EHF European Cup Women returns with bumper weekend

• 44 teams from 22 countries enter round 2. Kosovo is represented by four clubs, more than any other nation

• the Faroe Islands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Israel, Lithuania and the Netherlands are represented by three clubs each

• in total, 54 teams have registered for this season’s title chase; the 22 winners from round 2 will be joined by the remaining 10 teams that enter the competition in round 3 in November

• Slovakian side HC DAC Dunajská Streda have signed a trio of international players to boost their squad: Croatian Lara Burić (right wing), Czech Anna Kubálková (left wing), and Macedonian Angela Jankulovska (left back); Jankulovska is the oldest addition at just 24

• ZORK Bor and ZRK Krivaja meet this weekend for their double-header in Serbia; they also met in round 2 in 2017/18 with two dominant victories from Bor (39:25 and 30:19)

• two double-headers will take place in Kosovo this weekend, as KHF Samadrexha take on Neistin from the Faroe Islands and KHF Istogu host RK Hadzici

• the remaining two teams from Kosovo, KHF Ferizaj and KHF Shqiponja, will enjoy a home-court advantage in their double-headers next weekend

Brazilian international takes the stage

Italian side Jomi PDO Salerno has made some headlines with the addition of Larissa Araujo. The Brazilian international has made 121 appearances for her country and has played for several Romanian clubs over the past nine years, most recently CSM Corona Brasov. In the 2023/24 season, Araujo reached the EHF Finals Women with HC Dunarea Braila.

The 34-year-old left wing, who has dual Brazilian-Italian nationality, adds experience to the Italian side as they start their European Cup campaign against HC DAC Dunajská Streda in round 2. The first leg will be played in Salerno on Saturday 3 October at 18:30 CEST.

Photos © Lelkes Erno