17:40
So, that concludes the final day of the EHF Champions League Women group phase. Odense and Esbjerg have reached the quarter-finals in their respective clutch matches, CSM and DVSC head to the play-offs, while Rapid Bucuresti have failed to qualify for the next round. Their European adventure this season, as well as Sävehof's, comes to an end.
17:34 | FULL-TIME
Well, there it is. Sävehof have just tied the worst losing streak in the history of the competition with 18 losses, set by Kastamonu. As was the case in many matches this season, they fell apart in the second half. DVSC score their seventh win of the campaign and take fifth place in group A. Bietigheim drop to sixth.
17:29 | FULL-TIME
For the second time this season Esbjerg have beaten Rapid. This time, it's a win which secures them a place in the quarter-finals. The Danish champions were under pressure, but you couldn't really tell by the way they've dominated today.
Esbjerg have the same number of points as Metz (22), but the French side take the first place in group B as they won the aggregate encounter against the Danes. Esbjerg takes the second and Ikast moves to third which means they're going to the play-offs.
17:19
It's pretty straightforward in both games, with not much suspense. Esbjerg again lead by nine goals (29:20), which is almost the exact same scoreline as in Sweden where DVSC lead 27:20.
17:10
All credit to the Rapid fans who are just as noisy as they were at the start of this match. Although, they don't have much to be happy about as their team are almost certainly beaten. Esbjerg were up by nine goals at one point, now it's 25:17 and the winner seems pretty much decided with 13 minutes left.
17:03
Sävehof are fighting hard, as they have been doing the entire season, but - as most of the time - they are behind. Ida Sembe cuts DVSC's lead to three goals now (21:18).
17:00
Such a strong, commanding start from Esbjerg. Their lead is already up to seven goals (20:13) after Reistad put the ball in the back of an empty net. Rapid are going for broke right now, but it seems unlikely they will be able to produce a comeback.
16:51
We're heading into the final 30 minutes of the group phase this season. Esbjerg are going for the quarter-final spot, while Rapid need to mount a comeback in order to reach the play-offs. In Partille Sävehof are playing for their pride against a mostly relaxed DVSC side.
16:42
Danish champions Esbjerg are firmly on their way to the quarter-finals. Norwegian centre back Henny Reistad has been exceptional with five goals from seven attempts, and it's kind of strange that Esbjerg lead by four goals when their goalkeeper Kristensen made only two saves. Rapid, who have lost five matches out of their last six, are visibly out of form but they still have 30 minutes left to turn it around.
In a match with much less or no pressure at all in Partille, DVSC are also in control. Thea Stankiewicz scored six goals for Sävehof, but her teammates couldn't keep up. So far, it looks as though Sävehof will tie the infamous record for most consecutive losses in the EHF Champions League.
16:36 | HALF-TIME
16:28
The guests beginning to develop significant leads now. Esbjerg lead by four goals (12:8) for the first time after a magnificent strike from Mørk from 10 meters, while DVSC are already five goals to the good against Sävehof, 15:10.
16:19
Reistad's four goals already propel Esbjerg to a 10:7 lead before David Ginesta Montes reacts with a timeout for Rapid.
DVSC also in front in Partille, they lead 11:9.
16:14
Still neither team has been able to establish a bigger gap than a single goal, in both games!
It's Esbjerg now with a slim lead 6:5 after Reistad's second goal, while in Sweden it's 7:7.
16:07
It's all even so far in Bucharest, Rapid - Esbjerg 3:3.
In Sweden, DVSC lead 4:3 with both goalkeepers (Bundsen, Bartulovic) with three saves each already.
16:00
We're off in Bucharest and Partille!
15:54
Also at 16:00 CET, Sävehof are looking to avoid tying the worst losing streak in the history of the competition at 18 matches, set by Kastamonu. They host DVSC who have secured the play-offs in sixth place of group A, but will overtake Bietigheim in fifth if they win today. The Hungarians are on a high right now having beaten Györ in the previous round.
15:51
In about 10 minutes time, we have the remaining two matches of this season's group phase. In group B a vital clash between Rapid Bucuresti and Team Esbjerg.
Seventh-ranked Rapid need a win to leaprog FTC in sixth for a place in the play-offs, while Esbjerg on the other hand need at least a point to secure quarter-finals. They are currently in third place with 20 points, a point behind Ikast, but because of their better head-to-head with the national rivals, Esbjerg needs a point.
In the reverse fixture Esbjerg beat Rapid 30:28 in Denmark.
15:40
Cristina Neagu's terrific milestone needs to be emphasized, although she probably couldn't care less because of CSM's loss. Today she scored seven goals, with Flippes following with five. Eriksson collected eight saves, most of them in the second period, but it wasn't enough.
As for Odense, Aardahl, Hansen and Housheer scored five goals each, and Reinardht made 13 saves which made her Player of the Match as well.
15:37
Except the first few minutes, it's been an excellent performance from Odense. A point was enough for them, but there was not a doubt in their mind that they would go for the win today.
Ever since they seized control in the first half, they never looked back. CSM's comeback in the second period was short-lived as Odense again stepped it up before comfortably securing the vital victory.
With it, Odense remains in second place and goes through to the quarter-finals directly, while CSM will try to join them via play-offs from fourth place in group A.
15:34 | FULL-TIME
It's all over, Odense are through to the quarter-finals having beaten CSM for the first time ever!
15:32
What a moment for Cristina Neagu! She started the match with 1,094 goals. In front of her is only Krim's Jovanka Radicevic with 1,133 goals.
15:25
Dindiligan went out for two minutes and Hansen scored soon after. It would take a miracle right now for Odense to drop this huge lead (27:22) with seven minutes left. And honestly, it doesn't look like CSM believe they could somehow get back in this.
15:19
This could be crucial. Housheer and van Wetering score two quick goals to bring Odense back to a five-goal advantage (26:21). Vasile perhaps waited a bit too long for another timeout. CSM have 12 minutes to create a turnaround.
15:16
Odense respond well to CSM's fightback. They score three and concede only one in less than five minutes. The scoreline says 24:20 to Odense at the halfway mark of the second period. Now Mejlvang receives a two-minute suspension for the hosts after the video replay.
15:09
And indeed, Evelina Eriksson makes a few saves and suddenly CSM are only two goals behind (21:19) after two goals from Flippes.
15:05
First timeout from Ole Gjekstad after CSM scored two goals in a row to cut the hosts' lead to 19:15. Romanian champions are fighting hard, but they need more support from their goalkeepers.
15:00
It's all going Odense's way. Zaadi gets sent off for two minutes and Hansen immediately converts the penalty shot to make it 18:12 for the hosts.
14:57
The break's over, we're back in action. Final 30 minutes of this season's group phase for Odense and CSM!
14:47
As for the scorers, Aardahl, Højlund and Housheer lead the list for Odense with three goals each. At CSM, five players so far have scored two goals.
Another reminder that Odense have never beaten CSM in the EHF Champions League. This would be a fine moment for them to get their first win over the Romanians, especially in front of their home crowd.
14:42 | HALF-TIME
Interestingly enough, no goals have been scored in the final five minutes of the first half. It remains 16:11 in favour of Odense.
CSM have started brightly, but with only the one save from their goalkeepers in total (!) they simply couldn't keep up with the Danes. Reinhardt on the other side had seven saves (41 per cent).
Still all to play for in the remaining 30 minutes. CSM need a win, while Odense have the luxury of going through to the quarter-finals with a draw as well.
14:35
Final five minutes of the first half. Odense in full control, with their lead being constantly between four and five goals. It's 16:11.
14:32
Cristina Neagu en route to her big milestone. She needs only four more goals to hit the 1,100-goal mark in the EHF Champions League!
14:27
Another timeout from Vasile. And rightfully so. Odense are completely outplaying the Romanian champions and lead 13:8 after 21 minutes. Reinhardt with five saves so far, and Aardahl and Housheer with three goals each.
14:22
And here's the third CSM's goalkeeper already. Evelina Eriksson stepped in to try and save Hansen's penalty shot, but to no avail. Odense are in front by 10:7 so Vasile calls his first timeout of the match.
14:18
Laura Glauser has saved only one shot so far and CSM's head coach Adrian Vasile decides to put Marie Skurtveit between the sticks. The Romanians are struggling in attack right now, while Odense feel more and more comfortable. The hosts lead 8:6.
14:12
With CSM's Ingstad on the sidelines serving a two-minute suspension, Odense score three goals in a row to lead 6:4! Housheer once and Aardahl twice. This one is heating up nicely.
14:06
Early problems for Odense. They scored the first goal (Rushfeldt Delia), but then Mejlvang received a two-minute suspension. During that period CSM scored three goals (Zaadi, Neagu, Jensen Østergaard), while Aardahl failed to convert her penalty shot. It's 3:1 now to CSM after five minutes.
14:00
Odense and CSM have just started their deciding match! Tell us who you pick to reach the quarter-finals right here:
13:53
In the reverse fixture CSM won in Bucharest 28:24 all the way back in September in round 1.
Cristina Neagu and Crina Pintea combined for 15 goals, while Laura Glauser shined with 20 saves. CSM won their first two meetings as well, so Odense will be looking to break their duck today.
It should be a fascinating duel really. Not only because of the importance that lies upon it, but because of the sheer quality with a total of over 20 players of international teams combined between the teams. Including 11 medallists from the 2023 IHF World Championship!
13:45
CSM are looking for their ninth straight progression to the quarter-finals, with the legendary left back Cristina Neagu closing in on a terrific milestone.
She needs only six goals to reach the 1,100-goal mark in the EHF Champions League, which would make her only the second woman to make that achievement. The first one is Krim's Jovanka Radicevic with 1,133 goals.
13:36
First photos from the warm-up in Odense have arrived! Less than half an hour until the match starts.
We're going to prepare well for this match, we know it's going to be very tough, and we're going to do everything we can to bring home the win. We know that it will also be good to be able to play in front of our fans, so we're going to give it everything we've got and try to make as few mistakes as possible to give ourselves every chance of winning, and that's very important for us.
