Bietigheim celebrate first-ever win against Odense

QUARTER-FINALS, FIRST LEG

SG BBM Bietigheim (GER) vs Odense Håndbold (DEN) 30:26 (15:12)

• Bietigheim's goalkeeper Gabriela Moreschi had an outstanding start to the match with three saves out of five shots, helping her team to build an early 8:2 lead
• Odense toughed in defence, closing BBM's attempts between half and insider defenders, thus helping Rebecca Reinhardt between the posts to catch up with Moreschi
• when the away team tied the output (9:9) from the 21st minute it looked like we were going to have a completely new match, but Antje Döll became BBM's hero widening the gap to 17:12
• the biggest lead Bietigheim had was by seven (23:16), but it took only seven minutes for the Danish side to close the gap again to three
• Antje Döll with eight goals and Kaba Gassama Cissokho with six led Bietigheim, Andrea Hansen scored the same amount for Odense
• the German team have leverage ahead of the second leg - whichever club manages to qualify for the EHF FINAL4, it would be their historic final tournament appearance; BBM previously won the EHF European League in 2021/22

Bietigheim's persistence

This was the first time SG BBM Bietigheim found themselves in the EHF Champions League Women quarter-finals and pitted sides with experienced Odense Håndbold, in their third placement among the top eight teams.

Two sides had already met in group A and both clashes went to the Danish side, winning 42:29 and 28:25. While Odense qualified directly to the quarter-finals, Bietigheim had to fight their way through the play-offs and they came out on top.

Bietigheim showed their persistence all the way, especially in the first leg of the quarter-finals and boosted by the strong support from the stands, they never gave up. With collective strength and a good performance by the goalkeeper Gabriela Moreschi (11 saves), Bietigheim marched confidently on the home court even when the opponents were coming in close. Left wing Antje Döll, Bietigheim's second-top scorer, scored eight times, many in pivotal moments of the game.