SUMMARY: Bucharest sides victorious and Odense win MOTW
Welcome to our running coverage of round 8 of the EHF Champions League Women, where we see a repeat of last week's encounters. After five matches on Saturday, the round concludes on Sunday with three more games including the Match of the Week in Odense.
18:25
We wrap up with the results of the round. Next weekend it's the last EHF Champions League Women action of 2022, so don't miss those games, especially the Match of the Week in Buducnost as they host Györ on Saturday.
18:15
Some words from Odense and Rapid - both wins were important and players and coaches know how important. These two teams are now fourth in groups A and B respectively, and with six matches left are in a fairly solid position when it comes to progressing - although not yet safe.
These four points in these two matches are very important. We were up against a strong opponent with many experienced players and we knew it would be a tough match both tactically and physically. Our defence was one of the keys to take the points today.
It was incredible, our supporters were as always the eighth player for us. With them we are capable of anything, we showed everyone once again that we are a team, we play together and no matter who comes here to play, we will fight and we will not give up the two points. We want to win every game.
17:34 | FULL-TIME
ODENSE Håndbold 26:22 KRIM MERCATOR LJUBLJANA
From 23:21, Odense score a 3:1 run to secure their win. It ended up being a closer game than last week's in Krim, but with the same result.
Dione Housheer is named Player of the Match, scoring seven goals from 11 shots and adding five assists. Althea Reinhardt was also useful in the closing minutes especially, finding a way to stop more shots and ending with 11 saves (35 per cent). However Barbara Arenhart also stood out, with 16 saves (38 per cent) overall.
17:25 | FULL-TIME
STORHAMAR HANDBALL ELITE 25:27 WHC BUDUCNOST BEMAX
After winning by one goal last week at home, Buducnost manage to win by two this week away. Guro Nestaker's buzzer-beater for Storhamar was scant consolation for the home team.
17:22
Jovanka Radicevic has entered the battle! She's scored one and is generally making her presence felt as Krim come back to a two-goal deficit. They have just kept on attacking, and it's putting pressure on Odense now with about six minutes to play.
Dragan Adžic calls a timeout. Let's see if Krim can snatch at least a point from this.
17:13
Buducnost have jumped to a 23:20 lead against Storhamar after a 4:2 run, and Storhamar have a timeout to discuss getting back on terms. Armelle Attingré continues to be extraordinary in goal for the visitors, and Matea Pletikosic's seven goals aren't hurting either!
In MOTW Odense are clinging to a four-goal lead in a match that continues to be tighter than the scoreline would suggest. Dione Housheer picks up a two-minute suspension, but Daria Dmitrieva misses the shot soon after. Mind you, Housheer has earned a rest ...
17:04
Ten minutes into the second half, and Odense have a four-goal lead - although Krim keep bringing it back to three, and that momentum the home team had at the end of the first half has slightly slipped away.
Buducnost still lead Storhamar by one goal.
16:52
Barbara Lazovic restarts things with a quick goal for Krim ... 30 minutes to decide MOTW!
16:40 | HALF-TIME
ODENSE Håndbold 15:11 KRIM MERCATOR LJUBLJANA
After taking the lead Odense kept the pressure on Krim, and going to the dressing rooms they have a decent cushion of four goals. A fifth was just denied as their last attack before the break ran out of time. Dione Housheer has stood out so far, with five goals, but nine of the 12 Odense field players have found the net; Aleksandra Rosiak leads the scoring for Krim with three.
STORHAMAR HANDBALL ELITE 12:13 WHC BUDUCNOST BEMAX
Over in Norway, an even match is taking place again and there's not much splitting Storhamar and Buducnost apart maybe from a better goalkeeping performance by Armelle Attingré, which means Storhamar's more aggressive attack isn't quite paying off.
16:31
Wow, what a shift in momentum. Odense take a 13:10 lead, with the last shot a beautiful in-flight effort from wing Ayaka Ikehara.
16:28
The pace is quite slow at the moment and MOTW is fairly level. Both sides are missing shots, although it's pretty disciplined - with only one suspension, for Odense, and three penalties awarded in total.
Ulrik Kirkely calls a timeout with seven minutes to go in the first half and the score at 10:10.
16:18
Odense are playing seven-on-six but it backfired when they turned over the ball and Allison Pineau scored into the empty net, Althea Reinhardt not quite getting to the goal on time. Still, when they return to attack they persist with the strategy. Krim lead 9:8.
In Hamar, it's level at 8:8.
Reinhardt, and Barbara Arenhart at the other end, have both had a decent start to the match.
16:10
Odense wasted no time on their first couple of attacks, swiftly gaining a 2:0 lead - but an early penalty taken by birthday girl Alja Varagic started the scoring off for Krim, and the visitors now trail by just one goal.
Yet to find the net: all-time Champions League top scorer Jovanka Radicevic, who moved to the head of the standings last week.
16:01
Both matches throw off. There's a lively and very orange crowd in Odense!
15:48
Moving on now to the last two matches of round 8, which throw off at 16:00 CET.
