Aalborg book play-off spot in style

GROUP B
Aalborg Handbold (DEN) vs. Elverum Handball (NOR) 31:24 (17:12) 

• it was Aalborg’s sixth victory in six matches versus Elverum, and the second this season having won the first clash in Elverum, 33:25 
• after four straight home defeats before the winter break, Aalborg took their second straight win on home ground in February, having also beaten Szeged, 33:27
• Elverum kept it close and trailed 11:9 with nine minutes left till the break, but then Aalborg took the upper hand with a 6:1 run for a 17:10 lead - which allowed coach Stefan Madsen to use a huge rotation with many young guns 
• the biggest gap after the break was eight goals (21:13); the hosts then started to save strength for their upcoming tasks; Elverum managed to reduce the lead to 23:27, before Aalborg speeded up again 
• best scorers for the hosts were Felix Claar (6), Lukas Sandell and Aron Palmarsson (each with 5), while Daniel Blomgren netted six times for Elverum  

Aalborg prove they can win with different tactics 

Usually, Aalborg are famous for their high-speed counter-attack match play and their fast wings. But, on Wednesday, the back court axis was their strongest weapon, even with their regular top scorer, Mikkel Hansen still unavailable. The Swedish-Icelandic trio of Felix Claar, Lukas Sandell and Aron Palmarsson was on duty in terms of goals for the hosts against Aalborg. Last week’s best scorers - the Norwegian wings Kristian Bjørnsen and Sebastian Barthold - this time did not play much against their fellow countrymen.