EHF CL Round 3: Vardar celebrate in Celje, Meshkov stun Loewen

Vardar - Veszprem

SEHA Gazprom participants were during the weekend competing in Champions League’s round 3 reaching 2 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses. Belarusian champions Meshkov were in charge of what probably was biggest surprise of the round stunning favored Rhein Neckar Loewen in Brest with 30:28. They were five goals up after first 30 minutes with enough focus and knowledge to keep the lead until the end and take 2 points which will help additionally complicate situation in group B. Kristopans scored 7 goals, Stojkovic 6, Atman and Jamali 4 each.

Celje hosted SEHA Gazprom derby of the round in Champions League with home team welcoming current SEHA leaders - Vardar Skopje. Tough and narrow first half was, unfortunately for home fans, followed by a one way road in the second with Vardar finishing the game with +6 (32:26). Marsenic scored 6 for Black-Red, Dibirov added 5 and on the other side Mlakar and Poteko have added 5 each.

PPD Zagreb is clearly not in good form in the beginning of the season and another painful proof came on Saturday with Veselin Vujovic’ guys losing in Sweden against Kristianstad with huge 7 goal margin (29:22). In the end 5 goals for Mandalinic, 3 for Horvat giving Zagreb plenty to worry about as well as work on ahead of upcoming challenges.

Reigning champions are also not in the best possible form early in the season. Hungarians have reached their second draw of Champions League season, this time against Wisla in Plock. It was 28:28 despite of Palmarsson scoring 8 goals and Sulic adding 7 leaving Veszprem 2 points behind leading Barcelona Lassa.

In the next round Veszprem will welcome Kiel, Celje will travel to Poland to meet CL title holders Kielce and Zagreb will host SEHA derby of the round with Meshkov coming to visit. Vardar will host Szeged and Celje will try to secure a triumph on road against Kristianstad.

Standings in groups A and B after first 3 rounds:

GROUP A:

Barcelona 6, PSG 4, Veszprem 4, Kiel 4, Flensburg 3, Silkeborg 2, Wisla 1, Schaffhausen 0

GROUP B:

Kielce 6, Vardar 6, Szeged 3, Rhein Neckar Löwen 3, Celje 2, Meshkov 2, Kristianstad 2, Zagreb 0

SEHA Gazprom League also has two representatives in CL’s group C. Unfortunately, both were defeated this round with Metalurg losing to Chehovskie Medvedi (25:21) despite of Obradovic scoring 8 goals and Mladenovic adding 5 as well as Tatran Presov failing to surprise La Rioja (33:27) in Spain with Peskov leading the team with 7 goals and Hrstka adding 6. 

In the next round they will both play at home with Tatran hosting Elverum and Metalurg facing-off against La Rioja.

Standings in groups C and D after first 3 rounds:

GROUP C:

La Rioja 5, Chehovskie Medvedi 4, Elverum 3, Montpellier 2, Tatran 2, Metalurg 2

GROUP D:

Nantes 5, Dinamo Bucuresti 4, Motor 3, Besiktas 3, ABC/UMinho 2, Holstebro 1