 3 and losing 17 matches … the AG København) and Kim Andersson (THW Kiel) coach Klavs Bruun Jørgensen is still on the playing played in the VELUX EHF FINAL4 last season as list … with 12 goals he was the best scorer of Virum Andersson lifted the trophy and Boldsen and Sorgenfri against Kolding in the EHF Champions Hvidt finished third … outbreak of injuries forced Trophy 3rd place match in 1997 … no foreign the assistant coach Lars Krogh Jeppesen to come players in the squad compared to Kolding’s five out out of retirement during the Group Phase of four countries 13

Club Address: Club Address: KIF Kolding Team Tvis Holstebro Ambolten 2-6 Hostrupsvej 27 6000 Kolding, Denmark 7500 Holstebro, Denmark

Contact numbers: Contact numbers: Tel. +45-22-629062 Tel. +45-97-435959 Fax. +45-75-508807 +45-24-239039 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Colours of uniform: light dark Colours of uniform: light dark Player shirt: white red Player shirt: white blue Player short white white Player short blue blue Goalkeeper shirt orange/blue orange/ Goalkeeper shirt yellow- black blue turquoise

Arena: Arena: Brøndby Hallen Gråkjær Arena Brøndby Stadion 20 Hostrupvej 27 2605 Brøndby 7500 Holstebro Capacity: 5000 Capacity: 2400

Media contact: Media contact: Thomas Christensen, +45 22 629062 Jacob Jørgensen, +45 24 239039 [email protected] [email protected]

Online: Online: Club website: www.kif.dk Club website: www.teamtvisholstebro.dk Twitter: @KIFKoldingKBH Facebook: teamtvisholstebro Facebook: KIFKBH eurohandball.com eurohandball.com

Club achievements: VELUX EHF Champions League: 10 appearances – Club achievements: 2001/02: semi-finalists, 2002/03 quarterfinalists, Cup Winners’ Cup: 1 appearance – quarter- six times Last 16 (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, finalists 2009/10 2010, 2011) Challenge Cup: 1 appearance – Round 4 EHF Cup: 1 appearance – Last 16 1995/96 2002/02 Cup Winners’ Cup: 3 appearances – semi-finalists Danish Cup: Winners 2008 1999/00, quarter-finalists 2007/08, Last 16 2008/09 City Cup: finalists 1996/97 EHF Champions Trophy: 3rd place 1996/97 Danish league: 12 times winners Danish Cup: 7 times winners

14

Squads: KIF KOLDING No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height Goals 8 Bo Spellerberg DEN Left Back 24.7.1979 95 195 28 5 Kim Andersson SWE Right Back 21.8.1982 104 200 25 2 Lukas Karlsson SWE Centre Back 21.5.1982 83 180 23 17 Rasmus Jensen DEN Line Player 17.6.1989 90 189 20 10 Boris Schnuchel DEN Left Wing 15.3.1975 90 190 15 18 Kasper Irming Andersen DEN Right Wing 12.3.1986 80 188 14 19 Cyril Viudes FRA Line Player 6.2.1982 110 198 9 3 DEN Left Back 18.9.1979 100 192 7 Jacob Vinholt Pedersen DEN Left Wing 18.7.1993 5 20 Stefan Hundstrup DEN Left Wing 30.6.1986 86 193 4 21 Simon Edelberg Jensen DEN Right Wing 2.6.1984 85 185 4 15 Frederik Gustenhoff Borm DEN Line Player 12.8.1988 100 196 2 8 Lars Troels Jorgensen DEN Centre Back 3.2.1 978 102 192 2 23 Lucas Muff Bannerholt DEN Right Wing 10.6.1993 23 Joachim Boldsen DEN Centre Back 30.4.1978 103 187 25 Mads Kastrup Forslund DEN Right Wing 23.7.1983 Thorsten Friis DEN Goalkeeper 22.1.1993 1 Kasper Hvidt DEN Goalkeeper 6.2.1976 96 192 24 Lars Krogh Jeppesen DEN Left Back 5.3.1979 110 201 22 Kasper Jessen DEN Centre Back 13.8.1992 90 190 5 Jonas Langerhuus DEN Right Back 2.7.1992 7 Anders Zacharia Munch DEN Line Player 14.12.1989 100 195 16 Mikkel Drud Nielsen DEN Goalkeeper 14.3.1991 20 Henrik Panikovsky DEN Line Player 13.2.1992 110 185 14 Rolf Ravn DEN Right Back 10.10.1992 21 Luka Sokolic CRO Left Back 15.4.1990 86 193 Bilal Suman BIH Right Wing 9.6.1968 80 185 13 Thomas Björn Theilgaard DEN Right Wing 13.1.1993 1 Soren Westphal DEN Goalkeeper 8.7.1986 90 200

