Esbjerg secure second straight quarter-final spot

PLAY-OFFS, SECOND LEG
MOTW: Team Esbjerg (DEN) vs Brest Bretagne Handball (FRA) 27:24 (14:12)
Team Esbjerg won 55:49 on aggregate 

• it was an even start in Denmark, with both sides holding a narrow lead at least once in the first quarter
• goalkeepers Anna Kristensen and Julie Foggea had a crucial part in the goalless period midway through the first half, but Esbjerg took the first two-goal lead near the end of the first half. Esbjerg's shot efficiency of 64 per cent during the first half was better than Brest's 52 per cent
• Kristine Breistøl delivered two strong shots and a good defensive performance for Esbjerg's first four-goal lead in the game (18:14), which turned out to be decisive for the result
• Jenny Carlson led Brest with five goals, but as the French side had problems in attack in the second half, Monika Kobylinska stood out with three goals
• Anna Kristensen, who finished with a 32 per cent save efficiency, was once again unbeatable between the posts in the crucial moments
• the Player of the Match was the competition's top scorer, Henny Ella Reistad, who added six more goals, and her competition tally now stands at 121

Esbjerg achieve their first goal

Team Esbjerg are playing in their sixth EHF Champions League Women season, and ahead of the last group phase matches they clearly said they want a quarter-final spot. Defeating Brest Bretagne for the second time in the play-offs marked the Danish side's 40th win in the competition and delivered their third quarter-final appearance.

This is Esbjerg's second straight placement among the top eight, after missing out in the 2020/21 season. The reason for missing out? Well, Brest Bretagne. The French club eliminated Esbjerg in the play-offs in 2020/21, winning 63:54 on aggregate. Two years later, Esbjerg got their revenge – claiming their only two wins in six encounters against Brest.

Photo credit: Niels Husted / nhcfoto.dk