Four Spanish sides proceed to European Cup Last 16

Spain have the biggest contingent in the Last 16 with four sides, while Italy have two teams still in the race for the trophy. The Last 16 draw takes place on Tuesday 18 November, at 11:00 CET and will be streamed live on the Home of Handball YouTube channel.

• last season’s semi-finalists IUVENTA Michalovce from Slovakia hosted a double-header against Dutch side H.V. Quintus; the first leg was quite close (38:33), but in the second encounter, Michalovce won 41:17
• after the 26:26 draw between Energa Start Elblag (Poland) and Jomi Salerno (Italy) in the first leg last week, the re-match ended in another draw (28:28). In the penalty shootout, the hosts won 5:4, backed by a total of eight goals by Asia Kristel Mangone
• two more pairings ended in draws last week: in the second legs, ZRK Mlinotest Ajdovscina beat Westfriesland SEW 24:19 and ŽRK Split defeated WHC Metalurg Avtokomanda 26:25 to proceed to the Last 16
• for both Austrian sides, round 3 meant the end of the journey: Union Korneuburg lost both encounters against last season’s semi-finalists Hazena Kynzvart (Czechia) in an aggregate result of 47:85, while MADx WAT Atzgersdorf won the second leg against Greek side A.C. PAOK 27:25, but the margin from the 28:35 home defeat was too big
• Club Balonmán Atlético Guardes (Spain) took the biggest aggregate win of round 3, winning their double-header last week against Bulgaria’s HC Byala 84:43

Penalty shootout decides the winner in Bor

The biggest thriller of all round 3 pairings took place in Bor, Serbia. Slovak side Slovan Duslo Sala had arrived as the favourites, due to their bigger international experience and after winning the first leg on home ground 35:31.

But in the return leg, ZORK Bor struck back. The match was fully equal until the 55th minute, when the score stood at 28:28, and it seemed Sala were already in the next round. But then Bor scored twice, and finally a double strike by top scorer Sara Radovic including the last goal one second before the end turned everything around.

After the 32:28 win for Bor, a penalty shootout was needed to decide the aggregate winners. The Slovak side failed twice and the hosts only once, with Aleksandra Baksa’s goal for the 36:31 win propelling Bor into the Last 16.

Main photo © Costa del Sol Malaga; in-text image © ZORK Bor