TEAM TVIS HOLSTEBRO No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height Goals 4 Patrick Wiesmach Larsen DEN Right Wing 23.3.1990 77 178 33 34 Michael Damgaard Nielsen DEN Left Back 18.3.1990 88 192 32 8 Mads Christiansen DEN Right Back 3.5.1986 92 194 28 24 Magnus Grubb Bramming DEN Left Wing 1.10.1990 78 183 20 7 Allan Damgaard Nielsen DEN Centre Back 11.4.1986 90 185 17 3 Sören Reinholdt Söndergaard Hansen DEN Line Player 9.12.1979 92 192 16 21 Jakob Green Jensen DEN Centre Back 10.7.1982 90 187 10 9 Sören Tau Sörensen DEN Line Player 18.12.1985 103 192 5 9 Jakob Thoustrup DEN Centre Back 15.6.1981 98 197 5 20 DEN Left Back 26.4.1986 103 198 3 24 Dennis Skovsborg Jeppesen DEN Left Wing 20.5.1985 78 172 1 15 Christian Albertsen DEN Left Back 15.4.1994 198 1 Michael Bruun Pedersen DEN Goalkeeper 8.10.1970 88 198 18 Matias Damgaard DEN Left Back 12 .10.1994 81 179 Klavs Bruun Jörgensen DEN Right Back 3.4.1974 90 183 12 Rasmus Schmidt Lind DEN Goal Keeper 8.4.1983 103 193 23 Johan Meklenborg DEN Right Wing 13.5.1994 78 194 19 Anders Molgaard Mose DEN Left Back 2.5.1993 196 22 Ronnie Schmidt Nicolaisen DEN Back 21.2.1994 78 185 16 Anders Petersen DEN Goalkeeper 18.1.1983 103 190 17 Bastian Rahbek Straede DEN Left Wing 14.11.1994 75 189

15

Key players

Kim Andersson: Mads Christiansen: Kim Andersson was The right back has played 49 nominated for the World matches for the national Handball Player of the Year team so far, becoming silver 2012, finishing joint-third medallist with Denmark at place behind winner Daniel the 2011 World Narcisse. The nomination Championship in Sweden capped a brilliant year for and EHF EURO champion the right back which 2012 in . On the included Olympic Silver with Sweden and national level he became Danish champion winning the VELUX EHF Champions League with Aalborg (under the name AaB Håndbold) with THW Kiel for a third time. in 2010. He joined Team Tvis Holstebro in the summer of 2011.

Bo Spellerberg: Patrick Wiesmach Spellerberg has been a KIF Larsen: Kolding player for ten years, The right wing became winning the Danish Danish champion with championship four times Aalborg in 2010. Wiesmach, with the club. who was European Internationally, Spellerberg champion with the Danish is a European champion U20 team in 2010, is one of with Denmark in 2008 and the fastest players in the 2010, and a silver medallist Danish league, and with his ability to read the at the World Championship in 2011. game in the defence, he makes a lot of interceptions which makes him even more valuable in the team´s fast breaks..

Coaches

Peter Bredsforff-Larsen Klavs Bruun Jørgensen In his career he coached As a player he was in the also Aalborg Handball and successful squads of AG Skanderborg Handball and København, GOG reached won the Danish Svendborg, FC København, Champion with Aalborg. Virum and German side From 2005 to 2012 he Wallau Massenheim and also acted as the assistant became four-time Danish coach of the Danish champion and four-time cup National Team and won winner. He played 186 two titles of the European matches for the Danish Champion in 2008 and national team. His coaching career started at 2012, silver medal at World Championship Nordsjælland and then AG København, where 2011, EHF EURO bronze medal in 2006 and he became Danish champion and cup winner. World Championship bronze medal in 2007. In the summer of 2012 he become head coach in Team Tvis Holstebro. He still spends as much time as possible with his family who still live in the Copenhagen area, almost 400 kilometres from Holstebro.

