17:40
What to say about Sävehof? Swedish champions are still winless and without a single point this season. Against Bietigheim they had a poor start (1:5), but then suddenly lead 15:11, before the half-time finished 15:14.
Midway through the second period, Sävehof were narrowly in front (25:24), but the Germans played extremely well in the final quarter of the match, winning it 33:29.
Sävehof's last CL win remains on 29 January 2022, while Bietigheim have made their first win after four straight losses. At least until Sunday, they have taken third place in group A with 12 points.
17:35
We almost had two identical results in Budapest and Partille, but in both matches guests are the ones who celebrate. Esbjerg remain the most dominant force in group B as they record their eighth win in a row. They have 18 points on top, while FTC still have to work very hard to reach the play-offs, having won eight points so far.
Nora Mørk and Henny Reistad were brilliant with 21 goals in total! Mørk scored 11, Reistad 10, while Anna Kristensen collected 11 saves. Klujber and Cvijic scored six each for FTC, but Andrea Lekic incredibly did not score a single goal out of four attempts!
17:28 | FULL-TIME
17:22
Bietigheim are pulling away with this one. Sävehof were leading 25:24, but now with less than five minutes to go the German champions are ahead 31:26. Phenomenal run!
17:20
Well, this might be the pivotal point of the match. Mørk scores her tenth goal of the match to bring Esbjerg on the cusp of victory. They lead 29:25. Blanka Böde-Bíró was convinced that was a dangerous shot by the Norwegian, with the ball flying very close to Blanka's head. However, the goal stood.
And then, Breistøl found the net as well for 30:25. Huge mountain to climb now for FTC. Even the home crowd has gone silent.
17:14
We're into the final 10 minutes in both games. Esbjerg are up by three goals in Budapest (27:24), while Bietigheim lead with almost the exact score against Sävehof (27:25).
17:13
Impressive skills on show in Partille!
17:11
Sävehof are constantly ahead on their home court in the second half, but Bietigheim keep coming right back at them. The Swedes lead 20:17, now it's all square, 25:25.
17:08
Again Mørk and again Reistad! For the first time in the match Esbjerg lead by three goals (24:21).
17:00
Reistad is unstoppable right now and Esbjerg lead FTC 21:19.
16:53
Another reminder to not go anywhere once these matches finish. Starting at 18:00 CET, we have two more clashes scheduled. One of them is Match of the Week between Vipers Kristiansand and Krim Mercator Ljubljana.
Having written that, the second halves in Sweden and Hungary have just started!
16:47
We're heading off to Sweden to see the goal which propelled Sävehof's comeback.
Impossible angle? Not quite!
16:37 | HALF-TIME
Neither team has been able to lead by more than two goals. Generally, FTC spent more time in front, but will have to settle with just the one goal advantage at half-time.
So far, Antje Malestein scored four goals for FTC, Dragana Cvijic and Katrin Klujber three each, while Andrea Lekic has yet to score from three shots. Esbjerg's top scorers are Mørk and Reistad, both with five goals to their names.
It was a nightmare start for Sävehof as Bietigheim lead 5:1 after eight minutes, but Swedish champions responded with a brilliant run which saw them lead 15:11. However, the German side finished off the first half in a better way and narrowed the gap to just a single goal.
Thea Stankiewicz has four goals from five shots for the hosts, while Karolina Kudlacz-Gloc and Isabelle Andersson managed three each for Bietigheim.
16:35
Henny Reistad with five goals and Nora Mørk with four lead the way for Esbjerg today.
16:27
It is still a tussle in Hungary, but FTC have a two goal lead (14:12) thanks to two Cvijic's goals in succession.
All credit to Sävehof who have not only levelled the match against Bietigheim, but are now in front, 13:10! Incredible turnaround. Thea Stankiewicz has already scored four goals from five shots for the hosts.
16:20
Quick thinking there by Bölk and a lovely finish from Edwige! Check it out:
16:18
Sävehof have slowed Bietigheim down a bit, and now they have found their own rhythm in attack. Having lead 5:1 and 6:2, the Germans are in front only by a goal, 7:6. It's game on now!
16:16
As one might have expected, it's a tough one so far in Budapest. Esbjerg have scored four in a row to lead 6:4, but FTC responded with two quick goals of their own. Now it's 8:8, all tied, with three goals from Esbjerg's Nora Mørk.
16:08
Excellent atmosphere at Erd Arena in Budapest as FTC opened up a 4:2 lead, but Esbjerg fought back to 4:4.
In Sweden, Bietigheim have immediately established control of the match and already lead 5:1.
16:00
First two matches of round 10 have just started! Don't forget, you can watch them on EHFTV (keep in mind that geo-restrictions may apply).
15:53
Match between FTC and Esbjerg will be interesting from a scorers point of view. We've already mentioned Lekic's hunt for Görbicz, but FTC's most dangerous player also leads this season's scorers list with 61 goals.
Esbjerg's Kristine Breistøl scored 57 and holds third place, while Kristina Jörgensen (Metz) has 60 in second place.
15:50
In Hungary all eyes are on Andrea Lekic once more. FTC, last year's EHF Champions League Women finalists, are hosts to group B leaders Esbjerg.
Last week Lekic won a point for FTC in the final seconds at Ikast (28:28), in a match where the Hungarian side were on the verge of losing. Ikast was in front 28:26, but FTC managed to win a precious point. Lekic scored 10 goals and is now only five goals shy of surpassing Anita Görbicz who has 1,016 goals. Lekic is on 1,012. Jovanka Radicevic holds top spot, with Cristina Neagu in second.
Esbjerg travelled to Erd Arena with seven wins in a row. Their last defeat came in Ljubljana back in September 2023. Esbjerg beat FTC on home soil 27:23. Anna Kristensen was on fire with 18 saves for the Danish side.
15:46
Sävehof are still winless and without a single point this season. Last weekend they proved no match against Györ who beat them convincingly by 39:20. It was their biggest defeat this season.
Bietigheim have had a bright start with five wins, but are now on a four-game losing streak. Still, they are in a good position to reach the play-offs and will be looking to solidify their fourth spot. Previous weekend German champions lost to Odense 28:25.
First time these two met in Germany Bietigheim won 30:21 with six goals from Karolina Kudlacz-Gloc, who is also Bietigheim's top scorer (49 goals), and 11 saves from Gabriela Goncalves Dias Moreschi.
15:42
Quick reminder of this round's schedule, right here!
