Szeged win MOTW; Kielce tighten grip on group A
I think Elverum makes step by step every year. I see a nice future for them. I can say I wasn't too happy in the last moment – we were making too many mistakes in the defence, but we won, and now we’re focusing on the next matches.
We knew we were up against a great team with an amazing history, so we knew we had to perform well. In our last game against Nantes we did not play well, and we knew we had to do more to win. We managed to get off to a great start, and we played aggressive defence and got our attack going. I am satisfied with our execution today.
20:21
FULL-TIME UPDATE: AALBORG VS ZAGREB 38:29
Aalborg scoop a one-sided win at home against Zagreb, equalling their highest score so far this season (38:29 vs Motor).
EHF journalist Björn Pazen tells us that the Danish side broke a club record during the clash, with their big half-time tally of 22 goals – Aalborg's highest ever score after the first 30 minutes in a Champions League match.
20:19
FULL-TIME UPDATE: SZEGED VS VARDAR 34:33
The Match of the Week went right down to the final minutes, with home side Szeged securing a one-goal win over Vardar.
20:15
FULL-TIME UPDATE: KIELCE VS ELVERUM 39:29
Group A leaders Kielce finish with a big win against Elverum and move two points ahead of their nearest rivals, Flensburg, to sit alone on top of the table.
19:21
HALF-TIME UPDATE: SZEGED VS VARDAR 17:19
Vardar go to the break in Hungary with a two-goal advantage in the Match of the Week. Alongside Jotic's five goals, Ivan Cupic has netted six – but the top scorer of the first 30 minutes is on Szeged's side, as Richard Bodo has scored seven.
19:24
HALF-TIME UPDATE: AALBORG VS ZAGREB 22:14
The situation looks grim for Zagreb, who are well behind their Danish hosts at half-time and look set to extend their run of defeats this season. Sebastian Barthold has been the main danger man, with eight goals for Aalborg in the opening half.
19:19
HALF-TIME UPDATE: KIELCE VS ELVERUM 20:14
Kielce tighten their hold on the match as the half progresses and hold a comfortable lead at the break vs Elverum.
The players of Vardar also want to triumph. We cannot let more points go through our hands, especially at home. We have already lost too many times. If we believe in ourselves, we can win against any club.
22:35
So that's three matches down in the midweek EHF Champions League action. Which game did you enjoy most? Was it PSG's harder-than-it-looked victory over Meshkov Brest, Veszprém's battle with Motor, or Barça's epic against Nantes?
22:25
Barça's save efficiency rocketed from 26 per cent in the first half to 40 per cent in the second half and this Kevin Møller effort is amazing. Look how high the ball goes!
22:13 | FULL-TIME
Barça 30:29 HBC NANTES
By the narrowest of margins, Barça maintain their unbroken string of victories. They will definitely finish top of group B now. It was a strong effort from Nantes, but when the momentum swung to Barça at the beginning of the second half the visitors were unable to properly regain it. Still, they can take heart from having pushed Barça closer than any other team this season.
22:05
Five minutes and it's 27:27! Which team has the grit to take this home?
22:02
Both goalkeepers are impressive this evening. Emil Nielsen has really stood out in his breakout season and tonight has delivered a series of spectacular saves once again.
22:00
Adrian Figueras equalises again for Nantes at 25:25 with 10 minutes to go. But Barça earn a penalty and Aleix Gómez hammers it home, making it 26:25.
A shout-out at this point to Valero Rivera, who is being pin-point accurate against his old teammates tonight. He's scored eight goals from eight shots, split evenly between field goals and penalties.
21:54
A period of almost three minutes with no goals but a succession of missed shots is broken when Dika Mem steals the ball and Aleix Gómez nets it on a fast break. It's 24:22 and Nantes are looking slightly less slick than they were in the first half.
21:45
Barça have begun this half better and, just under nine minutes in, Aleix Gómez levelled the score at 21:21. Aitor Ariño added another goal soon afterwards and it's 22:21. Alberto Entrerrios has called a swift time-out - can Nantes withstand the pressure now as the heat increases?
21:38
There weren't too many highlights for Barça in a lacklustre first half, but this was one of them.
21:28
EHF journalist Björn Pazen always has a good statistic, and this one's great. The last time Barcelona were down at the break in an EHF Champions League home watch was exactly three years ago in 2018. They trailed Orlen Wisla Plock 14:15 at half-time, but came through to win 28:27.
Trailing by three goals is a bigger task. The last time Barça went into the changing room three goals down was at the VELUX EHF FINAL4 2020, when Kiel led 19:16 at the break and went on to book their place in the final with a 33:28 win. And Nantes beat Kiel in a triumphant away win in September ...