RK Maribor Branik vs Frisch AUF GÖPPINGEN (Slovenia) (Germany)

1st leg: Sunday, 20 April, 18:00, Jauni Zavod "Dvorana Tabor",Maribor 2nd leg: Saturday, 27 April, 19:30, EWS Arena Göppingen

Qualification for the quarter-finals: second place Qualification for the quarter-finals: first place in in Group C Group A

Road to the quarter-finals: RK Maribor Branik Road to the quarter-finals: The winners of last year’s looked strong from the beginning with an away ‘old’ EHF Cup qualified for the Group Phase through draw against Holstebro and two home victories. two convincing victories over Belarusian Brest Two losses in the return fixtures prevented them Meshkov. They have shown their intent to win the from holding on to their group lead and they will first edition of the reformed competition by topping be forced to face a German side in the quarter- a fiercely contested Group 1 with 10 points. finals. The Slovenian side finished with seven Bouncing back from their early setback against points from their six games, one behind Holstebro Naturhouse La Rioja, the German side won their four and one ahead of Wisła Płock in third. remaining games and claimed their place in the quarter-finals, knocking the Spanish club out of the Top scorers: Nikola Špelić 37, Simon Razgor, competition in the process, with a 32:31 win against 27 La Rioja in the final game.

Current situation in the domestic league (as of Top scorers: Žarko Marković 43, Momir Rnić 30, 19 April): Although they are out of the race for the Pavel Horák 27 Slovenian title trailing by more than ten points behind leading duo Velenje and Celje, they have Current situation in the domestic league (as of 19 already clinched a berth in the next season of the April): They sit on the 9th place of the German EHF Cup with still five rounds to go. In the bundesliga after 28 rounds with 13 wins, 2 draws previous round they beat other EHF Cup and 13 defeats. With six rounds before the end of participant Cimos Koper 29:28. the season they are twelve points behind fifth placed Hamburg who currently hold the last German ticket Notes: … Slovenian handball is on the rise, as to the next season of the EHF Cup. shown by the national team reaching its first semi- final at the 2013 World Championship in Spain … Notes: … is one of those German clubs with the despite competing in Slovenia’s top division for longest tradition as they dominated European just five years, Maribor compete in an EHF handball in the 1960s … after decades without European Cup competition for the third time, any international appearance, the team of coach after reaching the quarter-finals in both the Velimir Petković re-started their continental Challenge Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup in campaigns in 2005 … since then they reached the previous seasons … at the start of this season they finals in three out of four seasons winning the old became the short-term club of , EHF Cup in its last two editions … their two Group who arrived from Hamburg, but then transferred Phase matches against Cimos Koper were the only to Macedonian VELUX EHF Champions League encounters with the Slovenian clubs in their EC participant Metalurg Skopje … Vugrinec was the history, they won both matches – 39:36 and 38:32 top scorer of the Round 1 match against Dudelande with 18 goals in two legs … Croatian goalkeeper Ivan Pešić played in the CL quarter- finalslast season with Zagreb who narrowly lost to Kiel

17

Club Address: Club Address: RK Maribor Branik Frisch Auf Göppingen Mladinska ul. 29/1 Leonhard Weiss-Strasse 40 2000 Maribor, Slovenia 73037 Göppingen, Germany

Contact numbers: Contact numbers: Tel. +386-41-379785 Tel. +49-7161-9659750 Email: [email protected] Fax. +49-7161-965975/75 Email: [email protected]

Colours of uniform: light dark Colours of uniform: light dark Player shirt: white purple Player shirt: white green Player short white black Player short green white Goalkeeper shirt yellow blue Goalkeeper shirt red blue

Arena: Arena: Jauni Zavod "Dvorana Tabor",Maribor EWS Arena Göppingen Koresova ul.7 Nördliche Ringstrasse 87 62106 Maribor, Slovenia 73033 Göppingen Capacity: 3496 Capacity: 5600

Media contact: Media contact: Andrej Bauman Alexander Kolb +386-41-379785 +49-176-19659409 [email protected] [email protected]

Online: Online: Club website: www.rk-maribor.si Club website: www.frischauf-gp.de Facebook: rkmariborbranik Twitter: @FrischAufGP eurohandball.com Facebook: frischaufgp eurohandball.com Club achievements: Cup Winners’ Cup: 1 appearance – quarter- Club achievements: finalists 2010/11 EHF Cup: 4 participations – winners 2011/12, Challenge Cup: 1 appearance – quarter-finalists 2010/11, finalists 2005/06, quarter-finalists 2011/12 2009/10 Slovenian Cup: finalists 2010 Champions Cup: winners 1960 and 1962 German champions: outdoor handball: 1954 and 1957; indoor: 1954, 1955, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1965, 1970, 1972

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Squads:

