SUMMARY: Veszprém claim MOTW; PSG, Barça, Kielce, and GOG win
The Machineseeker EHF Champions League 2022/23 reached round 6 on Wednesday and Thursday, the last action in the competition before a three-week break. The highlight was the Match of the Week between Orlen Wisla Plock and Telekom Veszprém HC.
- round 6 of the Machineseeker EHF Champions League 2022/23 group phase
- Thursday results - MOTW Plock 26:30 Veszprém , PSG 32:30 Porto, Kielce 37:30 Szeged, GOG 33:32 Magdeburg, Barça 34:29 Nantes
- Wednesday results: Zagreb 28:29 Dinamo, Elverum 31:29 Celje, Kiel 36:36 Aalborg
23:12
Thanks for joining us for another week of Machineseeker EHF Champions League action. We have had some fantastic matches and some memorable incidents.
Remember to follow all the action when it returns on Wednesday 23 November. If you do we guarantee you'll be as happy as Emil Nielsen after saving this penalty.
23:08
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
23:05
22:47
Date for your diary - the Machineseeker EHF Champions League returns with round 7 on Wednesday 23 November.
Here are the three matches that will take place that evening, with the remains of the round taking place the next evening, Thursday 24 November.
Paris Saint-Germain vs GOG
Aalborg Håndbold vs HBC Nantes
Pick Szeged vs RK Celje Pivovarna Laško
22:29
Barça's comeback victory over Nantes means they are now four points ahead of the French team in Group B.
Kielce's victory over Szeged means that they move ahead of Nantes into second place with 10 points, two behind Barça.
22:25
Emil Wernsdorf Madsen was GOG's hero tonight. His last-minute goal gave the Danish outfit a narrow win over Magdeburg. It means they now sit level on seven points in Group A.
Veszprém remain top after their win over Plock, with PSG one point behind them after their defeat of Porto that leaves them bottom without a point.
22:23 FULL TIME
All over in round 6 of the Machineseeker EHF Champions League and here's how the final three matches finished…
Kielce 37:30 Szeged
GOG 33:32 Magdeburg
Barça 34:29 Nantes
22:10
Into the final 10 minutes...
22:06
Something for every GOG fan to cheer...
21:44
His feet didn't even touch the ground...
21:40
Back underway and Barça are already back on level terms. Nantes digging in as they know a win will put them level on top of Group B.
21:32
While we are enjoying half-time, why not catch up with what happened in the earlier matches...
21:23 HALFTIME
We've reached the break in the last three matches. Here's how they stand...
Kielce 22:14 Szeged
GOG 13:16 Magdeburg
Barça 16:17 Nantes
21:08
The eyes go one way, the ball the other...
21:07
20:50
We are underway in our last three round 6 matches, and the goals are flying in already.
20:36
It was a memorable MOTW today. It swung one way, then the other, and then back again. Here are the stats that matter...
20:26
Let's not forget that we are less than 20 minutes away from throw-off in our final three group matches.
Kielce vs Szeged , GOG vs Magdeburg , Barça vs Nantes
The teams have all arrived, have caught up with their opponents, and are putting the final touches to their preparations.
20:22
No surprises as to who is named Player of the Match for our Match of the Week - Veszprém's Rasmus Lauge Schmidt who finished with 11 goals from 15 shots as match leading scorer.
20:13 FULL TIME
All over in Poland and Paris. Veszprém triumph in our Match of the Week, while PSG enjoy a dominant victory at home.
Plock 26:30 Veszprém - MOTW
PSG 32:30 Porto
20:05
Just count the dummies. What is three, four or five?
20:00
Do we have a breakthrough in the MOTW? Veszprém now four goals ahead, and Plock unable to peg them back with Sergei Mark Kosorotov denied in their latest attack.
Six to go.
19:58
19:56
Just like the MOTW has turned again with Veszprém back in the lead.
PSG are even more in control now having opened up a five-goal lead.
19:44
Back underway in our first two matches of the evening.
There's been a turnaround in Poland where Plock lead by two, but PSG have raised the intensity and have stretched their lead to six.
19:34
There's power and then there is this...
19:32
Is it any wonder PSG lead when their keeper pulls off saves like this...
