EHF European League Women quarter-finals throw off this weekend

26 Mar. 2021

EHF European League Women quarter-finals throw off this weekend

The inaugural edition of the EHF European League Women is reaching its business end, as eight teams are still in the hunt for the trophy, after a complex group phase, which ended in February.

Four crucial double-headers will be played over the course of the next two weekends, with the winners progressing to the first-ever EHF FINALS, due to take place on 8 and 9 May.

A Romanian team will surely be among the top four sides in the competition, after a 100% Romanian clash is on the cards in the quarter-finals. One of the favourites of the competition, CS Minaur Baia Mare, face domestic rivals HC Dunarea Braila, in a vital clash to decide their future.

Boasting an experienced roster, including the All-star line player of the 2019 IHF Women’s World Championship, Swedish stalwart Linn Blohm, Baia Mare are the favourites, losing their last game against Braila eight years ago. Yet anything can happen in a double-header, especially as Braila boast four ex-Baia Mare players in their roster.

The only unbeaten side in the group phase of the EHF European League Women, Siofok KC, will be hosting Russian side Astrakhanochka on 2 and 4 April, due to the COVID-19 pandemic imposing restrictions on the Hungarian side.

The former Women’s EHF Cup winners in the 2018/19 season, Siofok are one of the most experienced sides in the competition, boasting players like the All-star left back of the 2011 IHF Women’s World Championship, Croatian Andrea Kobetic, Croatian line player Katarina Jezic and experienced Hungarian back Zsuzsanna Tomori.

In spite of their three losses in the group phase, both HC Zvezda and Handball Club Lada have progressed to the quarter-finals, yet they face tough tasks against Nantes Handball Atlantique and Danish outfit Herning-Ikast Handbold.

Lada, the fourth-best defence in the competition, will face the best attack, as Herning-Ikast were impossible to stop in the group phase, scoring 198 goals in six games, or 33 goals per game. 

Zvezda will also find it difficult against Nantes, who will rely once again on Brazilian centre back Bruna de Paula, the second-best goal scorer in the group phase with 36 goals in six games, 10 goals less than Norwegian right back Amanda Kurtovic, whose team, Kastamonu Belediyesi, were eliminated.

Visit the official website of the competition for more information.

EHF European League Women – Quarter-finals 

Herning-Ikast Handbold (DEN) vs Handball Club Lada (RUS)
Nantes Atlantique Handball (FRA) vs HC Zvezda (RUS)
CS Minaur Baia Mare (ROU) vs HC Dunarea Braila (ROU)
Siofok KC (HUN) vs Astrakhanochka (RUS)

Photo: Siófok KC