RK MARIBOR BRANIK No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height Goals 8 Nikola Spelic CRO Left Back 27.3.1991 100 197 37 13 Simon Razgor SLO Left Wing 18.9.1985 84 183 29 23 Miha Zarabec SLO Middle Back 12.10.1991 72 174 27 24 Mario Sostaric SLO Right Wing 25.11.1992 87 193 22 4 Milan Mirkovic SRB Right Back 7.4.1985 95 193 15 6 Mate Svalina CRO Middle Back 31.1.1986 91 188 9 5 Marko Tarabochia CRO Middle Back 28.11.1988 92 192 9 92 Matjaz Mlakar SLO Line Player 13.4.1981 99 188 7 44 Rok Simic SLO Left Wing 25.7.1986 84 184 6 7 Marko Ostir SLO Line Player 7.6.1977 100 194 4 31 Tadej Sok SLO Right Wing 27.12.1988 70 178 2 10 Aleksander Spende SLO Left Back 24.7.1993 85 200 2 3 Aljosa Stefanic SLO Right Back 21.2.1984 99 197 1 16 Gregor Cudic SLO Goal Keeper 4.4.1980 75 175 27 Blaz Klec SLO Line Player 26.3.1986 95 183 1 Klemen Krajnc SLO Goal Keeper 26.6.1992 88 182 21 Ivan Pesic CRO Goal Keeper 17.3.1989 110 194 14 Miha Pucnik SLO Left Wing 1.2.1988 100 193

FRISCH AUF GÖPPINGEN No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height Goals 77 Zarko Markovic MNE Right Back 1.6.1986 102 203 43 22 Momir Rnic SRB Left Back 1.11.1987 102 196 30 28 Pavel Horak CZE Left Back 28.11.1982 112 198 27 9 Manuel Späth GER Line Player 16.10.1985 100 200 22 15 Michael Haaß GER Centre Back 12.12.1983 98 194 17 5 Dragos Oprea GER Left Wing 4.4.1982 94 190 17 7 Christian Schöne GER Right Wing 23.2.1981 80 188 16 24 Maximilian Schubert GER Left Wing 7.9.1990 92 194 12 4 Tim Kneule GER Centre Back 18.8.1986 96 190 5 11 Bojan Beljanski SRB Line Player 22.6.1986 106 197 4 17 Daniel Fontaine GER Left Back 2.7.1989 95 194 4 13 Mitar Markez SRB Right Wing 25.10.1990 80 190 3 12 Felix Lobedank GER Right Back 12.8.1984 103 196 16 Tomas Mrkva CZE Goalkeeper 20.1.1989 109 203 21 Daniel Rebmann GER Goalkeeper 16.1.1994 100 190 23 Bastian Rutschmann GER Goalkeeper 30.12.1982 94 195

19

Key players

Simon Razgor: Michael Haaß: The left wing was born in the The major success of Haaß Slovenian handball capital of was becoming world Celje and played for his champion in 2007 with the home club, winning several German national team. The titles with RK Pivovarna centre back is the heart of Laško, before transferring to Göppingen’s game and in Maribor. the German attack as well as being a key player in defence.

Nikola Špelić: Pavel Horák: Špelić played for Croatian The Czech international is clubs RK Dubrava, RK another top back court Varteks, RK Siscia, and RK player in Göppingen’s team. Zagreb before transferring He started his professional for the first time abroad to career at Baník Karviná Branik Maribor. The left back before he moved to has scored 37 goals in the German club Ahlener SG. competition so far.

Coaches Marko Šibila: Velimir Petković: Marko Šibila started his Petković began coaching at career as a player in the club, Banja Luka, were he had he now is coaching for the played, and led them to the third season. He played for title in the IHF Cup several Slovenian clubs like competition in 1991. RK Grosuplje, RK Kodeljevo, Scharnhausen was his first RK Inles and RD Slovan, German club, Wernau, before playing for Italian side Rintheim and Oßweil Generali Triest from 2000 to 2003, where he followed, before joining his became domestic champion and played in the first Bundesliga club in Wetzlar. Petković started EHF Champions League. his mission in Göppingen in 2004, forming the team which became EHF Cup winner twice in 2011 and 2012.