19:25
It has been a big half from Veszprém's Rasmus Lauge Schmidt, who has scored from five of his six shots to give his team a one-goal lead at the break.
Gonzalo Perez Arce has a 100% ratio with his shooting, scoring four from four to keep Plock in contention.
19:20 HALFTIME
We've reached the break in the 18.45 starts, and it is Veszprém and PSG who lead
Plock 14:15 Veszprém - MOTW
PSG 17:15 Porto
19:11
Some huge plays already in our MOTW
18:52
Don't forget that at 20:45 we have three matches, most notably defending champions Barça aiming to make it six wins from six, against Nantes.
Then Magdeburg continue their pursuit of Veszprém and PSG in Group A with an away trip to GOG, while in Group B Kielce will try to close the gap to Barça and Nantes.
18:48
We are underground in Plock and Paris.
Omar Fathy has scored the first point for Veszprém, while Elohim Prandi has opened the scoring for PSG.
18:34 MATCH OF THE WEEK
It is 10 minutes till throw off in our match of the week when Plock take on Veszprém, so here are three facts to know what is at stake in the Orlen Arena.
- After five rounds, Veszprém are the leaders of group A with nine points, while Plock are fifth with five points
- both teams drew last week, as Veszprém lost their first point at home against Magdeburg, while Plock took their first point away in Zagreb
- this will be the first time Bosnian left back Mirsad Terzik has played against his former club Veszprém since leaving in 2021
18:22
We had three excellent matches last night, dramatic till the end, so have a read of the match reviews to catch up on all the drama.
18:07
It is a big night for Nantes' Valero Rivera, who returns home to take on defending champions Barça.
Rivera grew up in the Spanish clubs academy and spent 10 years at the club, helping them win the 2005 Champions League. He returned in 2016 for another two seasons.
The French outfit sit second in Group B, two points behind Barça so a victory tonight would draw them level on 10 points.
17:55
Hello and welcome to our live blog of the second day of round 6 from the Machineseeker EHF Champions League.
We have five matches today, including the Match of the Week between Orlen Wisla Plock and Telekom Veszprém HC which is among the first set of matches that begin at 18:45 (CET).
23:20
Thanks for joining us this evening, and what an evening it was with three thrilling matches.
We do hope you can join us tomorrow. We've five matches coming up, so imagine the excitement there will be.
23:10 MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
23:06
We've had three brilliant matches this evening, so relive the magic with our match reports and analysis.
It is always a pleasure to play in this extraordinary atmosphere. We really wanted to win here and we had the chance at plus three. That's why we are disappointed to only be able to take a point - even though we could be just as happy with this point after the last five minutes. It was a just, fair draw.
22:19 FULL TIME
Right, we need a lie-down after that match. What performances from both sides, and there is nothing to separate them.
Just as it appeared that the hosts would hang on to win, Sebastian Barthold is worked clear to cut in from the left and fire home a low right-handed shot to bring the visitors level.
Kiel had one last chance after Mads Hoxer Hangaard was penalized for a foul on Mykola Bilyk, but Kiel's number 53 blazed the free throw over the bar.
22:13
This one is going right to the wire. One minute left and they are all tied up
21:56
What a match in Kiel. It is swinging backwards and fowards, and now as we enter the final quarter, it is Aalborg who are in the lead, with a two-goal advantage.
Call us crazy, but we think there's a few more twists to go.
21:41
It was a famous night for Dinamo Bucuresti, who left Zagreb with victory thanks to a last-minute penalty
Zagreb 28:29 Dinamo
Here's the best of the action...
21:35
21:30
If you missed the earlier action, Elverum beat Celje 31:29
It was an important win for the Norwegian outfit who secured their first victory of the season
21:24 HALFTIME
We're at the break in Germany, and it is the hosts who hold a narrow lead
21:00
Don't think it's going to be a quiet night in Kiel...
We have to be happy and satisfied with the score, especially because of our amazing fans. I have to be honest however and say we absolutely can't be happy with the way we played today. The first half was a disaster for us – we were way too slow and the defence was simply not working. The beginning of the second was the same but luckily after that, we managed to speed it up, and start playing better which finally brought us this win.
20:45
Time for our third and final match of the evening and we turn our attention to Kiel vs Aalborg
20:34
What a finish.
