Table of contents Foreword 5 Media contacts - EHF/M, Media contacts 6 Playing system diagram - stages and dates 7 Regulations – rankings of the Group Phase 8 CL information - new playing system from 2013/14 9 ehfTV-com relaunches - all matches live 10 Qualification – Three newcomers, six former champions 12 Group Matches overview - expert opinion – Grit Jurack 13 Group A - teams, expert opinion – Ausra Fridrikas 15 Gyõri Audi ETO KC 16 Thüringer HC 20 Hypo Niederösterreich 24 HCM Baia Mare 28 head-to-head stats 31 Group B - teams, expert opinion – Maja Savić 32 Budućnost 33 FC Midtjylland 37 MKS Lublin 41 FTC Rail Cargo Hungária 45 head-to-head stats 49 Group C - teams, expert opinion – Nataliya Derepasko 50 RK Krim Mercator 51 Metz Handball 55 Sävehof IK 59 HC Leipzig 63 head-to-head stats 67 3 Table of contents Group D - teams, expert opinion – Marit Breivik 68 Larvik HK 69 Balonmano Bera Bera 73 HC Podravka Vegeta 76 WHC Vardar SCBT 80 head-to-head stats 83 Four bidders for Women‘s EHF FINAL4 in 2014 84 History CL 85 Past winners 87 Past top scorers 88 2012/13 top scorers 89 All-time standings 90 Appendix 1 - Results of the Qualification Appendix 2 - Schedule of the Group Matches 4 Foreword Dear Media Representative, Welcome to Group Matches of the WOMEN’S EHF Champions League 2013/14 Welcome to the thrilling next phase of the Women’s EHF Champions League. In September 2013, we saw the conclusion of the Qualification Phase, which in turn completed the line-up of the Group Matches. The four teams each claimed the final fourth place in each group. In October and through November, the six rounds of the Group Matches in this top competition will be played out in venues across Europe. I take this opportunity to congratulate the clubs teams from Germany, Hungary, FYR Macedonia and Romania which successfully completed the qualification phase. They will now join the remaining 12 teams drawn across Group A to D. The Group Matches phase is set to be highly entertaining as three teams will enter the arena as Champions League newcomers and six teams will return as former champions. This season, there are five club teams that boast 15 or more seasons in the Champions League. But we all know this game very well; the only thing that will matter is the result at the end of the second period. As the Group Matches throw off, it would be hard not to think about the next step. The teams have a lot to play for. A ticket to the Main Round will bring eight teams closer to their dream of gold; however, for the eight teams that are ranked third and fourth on 17 November 2013, their campaign will end at this point. Skill, determination or luck...it is now up to the players. We pride ourselves on our positive and cooperative relationship with the press and media and I am sure this will continue and develop in the future. I therefore hope you consider this media guide a useful and enriching resource for your work in the upcoming weeks and months. Should you require any further information, help or assistance during the course of the season, your first point of contact is the EHF Media and Communications Department based in our office in Vienna. They will be more than happy to assist you with any questions you might have. We look forward to working with you in the coming season! Jean Brihault EHF President 5 EHF/M Media contacts Media matters TV and Radio Vlado Brindzak Akos Moczan Media and Communications Media Manager European Handball Federation EHF Marketing GmbH +43 1 80 151 161 +43 1 80 151 226 [email protected] [email protected] Clubs – Media contacts Group A Group B Group C Group D Gyõri Audi ETO KC Budućnost RK Krim Mercator Larvik HK Andrea Szilágyi Savo Laković Gašper Lončarič Tor Odvar Moen +36 70 394 9596 +382 67 600 055 +386 51 630 877 +47 479 38 803 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Thüringer HC FC Midtjylland Metz Handball Balonmano Bera Bera Bernd Hohnstein Nilsan Apputhurai Aurelien Klein Jabier Otermin +49 179 4649 389 +45 22 98 64 77 +33 673 829 413 +34 669 796 556 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] HYPO NÖ MKS Lublin Sävehof IK HC Podravka Vegeta Márk Hegedűs Michał Pomorski Rüdiger Osterloh Ljerka Vresk +43 664 60 164 600 +48 513 20 26 38 +46 736 84 57 55 +385 98 325 075 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] HCM Baia Mare FTC Rail Cargo Hungária HC Leipzig WHC Vardar