EHFCL Round 14 recap: PPD Zagreb fail to stun PSG, Vardar and Veszprem advance through to the next stage

Veselin Vujovic

Group stage of 2019/2020 EHF Champions League season is behind us. Out of five SEHA teams competing in elite groups of the competition two have managed to reach the next phase – Telekom Veszprem and Vardar. PPD Zagreb, Motor Zaporozhye and Meshkov Brest have ended their CL campaign which means they'll now have more time to focus on SEHA - Gazprom League Play-Offs and national competitions.

(Group A) PSG – PPD Zagreb 37:26

PPD Zagreb failed to stun highly-favored PSG team in French capital. 'Lions' have that way ended their EHF Champions League season finishing group stage on seventh position with five points. Croatian champs were able to stay close in the opening 15 minutes. Unfortunately for them, after that PSG started playing better on the defensive side of the court slowly enlarging the gap. Milos Bozovic led Zagreb offensively in this one with six goals while David Mandic added five.

(Group B) Meshkov Brest – Porto 32:35

Despite of the fact they already lost all hopes of reaching the knock-out phase Meshkov Brest were in their final CL group stage encounter of the season eager to end the season on a high note with a home win over Porto. However, guests were four goals up after first 30 minutes which pretty much sealed the deal in this one. Belarusians were playing better in the second half led by Jaka Malus who finished the game with 10 goals but weren't able to close the gap and secure points. Maxim Baranau and William Accambray added four each.

(Group B) Vardar – Montpellier 27:31

'Red&Black' have also failed to finish the group stage on a high note in front of their fans falling four goals short against French Montpellier. Stojanche Stoilov finished the game with seven goals while Sergei Gorbok added six. Despite of that Macedonians finished the group stage on sixth position which means they will in eighth-finals face off against Hungarian MOL Pick Szeged.

(Group B) Motor Zaporozhye – Telekom Veszprem 22:32

In the only SEHA - Gazprom League encounter of the round Telekom Veszprem were in Zaporozhye dominant against Motor. Dragan Gajic led his team in this one with five while Dejan Manaskov added four. The deal has already been sealed 30 minutes into the encounter with Hungarians opening the gap to nine goals (8:17). As second positioned team of group B after the opening stage of the competition Telekom Veszprem will in eighth-finals meet Wisla Plock.