Dinamo stayed on Zagreb's coattails throughout the encounter and with the scored tied at 28-28 and in the last play Dinamo appeared to have missed their chance when Zagreb keeper Aljaz Panjtar pulled off a vital save.
However, Dinamo had one last chance after the referee pulled up Zagreb's Nikola Grahovac for a foul. Andrii Akimenko needed no second invitation and he buried the penalty for a famous win.
20:24 FULL TIME
All done in Zagreb and it is a memorable win for Dinamo Bucuresti
20:22 FULL TIME
All over in Norway and the hosts win.
20:20
Under half an hour until our third and final match of the night and it is Kiel vs Aalborg at 20:45 CET.
Kiel have won all four home matches they played against Aalborg in the EHF Champions League, most recently in November 2021 (31:28) – but they lost the reverse fixture in Denmark the following week (35:33).
If Kiel win again tonight, that would put both teams level on six points in group B.
20:17
There's goalkeeping, and then there's this...
20:13
What a pair of second halves we have had so far. There are two points in it in Elverum and just a point in Zagreb.
Get your fingers ready, you'll be watching through them for the last couple of minutes...
19:53
If you're thinking of finding something else to do, let me introduce you to our friend Timur. He's in good shape tonight...
19:50
Back underway in both matches and the home sides are still in control
19:29
No lack of highlights in Elverum, especially from Aleks Vlah
19:27
When your mate goes for a high five, but you just want to hug it out...
19:25 - HALF TIME
We've reached the break in our first two matches of the evening, and it is the home teams who lead...
19:10
Look cheeky up in the dictionary and you'll see this...
19:05
Opening the scoring in style...
18:51
We are underground in Elverum and Zagreb.
Sindre Heldal has opened the scoring for the Norwegian outfit, while Timur Dibirov has given HC PPD Zagreb the first score.
Remember you can watch all the matches at EHFTV
18:40
The teams are out and being introduced to the crowds in Elverum and Zagreb. Both sets of fans respond with plenty of love for their team.
Elverum's fans are being treated to a highlights reel of their team's achievements down the years. Zagreb's supporters are making quite the din.
18.23
Under 30 minutes till throw off and the teams are well into their preparations in Norway where Elverum are chasing their first points in group B.
They face Celje, who may have beaten Kiel but who have lost their other four matches. No room for slips up, it's a must-win for both.
18:15
If you're wondering what happened last time out in round 5, just have a read of the round up to find out what happened, who won, who lost, and who stood out...
18:06
Right, we've got your evening sorted.
17:59
Big news from the EHF Champions League Women with the ticket sale launch for the EHF FINAL4 Women.
Where else would you want to be on 3/4 June 2023 than the MVM Dome in Budapest when Europe's finest battle it out for the biggest trophy in European handball?
Just follow the link below...
17:17
We open round 6 with two matches in Norway and Croatia, and both matches include teams that are desperate to find the way up.
In group A, Zagreb host Dinamo in a match between the teams ranked seventh and sixth in group A. Currently both on three points, tonight's winners might earn pivotal points in the race to a top-six finish and qualification for the knockout phase.
In group B, Elverum finally want to bag their first points of the group phase when hosting Celje, a team that had an impressive win over Kiel but lost their other four matches. In other words: crunch time for both!
17:06
The Match of the Week features Plock and Veszprém on Thursday at 18:45 CEST – and this is only one of two highly anticipated Polish-Hungarian clashes in round 6, as Kielce and Szeged are set to meet two hours later.
That is all for tomorrow, let's now focus on the matches tonight.
We will close the night with Kiel vs Aalborg at 20:45 CET. Kiel have won all four home matches they played against Aalborg in the EHF Champions League, most recently in November 2021 (31:28) – but they lost the reverse fixture in Denmark the following week (35:33).
If Kiel win again tonight, that would put both teams level on six points in group B.
16:52
The best way to get prepared for all eight matches in round 6 is going through our round preview on eurohandball.com. Lots of info to take in there.
16:45
Welcome to the live blog! We are only two hours away from the start of round 6 in the Machineseeker EHF Champions League 2022/23 group phase.
Three matches coming your way tonight, five more on Thursday night:
