Top flight participants for 2016/17 announced
Top flight participants for 2016/17 announced
The line-up of the teams for the Women's EHF Champions League 2016/17 has been confirmed after the EHF Executive Committee in Vienna has decided on all teams starting either in the group matches or in the qualification tournaments.
13 teams have been directly seeded for the group matches stage, while further 12 sides including the 2001 and 2003 champions RK Krim Mercator will vie for the three remaining places in the qualification.
In total four former champions – WHC Buducnost (MNE), Györi Audi ETO KC and Larvik HK (NOR) have been confirmed for the group matches, while at least two newcomers – Team Esbjerg (DEN) and Astrakhanochka (RUS) will be on the starting grid of the competition's first round on 14-16 October 2016.
All requests approved
EXEC confirmed all five requests for upgrades of the EHF Cup clubs to the European top flight. Last year’s quarter-finalist Rostov-Don have been seeded directly for the group matches, while four others – Glassverket IF (NOR), HC Leipzig (GER), Krim and Iuventa Michalovce (SVK) will start in qualification.
Playing system
The playing system has been introduced already before the 2014/15 season. There will be just one qualification round before the group matches and the main round will consist of twelve teams (two groups of six).
The top four teams from each main round group will then qualify for the quarter-final knock-out phase, before the final remaining four teams compete in the season high point, the Women's EHF FINAL4.
Two draw dates
The seeding list and the draw procedure of the first draw event of the season will be published at the beginning of next week.
The draw for the qualification tournaments in the Women's EHF Champions League will take place on Wednesday 29 June at 13:00 hrs at the EHF Office in Vienna and it will be streamed on Facebook live.
The group matches on Friday 1 July at 13:00 hrs in Glostrup, Denmark, hosted by the EHF’s new partner SELECT SPORT. Live streaming will be available on ehfTV.com.
Women's EHF Champions League 2016/17:
Teams seeded for the group matches (13):
WHC Buducnost (MNE)
Györi Audi ETO KC (HUN)
HC Vardar (MKD)
Larvik HK (NOR)
CSM Bucuresti (ROU)
Team Esbjerg (DEN)
Astrakhanochka (RUS)
Thüringer HC (GER)
IK Sävehof (SWE)
Metz HB (FRA)
FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (HUN)
FC Midtjylland (DEN)
Rostov-Don (RUS)
Teams in qualification (12):
Hypo Niederösterreich (AUT)
HC Podravka Vegeta (CRO)
MKS Selgros Lublin (POL)
Indeco Conversano (ITA)
Balonmano Bera Bera (ESP)
Sercodak Dalfsen (NED)
HC Gomel (BLR)
Yenimahalle BSK (TUR)
Glassverket IF (NOR)
HC Leipzig (GER)
RK Krim Mercator (SLO)
IUVENTA Michalovce (SVK)