In group B, Storhamar will want to get revenge on Buducnost for last week's 23:24 loss in Montenegro and consolidate their position in sixth place in group B.
MOTW comes from group A. Odense currently sit fourth with four wins and three losses, including last week's victory against Krim; Krim are seventh with two wins and five losses and really need to win a couple of games to stay in contention for the play-offs.
Experienced Krim right back Alja Varagic celebrates her 32nd birthday today, and what better present would there be than a win?
15:34 | FULL-TIME
CS RAPID BUCURESTI 30:27 GyörI AUDI ETO KC
Inside the last minute Dorottya Faluvégi hits the post, and Rapid know they've done it. There's a last timeout from Carlos Viver just to steady Rapid's nerves, but they had enough of a cushion already.
It's a tremendous show from the home team, who become the second side (after Metz in round 3) to defeat Györ this season. The win means they go level with their opponents and Esbjerg with 12 points, although they remain in fourth place when the rankings are determined by goal difference.
Eliza Buceschi and Sorina Grozav are joint top scorers with seven goals each; Ivana Kapitanovic ends up with 16 saves (37.2 per cent), while Sandra Toft stops 10 shots (37 per cent) and Silje Solberg four (23.5 per cent).
15:24
A 3:0 run gives Rapid a 29:26 lead and Ambros Martin calls a timeout. "We still have a chance," Györ tell each other, but with just over four minutes on the clock they're running out of time and Ivana Kapitanovic has found the magic again. She's making save after save.
15:18
To the delight of the Rapid fans and the consternation of Ambros Martin, the hosts now lead by two goals once again. It's been a show of resilience by Rapid - it's not like Györ are playing badly at all.
15:09
Rapid are right back in the game! With Eliza Buceschi in particularly good form now they levelled the match at 20:20.
Meanwhile, here's Sandra Toft on fine form at the start of the half!
15:03
This bit of play from the end of the first half shows how Györ managed to close up that gap and make this a much more equal game.
14:59
There is some simply brilliant goalkeeping going on in Bucharest. First Kapitanovic saves a penalty shot by Ryu Eun Hee, then Toft saves one at the other end from Eliza Buceschi.
Things are becoming quite physical, and Dorina Kórsos is suspended for two minutes for a foul. Nadine Schatzl misses the penalty too and we're getting on for four minutes with no goals.
14:50
The second half has just got started, and Stine Oftedal has picked up where she left off with a goal on Györ's first attack. Sandra Toft remains in goal for the visitors.
14:45
A chance to check out some of the best shots of the first half, and here's a gorgeous no-look goal from Lorena Ostase.
14:38 | HALF-TIME
CS RAPID BUCURESTI 15:16 GyörI AUDI ETO KC
Györ captain Stine Oftedal nets her third goal three seconds before the buzzer and her team take their first lead of the match. The change in goal marked a change in the game, and Rapid suddenly found their opponents were more effective. Ivana Kapitanovic has also lost some of the stopping efficiency she had at the start of the game, giving Györ chances they have seized with both hands.
14:29
Györ have found an extra gear, and despite Anne Mette Hansen sitting out a suspension, have closed the gap to a single goal. Sandra Toft has replaced Silje Solberg in goal - what a luxury to have two such outstanding goalkeepers to play with.
14:21
At the 20-minute mark, Rapid are holding a three or four-goal lead and Györ are not able to decisively close the gap. A lot of this remains due to Ivana Kapitanovic, who just keeps making saves and is up to eight stops now (50 per cent).
14:13
Rapid are defending well and with Ivana Kapitanovic stellar between the posts, they have taken an 8:4 lead. Ambros Martin has called a timeout, reassuring Györ that they are playing well - they just need more accuracy in their shots.
14:04
Rapid got off to the ideal start thanks to a good Ivana Kapitanovic save and then an Irene Espinola goal, but things are settling down now and it's going goal for goal. Lots of flags and singing, and the green-clad Györ fans are going to have trouble making themselves heard!
13:58
Wow, the Rapid fans are already in full voice - there's a great atmosphere! Throw off is very soon.
13:45
Turning now to the first match up, Rapid vs Györ. Last week Györ broke Rapid's unbeaten streak with a 32:30 victory, but the Champions League debutantes have impressed throughout the first seven matches - winning four and drawing two. They have set themselves up as a team to be reckoned with in group B and one which the record champions will not be underestimating. Add to that success a sold-out Polivalenta Arena, and the scene is set for another exciting clash this afternoon.
Here's the Györ lineup!
13:30
Before things throw off, you've got time to pop over to Instagram and check out the Superfan talk. Odense line player Maren Aardahl caught up with Anja Althaus and a superfan to preview the match!
13:15
Welcome back to the second day of EHF Champions League Women round 8 action, starting in just 45 minutes as Rapid Bucuresti host Györ.
The game to watch out for, however, is of course Match of the Week between Odense and Krim. Odense won in Slovenia last week by six goals, but as EHF journalist Ida Hummeluhr found out when she spoke to Rikke Iversen, Odense are not underestimating their visitors.
