EHF competitions preview: Last 16 starts in EHFCL, Nexe against Tatabanya in EHF Cup

EHF Preview

After a bit of a break, European competitions return to the club handball schedule. It's time for the Last 16 phase in Champions League, with PPD Zagreb, Vardar and Meshkov Brest in contention. Nexe are also in action, with a key match against Tatabanya.

EHFCL Last 16

March 23rd 18:00: Meshkov Brest – Flensburg-Handewitt

After securing a place in the Last 16, which was the first goal for Manolo Cadenas and his team in a historically tough Group A, Flensburg are the next step for Meshkov Brest. The Germans are the favourites in this double-header, especially because of their perfect record against Belarusians. However, Meshkov showed they can play very well against Bundesliga sides, as RN Loewen were beaten in Brest. It will be a special match for Petar Djordjic, who joined arrived to Brest from Flensburg in 2017.

March 23rd 20:30: PPD Zagreb – Vardar

The first leg of the Last 16 phase has a fantastic duel involving two SEHA – Gazprom League clubs. Vardar and PPD Zagreb will face off in Arena Zagreb in the first of two battles to decide which team will proceed to quarter-finals. In the last few years, Vardar have been the better club in head-to-head matches, but both teams earned one home win this season in SEHA matchups. This was picked as Match of the Week in EHF Champions League, which speaks about the importance and intensity expected when these two big rivals meet on Saturday.

EHF Cup Group B

March 23rd 19:30: Nexe – Grundfos Tatabanya

It will be one of the crucial matches for Nexe this season, as they host the excellent Hungarian team Tatabanya in the 5th round of the group stage in EHF Cup. Nexe are first in the group, with 6 points, and another win would guarantee them the first place. Last match intense until the very end and Patrik Leban scored the winning goal in the last seconds. This time, the situation will be different, because Nexe are the favourites in Nasice.