20

SC MAGDEBURG vs RHEIN-NECKAR LÖWEN (Germany) (Germany)

1st leg: Sunday, 21 April, 17:00, GETEC-Arena, Magdeburg 2nd leg: Saturday, 27 April, 19:00, MWS Halle am Herzogenried

Head-to-head stats in the EC: 1-0-3 (128:123) 15/03/2008: 29:31 in Magdeburg, Cup Winners´ Cup Quarter-finals, 2nd leg 04/03/2008: 26:28 in Mannheim, Cup Winners´ Cup Quarter-finals, 1st leg 09/12/2006: 34:38 in Mannheim, EHF Cup, 2nd leg 02/12/2006: 26:39 in Magdeburg, EHF Cup, 1st leg

Qualification for last 16: first place in Group D Qualification for last 16: first place in Group B

Road to the quarter-final: Reaching the Group Road to the quarter-final: They secured their place Phase itself was a real high hurdle to clear for in the Group Phase virtually after the first leg of the Magdeburg, as their third round tie against Vardar third qualification round as they beat the reigning Skopje of FYR Macedonia was decided by a single Challenge Cup holders AC Diomidis Argous by goal over two legs. SCM won 30:27 at home, but twenty goals (37:17). But they had to pay a high had to fight to hold on to their lead in the second price for that losing Uwe Gensheimer due to an leg in the Macedonian capital as they lost 26:28. Achilles tendon injury. Löwen joined their fellow The Group Phase was another story for SCM, as German teams in the quarter-finals as group they ended up with the highest points total with winners and won with the largest margin in the 11 points, a home draw against HBC Nantes Group Phase, finishing four points ahead of KIF proving to be the only game they did not win. The Kolding in second place. With five wins from six German club won their opening three games with matches, their only loss was away to KIF Kolding in ease and although the reverse fixtures against the third round. However they retaliated quickly, Nantes and Bacau were more fiercely contested, winning the return game the following weekend their win against Besiktas in the penultimate game 28:25 and finished the group with further wins made them the first club in the competition to against Tatran Prešov and Motor Zaporozhye. secure their quarter-final place. Top scorers: Andre Schmid 32, Žarko Šešum 26, Top scorers: Robert Weber 33, Andreas Rojewski Bjarte Håkon Myrhol 24 24, Stefan Kneer 20 Current situation in the domestic league (as of 19 Current situation in the domestic league (as of April): They are the most serious contender of th 19 April): Magdeburg are on the 7 place trailing defending champions THW Kiel in the German nine points behind Hamburg who occupy the last bundesliga. With six rounds to play they trail by three European ticket of the German bundesliga. In 28 points behind Kiel and are five points ahead of fourth matches they won 14, draw 3 and lost 13. ranked Füchse Berlin as only three German teams will enter the next edition of the VELUX EHF Notes: … no other EHF Cup quarter-finalist has Champions League. In 28 matches they are 21-4-3 been more successful in EHF European Cup with the best defence in the competition (701 goals competitions than Magdeburg … they are the only against) former winner of the EHF Champions League among the six teams; additionally they won the Notes: … they burst on to the EC scene seven years EHF Cup three times … last season Magdeburg ago … founded from two clubs in the Mannheim missed out on the EHF Cup final, after a one goal area, Kronau and Östringen, in 2002 … last season, aggregate loss to Dunkerque HB Grand Littoral in they closely missed out on the final of the EHF Cup the semi-final … they are 8-0-12 against German after being eliminated by the eventual winners teams in the EC competitions … in 23 matches Frisch Auf Göppingen, losing 65:62 on aggregate… against Rhein Neckar Löwen in German … they are 5-1-7 against German teams in the EC competitions (bundesliga, cup and supercup) they competitions won only six times, draw once and lost 16-times

21

Club Address: Club Address: SC Magdeburg Rhein-Neckar Löwen Handball Magdeburg GmbH Mollstraße 49a Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 68 68165 Mannheim, Germany 39114 Magdeburg, Germany

Contact numbers: Contact numbers: Tel. +49-172-5980701 Tel. +49-162-2500933 Fax. +49-391-88685620 Fax +49-621-391930/20 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Colours of uniform: light dark Colours of uniform: light dark Player shirt: white red Player shirt: yellow black Player short white red Player short yellow black Goalkeeper shirt blue black Goalkeeper shirt white/red blue/green

Arena: Arena: GETEC-Arena - Bördelandhalle MWS Halle am Herzogenried Berliner Chaussee 32 August Kuhnstrasse 35 39114 Magdeburg 68167 Mannheim Capacity: 7800 Capacity: 1900

Media contact: Media contact: Marc Henrik Schmedt, +49 172 5980701 Christopher Monz, +49 174 4288849 Email: [email protected] [email protected]

Online: Online: Club website: www.scm-handball.de Club website: www.rhein-neckar-loewen.de Twitter: @SCMagdeburg Twitter: @rnloewen Facebook: SCMagdeburg Facebook: rnloewen eurohandball.com eurohandball.com

