Group B results: Round 7
On Saturday, Paris Saint-Germain Handball battled past Flensburg (29-28) to confirm top spot in Velux EHF Champions League Group B. Check out the rest of the Round 7 results.
Zagreb - Celje: 24-22
Zagreb played host to Celje with everything to play for: ahead of this clash, the sides were separated by just one point (four for Celje, three for Zagreb) in the battle for sixth place and the last-16 berth that goes with it. The match turned in favour of the Croats, for whom 'keeper Urh Kastelic was once again in transcendent form, his nine saves earning him a spot in the Best 7 for the round. Thanks to his strong performance, the home side got the win and moved ahead of Celje on the table ahead of the hotly anticipated reverse fixture in Slovenia in a week's time.
Skjern - Szeged: 26-29
Beaten in Europe for the first time this season by Paris in Round 6 (33-31), Szeged were out to bounce back but faced a tough test away to notoriously tenacious Skjern. The Danes lived up to their reputation on Sunday afternoon, with the sides neck and neck throughout the first half (15-14), but Mario Sostaric (6 from 8) and his teammates made the break early in the second term and held off Thomas Mogensen and co despite a strong fight-back in the dying moments. Skjern still have a point between them and the drop zone while Szeged remain two points behind Les Rouge et Bleu.
Zaporozhye - Nantes: 30-30
Meanwhile, Nantes made the long trip to Ukraine to take on Zaporozhy. Despite trailing during the first half, The H hit back and were within striking distance at the break (15-14). They repeated the feat at the end of the second term too, after Artem Kozakevych had led the way with a 9 from 10 to have the hosts two goals to the good as the final minutes approached (50': 27-25). Thierry Anti's men had their experienced players to thank, Kiril Lazarov and Alvaro Rivera getting the Frenchmen back on level terms with a minute to go, but the draw did no particular favours to either side: Zaporozhye remain rooted to the foot of the table while Nantes boast just a three-point lead over seventh-placed Celje.
Round 8 fixtures:
- Flensburg - Paris: Wednesday 14 November, 18:45 (beIN SPORTS 2)
- Celje - Zagreb: Sunday 18 November, 17:00
- Szeged - Skjern: Sunday 18 November, 17:00
- Nantes - Zaporozhye: Sunday 18 November, 17:00
(Credits: TeamPics/PSG)