Madeira earn hard-fought win against Elche

• Elche, who had reached the semi-final of the same competition last season, led 16:14 at half-time, but the hosts turned things around afterwards
• two other Spanish teams beat their Italian rivals: KH-7 BM. Granollers defeated SSD Handball Erice ARD at home (34:27), and Rocasa Gran Canaria had the upper hand at Jomi Salerno (26:20)
• a 50 per cent save rate by Iryna Yablonska-Bobal powered MKS IUVENTA Michalovce (SVK) to a 31:22 victory at ZRK Mlinotest Ajdovscina (SLO)
• Cabooter HandbaL Venlo (NED) also have one foot in the quarter-final following a 29:21 away win at ZRK Bjelovar (CRO)
• seven second-leg matches as well as a double-header between Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR) and AESH Pylea Thessaloniki (GRE) will be played next weekend, from 19 to 21 January

Yalikavaspor dominant in Turkish derby

The two clubs from Türkiye, Ankara Yenimahalle BSK and Armada Praxis Yalikavaspor, are facing each other in the Last 16, so one Turkish team is certain to reach the quarter-final. And, after the first leg, Yalikavaspor seem to have a better chance, as they defeated their domestic rivals away from home, 27:23.

Still, nothing is yet clear in that tie, and in the second leg next Saturday, Ankara will try to take revenge away in Bodrum – even if this task does not seem easy.