Club achievements: Club achievements VELUX EHF Champions League: winners VELUX EHF Champions League: 4 appearances – 2001/02 semi-finalists 2010/11 and 2008/09, quarter- finalists 2009/10, qualification 2011/12 EHF Cup: 6 appearances - winners 1998/99, EHF Cup: 2 appearances – semi-finalists 2011/12, 2000/01, 2006/07, finalists 2004/05 quarter-finalists 2006/07 Cup Winners’ Cup: winners 2001/02, Cup Winners’ Cup: 1 appearance – finalists EHF Champions Trophy: winners 1998/99, 2007/08 2004/05, 2006/07

German Bundesliga: winners 2000/01 German Cup: winners 1995/06

22

Squads: SC MAGDEBURG No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height Goals 28 Robert Weber AUT Right Wing 25.11.1985 76 179 33 5 Andreas Rojewski GER Right Back 20.08.1985 94 193 24 4 Stefan Kneer GER Left Back 19.12.1985 98 194 20 6 GER Left Wing 18.07.1992 75 186 20 15 Yves Grafenhorst GER Left Wing 15.03.1984 84 186 16 31 Bartosz Jurecki POL Line Player 31.01.1979 97 192 14 15 Moritz Schäpsmeier GER Right Wing 25.09.1984 95 188 13 11 Tim Hornke GER Right Wing 04.08.1990 85 189 12 10 Fabian Van Olphen NED Left Back 30.03.1981 102 194 11 7 Kjell Landsberg GER Line Player 03.11.1980 100 192 5 3 Bennet Wiegert GER Left Back 25.01.1982 93 193 4 18 Stian Tönnesen NOR Centre Back 02.03.1974 96 185 3 17 Lennart Carstens GER Line Player 07.10.1987 104 197 1 22 Kristian Asmussen DEN Goalkeeper 16.04.1971 93 193 12 Gerrie Eijlers NED Goalkeeper 09.05.1980 95 193 1 Björgvin Pall Gustavsson ISL Goalkeeper 24.05.1985 90 190 16 Markus Hammerschmidt GER Goalkeeper 25.01.1990 96 193 2 Bert Hartfiel GER Right Back 21.08.1989 98 193 9 Maximilian Jahnke GER Left Back 28.02.1993 90 192 4 Stefan Kneer GER Left Back 19.12.1985 98 194 21 Niklas Kupfer GER Left Wing 15.03.1986 81 186 13 Jure Natek SLO Right Back 30.03.1982 96 193 8 Ales Pajovic SLO Left Back 01.06.1979 110 197

RHEIN-NECKAR LÖWEN No. First Name Family Name Nat. Position Date of Birth Weight Height Goals 2 Andre Schmid SUI Centre Back 30.8.1983 90 190 32 5 Zarko Sesum SRB Left Back 16.6.1986 97 195 26 18 Bjarte Hakon Myrhol NOR Line Player 29.5.1982 96 192 24 10 Stefan Rafn Sigurmannsson ISL Left Wing 19.5.1990 101 197 19 32 Alexander Petersson ISL Right Back 2.7.1980 90 186 18 6 Isaias Guardiola Villaplana ESP Right Back 1.10.1984 103 200 15 24 GER Right Wing 4.7.1989 84 189 14 30 Gedeon Guardiola Villaplana ESP Line Player 1.10.1984 103 199 10 60 Kim Ekdahl du Rietz SWE Left Back 23.7.1989 100 194 9 38 Kevin Bitz GER Centre Back 10.3.1993 94 189 6 23 Nils Holger Kretschmer GER Left Back 18.1.1993 89 200 5 19 Marius Steinhauser GER Right Wing 6.2.1993 83 187 5 77 David Schmidt GER Right Back 19.10.1993 86 181 2 43 Kai Dippe GER Line Player 3.3.1993 87 188 8 Denni Djozic GER Left Wing 2.10.1991 75 175 3 Uwe Gensheimer GER Left Wing 26.10.1986 90 188 10 Matthias Gerlich GER Left Back 25.2.1988 99 204 25 Nicolas Herrmann GER Right Wing 9.8.1994 187 82 28 Stefan Jochim GER Left Wing 1.9.1989 187 84 20 DEN Goalkeeper 19.12.1988 98 200 29 Jonas Maier GER Goalkeeper 12.1.1994 84 187 4 Oliver Roggisch GER Line Player 25.8.1978 96 202 16 Goran Stojanovic MNE Goalkeeper 24.2.1977 93 192 1 Tomas Svensson SWE Goalkeeper 15.2.1968 90 194

22 Sebastian Ullrich GER Goalkeeper 23.4.1992 87 190 23

Key players

Bartosz Jurecki: Alexander Petersson: The line player, who has Born in Latvia, Alexander been a part of the Polish Petersson took over the squad for a number of years Icelandic citizenship and and is the SCM captain, became an Olympic silver- moved to Magdeburg in medallist in 2008 and EHF 2006. His biggest success EURO bronze medallist in on club level was winning 2010. The right back moved the EHF Cup in 2007. to Germany in 2003, International success includes winning a silver wearing the jersey of Düsseldorf, Großwallstadt, medal at the 2007 World Championship and a Flensburg-Handewitt, and Füchse Berlin, before bronze at the 2009 World Championship. he transferred to Löwen this summer.

