Final 10 tickets for European League group phase up for grabs

Meanwhile, last season's EHF Champions League Women participants DVSC Schaeffler are chasing SCM Ramnicu Valcea's two-goal lead in Debrecen.

• Paris 92 hope to secure a return to the group phase in France after mounting a comeback in the first leg against H 65 Höörs HK to take a decent five-goal advantage (25:30) from Sweden
• the reigning EHF European Cup champions ATTICGO Bm Elche look set to continue their title defence, as HC Lokomotiva Zagreb have a mountain to climb in order to nullify Elche's seven-goal advantage (21:28) from the first leg
• current Bundesliga leaders BV Borussia Dortmund take a four-goal advantage to Czechia after defeating DHK Banik Most 36:32 in the first leg, but the Czech club boasts an impressive home record this season
• SCM Ramnicu Valcea surprised DVSC Schaeffler in the first leg by securing a two-goal win (33:31), thanks to Nathalie Hagman who scored six goals, but Debrecen have the home advantage in the return leg
• Thüringer HC are one of three German clubs in qualification round 3; the Herbert Müller-led squad holds a huge 34:22 advantage ahead of the return leg against Vác in Hungary
• HSG Blomberg-Lippe hope to get the job done on TUSSIES Metzingen's court after comfortably winning the first leg of the German derby 30:21

Trio of Polish clubs share the same goal

KGHM MKS Zaglebie Lubin and KPR Gminy Kobierzyce suffered narrow defeats in the first legs against the reigning Swedish champions IK Sävehof (30:28), and Larvik (30:29), respectively. Both are now hoping to win in front of their own passionate supporters in Poland.

Unlike them, MKS FunFloor Lublin will travel with a four-goal advantage (23:19) to Spain after defeating the ambitious Super Amara Bera Bera in the first leg. The group phase looks within reach for the Polish trio, but they will need to prove their quality and credentials against far more experienced opponents in the return legs to celebrate.

Photos © Svein André Svendsen, Christian Heilwagen