21:20 | HALF-TIME
Barça 14:17 HBC NANTES
Not the first half Barça would have wanted there - they trail by three goals as Nantes head smiling into the dressing room. There was good defence and attack by the French club, who were finding particular accuracy from the 6m line. It'll be interesting to see what Barça can bring after the break!
21:15
A gorgeous lob by Kiril Lazarov gives Nantes a 14:11 lead which soon after becomes 15:12. The visitors are finding their way past the Barça defence and Emil Nielsen is again having a very good night in goal.
21:09
The Barça time-out worked. A 2:0 run, with three missed Nantes shots, means the score is level at 10:10 and it's Alberto Entrerrios' turn to call a time-out.
21:04
With 16 minutes played, Xavi Pascual calls a time-out. His men are trailing 8:10 as Nantes dominate the attack.
20:59
Although Nantes have had a period with two players suspended, they continue to lead. However Barça have closed the gap back to 7:8 after trailing 4:7 a few minutes ago.
20:54
Nantes held their nerve in the opening minutes and two goals from both former Barça player Valero Rivera and Alexandre Cavalcanti took them to a 4:2 lead, soon afterwards becoming 5:3 with shots by Haniel Langaro and Kiril Lazarov. Emil Nielsen has saved three out of six shots.
20:48
Great defence by Barça in the opening minutes. Kevin Møller denies Milan Milic's first attempt at goal, and the home team turn over soon afterwards with Ludovic Fabregas scoring easily.
20:37
The EHFTV coverage of Barça vs Nantes has begun so head over to watch as the teams are introduced - less than 10 minutes until throw-off!
20:30
Coming up next tonight, it's Barça against Nantes. Barça have won all 11 games played so far and if they secure at least a draw against Nantes they are guaranteed to top group B. When they met in France in September, Barça won 35:27.
A win for Nantes would put them level with Aalborg on 10 points. But it's a tough ask against a Barça side that continues to look fearsomely strong.
20:15| FULL-TIME
TELEKOM VESZPRÉM HC 34:30 HC MOTOR
Motor's run of bad luck in away matches continues as Veszprém hold on for a four-goal win. The margin makes it look easier than it was and the two sides were pretty evenly matched for most of the game, but as Jorge Maqueda nets the winning goal - his tenth - Veszprém's eighth win this season is secured.
20:12 | FULL-TIME
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN 33:26 HC MESHKOV BREST
PSG avenge their one-goal loss to Meshkov Brest in September with a convincing seven-goal win at home. It was an assured performance by the French club, particularly when Meshkov fought their way back into the match early in the second half.
20:08
Yann Genty's made a real impact in the second half for PSG, tracking at a save efficiency of 37 per cent with seven out of 19 saves.
20:02
PSG seem to have wrapped this up. Dainis Kristopans uses his height and power to net into the empty Motor goal, Ivan Matskevich running in just a bit too late, and it's 30:23.
Over in Hungary, Veszprém have also scored 30 goals but the margin is tighter at 30:27. Still, with Jorge Maqueda and Gasper Marguc both on form with eight, it looks like the momentum is on the home team's side.
19:55
A 5:0 run from Paris - Hansen, Grebille, Remili, Kounkoud and Morros - gives them back a four-goal lead at 24:20. Meshkov Brest need to dig deep now with 14 minutes left.
19:50
Aidenas Malasinkas is having a solid game today for Motor, and there's no stopping this goal from beyond the 9m line.
19:47
Vladimir Vranjes levels the match for Meshkov Brest in Paris. They've had a superb start to the second half, despite Raul Gonzalez putting Yann Genty in goal.
It's still level in Veszprém too!
19:40
The second halves have started. But first, here's a clip of a fantastic in-flight goal by Elohim Prandi, assisted by Nedim Remili.
19:28
We mentioned Rodrigo Corrales' excellent penalty save earlier - here's the clip. Goalkeepers have to be so flexible!
19:25 | HALF-TIME
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN HANDBALL 15:12 HC MESHKOV BREST
PSG have a three-goal lead at the break, largely thanks to shooting a lot more than their opponents. It's not Vincent Gerard's day in goal right now, but luckily for him he's had less to save than Ivan Matskevich.
19:20 | HALF-TIME
TELEKOM VESZPRÉM HC 17:17 HC MOTOR
Veszprém started well but the visitors have never let up, and it's a high-scoring 17:17 at the break. Gasper Marguc leads the scoring with six goals, while Gennadiy Komok has had the better day in goal with six saves to five for Rodrigo Corrales.
19:14
The goalkeepers haven't been having a brilliant day in Paris at either end of the court, but this was a great save from Ivan Matskevich.
19:10
A good penalty save by Rodrigo Corrales against Aidenas Malasinkas a short while ago helped Veszprém establish a two-goal lead again. Motor coach Gintaras Savukynas calls a time-out at 15:13 to the home team.