Stefan Kneer: Andre Schmid: The German international The four times Swiss started his career in handball player of the year Eisenach, before moving to played for both Zürich clubs German Bundesliga clubs Grasshoppers and ZMC Balingen and later-on Amicitia until 2009, before Großwallstadt. Before the he left his mother country start of the 2012/13 towards Denmark for one season the left back went to season, with Bjerringbro SC Magdeburg. Kneer was part of the German Silkeborg. Then the playmaker, who was a Swiss squad at the 2013 World Championship in champion twice, transferred to Rhein Neckar Spain. Löwen in 2010.

Coaches

Frank Carstens: Guðmundur As a player Carstens Guðmundsson: played for German first Gudmundsson became league club GWD Minden, coach of Fram Reykjavik in before he became coach in 1995. From 2008 to 2006. After he coached 2012, he was on the Aurich, he became head bench of the national team coach of first league team as successor to Alfred Hannover-Burgdorf, then Gislason. Gudmundsson he arrived in Magdeburg in had a number of sport 2010. In September 2011 he also became director roles before becoming Löwen head assistant coach of the German national team coach in 2010. After the Olympic Games he quit his position as Icelandic national team coach to fully focus on his club and led Löwen to the 2011 VELUX EHF FINAL 4 in Cologne..

24

IMPORTANT RULES

Quarter-finals If, after completion of the two matches, both clubs have won the same number of points (no extra time will be played), the teams’ standings shall be determined by the following criteria: a) goal difference b) greater number of plus goals scored in away match c) penalty throws

Rules for execution of penalty throws Prior to the penalty throws, each team shall name five players eligible to play at the end of the match by handing the referees a list of numbers. These players shall then take one throw each, alternating with their opponents. Each team is free to determine the sequence in which throwers will take their throws.

The goalkeepers may be freely selected from the match report and exchanged in accordance with the Rules of the Game. Goalkeepers may take throws and throwers may perform as goalkeepers.

Find all regulations here

EHF CUP FINALS DRAW

After completion of the quarter-finals of the Men´s EHF Cup three winners will join HBC Nantes on the list of the semi-finalists. Nantes have qualified directly from the Group Phase as they, as the hosts of the final weekend managed to rank among three best second ranked teams.

The draw of the EHF Cup Finals will take place on Tuesday 30 April at 11:00 hrs local time in the Centre de Communication de l'Ouest in Tour Bretagne, Nantes. The EHF Vice-president Arne Elovsson will be present at the draw event.

All four teams will be drawn against each other from the same pot as there will be no seeding and no protection from the teams from the same country.

The semi-finals will be played on Saturday 18 May and 3rd place match plus the final will follow on Sunday 19 May. The exact playing times will be announced after coordination of TV requirements.

OFFICIAL NAME - EHF CUP FINALS

Official name of the final tournament of the 2012/13 Men´s EHF Cup is the EHF Cup Finals. The logo presentation of the EHF Cup Finals is made up of 2 parts; the usual Men’s EHF Cup logo and a secondary ‘Finals’ logo which contains the date and place. These 2 logos can be used together on promotional material but should never be joined together into one logo.

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MEDIA ACCREDITATION FOR EHF CUP FINAL OPEN

With more than two months to go until the throw off to the inaugural EHF Cup Finals, the climax of the newly formatted Men's EHF Cup, accreditation requests from media representatives are now being accepted by the European Handball Federation.

The event will take place in Nantes, France, on 18 and 19 May, where four top European handball clubs will fight to become the first winner of the EHF Cup Finals. Journalists, photographers, TV and radio representatives can now submit their request for accreditation via an online form. Requests can only be made online. Requests for media accreditation should be made by Friday, 3 May, 15.00 hrs.

Media accreditation is only open to professional media representatives working at the event. Freelance media representatives may be asked to provide additional evidence of their work.

There are limited places and it may not be possible to accept all requests for an accreditation.