SCBT Ramona Ioana Pop Andrea Pordán Kay-Sven Hähner Davor Stojanoski +40744839987 +36 20 365 8263 +49 172 1399882 +389 753 659 12 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 6 Women’s EHF Champions League 2013/14 playing system Qualication Qualication Round 2 Group Matches Main Round Semi-nals Final Round 1 4 tournaments vs. 2 vs. 1 vs. 2 vs. 1 7 Home matches 3 3 1 1 Total matches 6 6 2 2 Season 2013/14 playing dates Qualication Qualication Round 2 Group Matches Main Round Semi-nals Final Round 1 4 tournaments 05./06.10.2013 01./02.02.2014 rst leg rst leg rst leg 14/15.09.2013 12./13.10.2013 08./09.02.2014 05. - 06.04.2014 03. / 04.05.2014 24/25.08.2013 19./20.10.2013 15./16.02.2014 02./03.11.2013 01./02.03.2014 second leg second leg second leg 09./10.11.2013 08./09.03.2014 12. - 13.04.2014 10. / 11.05.2014 31.08/01.09.2013 16./17.11.2013 15./16.03.2014 Important regulations Scoring of the matches and ranking General Group Matches All matches of the Women’s EHF Champions League shall be played in If two or more teams have scored the same number of points, the 2 x 30 minutes with a half-time break of 10 minutes. The EHF reserves ranking will be determined as follows: the right to extend the half-time break in special circumstances to 15 minutes. During the Group Matches: a) higher goal difference in all matches; The matches shall be scored as follows: b) higher number of plus goals in all matches; a) win = 2 points b) draw = 1 point After completion of the Group Matches if two teams have scored c) loss = 0 points the same number of points: a) number of points in matches of the two teams directly involved; Teams’ rankings are obtained by adding up the number of points won. b) goal difference in matches of the two teams directly involved; c) higher number of goals scored in the away match of the two teams directly involved; d) goal difference in all matches of the group; e) higher number of plus goals in all matches of the group; After completion of the Group Matches if three or more teams have scored the same number of points: a) number of points in matches of all teams directly involved; b) goal difference in matches of all teams directly involved; c) higher number of plus goals in matches of all teams directly involved; d) goal difference in all matches of the group; e) higher number of plus goals in all matches of the group; If the ranking of one of these teams is determined, the criteria are consecutively followed until the ranking of all teams is determined. If no ranking can be determined, a decision shall be obtained by drawing lots. Lots shall be drawn by the EHF, if possible in the presence of a responsible of each club. 8 EHF Champions League information Team line-ups and match reports Women’s EHF Champions League new playing format from 2014/15 Already with the start of the previous season, an improvement to the media services offered by the EHF has come. In an initiative to further develop and strengthen women’s handball, the EHF has decided to update the playing system from the start From the opening matches of the season, the complete team line- of the 2014/15 season and to create a Women’s EHF FINAL4. The up has been available online at eurohandball.com and available to showcase handball event, comprising the four semi-finalists of the download as a PDF document. The change has been made possible Women’s EHF Champions League for a new final tournament over two thanks to the introduction of a new online solution, which sees the days, is looking to emulate the huge success of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 EHF match delegate complete the final team line-up immediately which attracts 20,000 handball fans each year at the end of May. after the technical meeting. This development means that team line- ups are available for commentators and reporters hours before each The Women’s EHF FINAL4 is scheduled to place at the end of the match throws-off. 2014/15 season. However, if bidding organisations can meet the high demands of such an event, the first Women’s EHF FINAL4 may already A further change means that a short time after each match, a take place at the end of the 2013/14 season. Bids from organisations completed match report will also be available online with details such in Ljubljana and Budapest have been made to host the event for the as goal scorers and number of spectators.