EHF Champions League: Matchday 14 review

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Paris Saint-Germain handball, winners over Pelister on Thursday night (26-35), can now focus on their European future. Check out the other results from the 14th and final matchday in EHF Champions League Group A.

Suspense and surprises

Three teams were separated by just one point in thwe race for second (the place that qualifies directly for the quarter finals). Berlin were the first team to put themselves in a favourable position, causing a sensation by beating leaders Veszprém by a single goal in Hungary. Although they dominated the entire match, they had to wait for Tim Freihofer's winning goal on the buzzer to clinch the result which, while excellent for the Germans, took Les Rouge et Bleu out of the race for the top two places (32-33).

At this point, only Sporting could pip them to second. To do so, they had to avoid losing to Plock, and although they had to endure some nervy moments, they managed to do just that. Trailing by one goal with less than 15 seconds to go and with Plock in possession, the Portuguese team quickly regained the ball and - just like Berlin did - scored a crucial goal with their final attack (29-29). Finally, in a less high-stakes encounter, Dinamo Bucharest (qualified for the last sixteen) claimed a stlyish win away to already eliminated Fredericia (32-37).

The Table

There was thus no change at the top of the table. Veszprém finish top of the group, ahead of Sporting, Berlin and Paris, all on 18 points with the Portuguese side edging it on goal difference. Just behind them , Bucharest took advantage of their win to move back in front of Plock in the only change to the table after Matchday 14. At the bottom of the pile, Pelister and Fredericia, already eliminated, finished the group stage in seventh and eighth respectively.

The play-offs

We now know more about the next phase of the competition. Barcelona, Aalborg, Veszprém and Sporting are already through to the quarter finals while in the play-off matches, Berlin will face a Kielce team that qualified at the last minute. Plock will take on Nantes, while Bucharest will have the difficult task of facing Madgeburg. As for the Parisians, they will have to get past Szeged to see the next round. These matches will take place between 26 March and 3 April.

(Credits: L. Valroff/PSG)