Click here to start the accreditation process

CLUBS - MEDIA CONTACTS

KIF Kolding Team Tvis Holstebro Thomas Christensen Jacob Jörgensen +45 22 629062 +45 24 239039 [email protected] [email protected]

RK Branik Maribor Frisch Auf Göppingen Andrej Bauman Alexander Kolb +386 41 379785 +49-176-19659409 [email protected] [email protected]

SC Magdeburg Rhein-Neckar Löwen Marc Henrik Schmedt Christopher Monz +49 172 5980701 +49 174 4288849 [email protected] [email protected]

HBC Nantes Marina Normand + 33 606 78 22 52 [email protected]

EHF/EHF MARKETING – MEDIA CONTACTS

Media matters: TV and Radio: Vlado Brindžák Ákos Moczan Media and Communications Specialist Media Manager European Handball Federation EHF Marketing GmbH Tel.: +43 1 80 151 161 Tel.: +43 1 80 151 226 [email protected] [email protected]

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NANTES HOSTING THE FIRST EDITION OF EHF CUP FINALS

The venue for the first edition of the Men’s EHF Cup Final Tournament has been announced in Belgrade on the fringes of the 10th Women’s EHF European Championship, being held in Serbia from 4 to 16 December 2012. The announcement, before the draw for the Group Phase of the competition, saw the event awarded to the French city of Nantes and to HBC Nantes.

The French league club will itself compete in the Group Phase of the competition for a place in the Final Tournament. The club has agreed to host the event even if they do not qualify for the final event. Nantes and surrounding region in western France, boasts 27,000 handball players and 177 handball clubs and the city of Nantes prides itself on its sporting heritage. Amongst many international handball events, the city hosted the Women’s World Championship in 2007. HBC Nantes has also hosted the French League Cup in 2010 and 2011, selling out their 5,000 seat arena on both occasions.

Commenting on the awarding of the event to Nantes, Jean Brihault, EHF President, said: “We considered a number of excellent applications to host the event, but the French city of Nantes presented us with a concept that we felt would really work, especially in the first year. Handball is hugely popular in the region and with the support of the club and the local region we are sure that the premiere edition of the new EHF Cup Final Tournament will be in safe hands.”

President of HBC Nantes, Gaël Pelletier, who was awarded with a new official ball of the Men´s EHF Cup by Brihault, said: “I would like to thank the EHF for the vote of confidence in our club. This nomination is above all a reward for the 120 enthusiastic volunteers of the club who are working daily to build the history of our club with a big `H`. It is also the recognition of the overwhelming interest which goes along with handball in Nantes and a great chance, for our partners and for the region, to host the top teams of our sport and a high number of passionates coming from all over Europe. It is the `icing on the cake` of our 60th anniversary.”

EHF CUP FINALS VENUE

Palais des Sports de Beaulieu 5 rue Andre Tardieu 44200 Nantes, France Capacity: 5000

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PAST WINNERS OF EHF CUP AND CUP WINNERS´ CUP

List of Men´s Cup Winners´Cup winners List of Men´s EHF Cup winners 2012 SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER) 2012 Frisch Auf Göppingen (GER) 2011 VfL Gummersbach (GER) 2011 Frisch Auf Göppingen (GER) 2010 VfL Gummersbach (GER) 2010 TBV Lemgo (GER) 2009 Pevafersa Valladolid (ESP) 2009 VfL Gummersbach (GER) 2008 MKB Veszprem KC (HUN) 2008 HSG Nordhorn (GER) 2007 HSV Hamburg 2007 SC Magdeburg (GER) 2006 Chekhovski Medvedi (RUS) 2006 TBV Lemgo (GER) 2005 C. BM Ademar Leon (ESP) 2005 Tusem Essen (GER) 2004 Portland San Antonio (ESP) 2004 THW Kiel (GER) 2003 A.D.C. Ciudad Real (ESP) 2003 FC Barcelona (ESP) 2002 A.D.C. Ciudad Real (ESP) 2002 THW Kiel (GER) 2001 SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER) 2001 Sportclub Magdeburg (GER) 2000 Portland San Antonio (ESP) 2000 Metkovic Jumbo (CRO) 1999 Prosesa Ademar Leon (ESP) 1999 Sportclub Magdeburg (GER) 1998 Caja Cantabria Santander (ESP) 1998 THW Kiel (GER) 1997 Elgorriaga Bidasoa (ESP) 1997 SG Flensburg Handewitt (GER) 1996 TBV Lemgo (GER) 1996 BM Granollers (ESP) 1995 FC Barcelona (ESP) 1995 BM Granollers (ESP) 1994 FC Barcelona (ESP) 1994 Aliza Avidesa (ESP)

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