19:02
Halfway through the first halves, and things have hotted up.
In Veszprém, Motor have closed up to 9:8 thanks to a string of five goals from Dmytro Horiha.
Meanwhile, Dainis Kristopans has just put PSG ahead at 10:7 - but Meshkov Brest keep fighting back.
18:55
Both home teams, capitalising on their early goals, have opened up the lead now. Gasper Marguc for Veszprém and Kamil Syprzak for PSG have both scored three times as Veszprém lead Motor 7:4, and PSG lead Meshkov Brest 6:3.
18:47
Play has begun and Veszprém wasted no time in opening the scoring - Nikolaj Markussen netting inside 30 seconds. In Paris, Kamil Syprzak does exactly the same thing.
18:37
The teams have warmed up and EHFTV coverage has begun - use the split-screen tool to watch both matches at the same time! Remember, if you live in a country where a local broadcaster has TV rights, EHFTV coverage may be geoblocked.
18:30
Motor took a charter flight from Zaporozhye to Budapest and on to Veszprém yesterday - in a rather snazzy club-branded plane! They said they know the match this evening will be a tough fight against opponents who normally play pretty well in their home arena - although Veszprém have lost twice at home this season, against Barça two weeks ago, and against Aalborg back in November.
18:16
Here's Veszprém's squad to face Motor in half an hour. Right back Kent Robin Tönnesen and right wing Danil Shishkarev, who both played last week against Celje, are not playing tonight. Instead, David Davis has brought in line player Andreas Nilsson and left back Vuko Borozan, who missed last week's game.
18:00
Before tonight's action throws off, make sure you have a read through the round preview. There's some interesting facts in there, such as the fact that Meshkov Brest have picked up just one point away this season when they drew with Flensburg, while Motor have won just one game ever in the EHF Champions League against Veszprém, way back in 2014.
16:10
Some Barça team news for tonight's match that was announced earlier: Luis Frade returns to the squad after a recent injury, but Aron Palmarsson will be rested.
15:15
At 20:45 CET, Nantes will bid to end Barça's long unbeaten home run in the EHF Champions League Men. Nantes have faced Barça in the Palau Blaugrana twice before – but left empty handed on both occasions.
- 07.10.2017 – FC Barcelona Lassa vs HBC Nantes – Group A – 31:25 (13:16)
- 04.05.2019 – Barça Lassa vs HBC Nantes – Quarter-final – 29:26 (17:14)
However, with three away wins in the EHF Champions League this season, including their sensational 35:27 victory over Kiel, Nantes' form on the road may provide them with the belief that they can be the team to defeat Barça in Barcelona.
14:00
One player who might be in focus in Paris Saint-Germain's match against Meshkov Brest at 18:45 CET is Latvian right back Dainis Kristopans. Kristopans played for Meshkov Brest in the EHF Champions League in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons, scoring a total of 138 goals for the club from Belarus, and he was Paris Saint-Germain's top scorer against his former side in their first meeting this season.
13:25
Ahead of Telekom Veszprém's match against HC Motor on Wednesday evening, the Hungarian side have shared Blaz Blagotinsek's pre-match thoughts via their Twitter account. Blagotinsek believes that his team "have to play a good game against Motor, especially in defence. We know that that Zaporozhye is a good team." The clash between the two teams is between second and third in group B, and while Veszprém have won five consecutive matches against Motor in the EHF Champions League, Motor's loss at home against Veszprém in September was only by three goals.
12:35
The late game tonight is an interesting one between Barça and HBC Nantes, two teams with a fair bit of recent history and divided loyalties.
Nantes' David Balaguer, Eduardo Gurbindo, Valero Rivera and recently announced North Macedonia coach Kiril Lazarov all played for Barça at one time or another and we have a bit of sibling rivalry as Nantes coach Alberto Entrerrios faces his brother Raul, who is still going strong on court having turned 40 last week.
12:09
We had one of our first major surprises of the season when Brest and PSG met back in October. A brilliant performance from a new-look Meshkov back court dismantled their star-studded guests to win 32:31.
Since then, the sides have had a mixed bag of results but both occupy places in the top half of group A. Brest sit in third place, three points ahead of PSG but with four more matches played, so a victory for the French champions would see them close in on a top-three finish.
12:00
Good afternoon and welcome to the live blog for round 12 of the EHF Champions League Men. Just three weeks remain in the group phase and the important games keep rolling in as all 16 teams jostle for position in the play-offs.
Six matches are scheduled for this midweek period, including three tonight!
18:45 CET
Paris Saint-Germain Handball vs HC Meshkov Brest
Telekom Veszprém HC vs HC Motor
20:45 CET
Barça vs HBC Nantes
