EHF European Cup

Preview of the Women´s EHF Cup Quarter-finals, first leg

EHF / br

08 March 2013, 06:30

Preview of the Women´s EHF Cup Quarter-finals, first leg

All eight remaining teams in the Women´s EHF Cup will be involved in the quarter-finals first leg over the upcoming weekend (9 and 10 March) and one side will make it to the semi-finals on Monday as Grupo Asfi Itxako Navarra agreed to play both legs on the court of HC Zalau in Romania.

The second leg in other three pairings will be played one week later. The semi-finals are scheduled for 6/7 April (first leg) and 13/14 April (second leg).

Grupo Asfi Itxako Navarra (ESP) vs HC Zalau (ROU)
Sunday 10 March, 17:00 hrs local time in Zalau
HC Zalau (ROU) vs Grupo Asfi Itxako Navarro (ESP)
Monday 11 March, 17:00 hrs local time in Zalau

The Spanish finalists of the 2010/11 EHF Champions League from Itxako hope to make another successful trip abroad, after they beat Ankara in Turkey on the away goals rule in the last 16. But they face a much higher hurdle now as Zalau are determined to repeat last season´s run to the final.

Astrakhanochka (RUS) vs Metz Handball (FRA)
Saturday 11 March, 15:00 hrs local time in Astrakhan

The winners of the Spanish-Romanian encounter will play in the semi-finals either against Astrakhanochka or Metz. The French side, who are taking part in EHF European Cup competitions for the 20th consecutive season, will have to cope not only with a formidable home team bolstered by several Russian internationals, but also with a long journey to the shores of Caspian Sea.

Team Tvis Holstebro (DEN) vs Tertnes Bergen (NOR)
Sunday 10 March, 16:00 hrs local time in Holstebro

In contrast to Metz's long trip, the Norwegian side from Bergen will have only a short visit for their tie, as they travel to Denmark´s Holstebro. Both Nordic teams recorded prestigious successes in the previous round as Holstebro eliminated the defending EHF Cup winners Lada Togliatti and Bergen ended the European campaign of the reigning Challenge Cup winners HAC Havre.

FC Midtjylland (DEN) vs HC "Kuban" Krasnodar (RUS)
Saturday 9 March, 16:30 hrs local time in Ikast

If the 2002 and 2011 EHF Cup winners and current leaders of the Danish league FC Midtjylland want to reach an all-Scandinavian semi-final, they have to overcome another Russian club HC Kuban Krasnodar. The domestic dress rehearsal did not work well for Midtjylland as they suffered the first defeat of the season in Vejen on Wednesday.