MT Melsungen and Valur steal headlines at the start of new campaign

QUALIFICATION ROUND, LEG 1

Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (DEN) vs FTC-Green Collect (HUN) 45:27 (22:14)

The ruthless hosts made a huge step towards securing a place in the group stage after displaying a dominant performance against FTC-Green Collect in Denmark. Despite the visitors showing glimpses of quality at the start of the match, Bjerringbro-Silkeborg left no room for surprises and once they took control of the result in the first half, it was a one-way street for the Hungarian club. Silkeborg's new signing - Nikolaj Dueholm Læsø Christensen scored nine of his 11 goals before the break, which resulted with the Danish club taking an eight-goal lead at half-time. Additionally, FTC did not find a way past the goalkeeper, Mikkel Møller Løvkvist who made 17 saves (38 per cent save efficiency) for BHC and Silkeborg's advantage was increasing with every passing minute. Finally, the experienced - Rasmus Lauge Schmidt scored seven of his eight goals in the second half to cap off an excellent performance for the hosts, leaving FTC with only theoretical chances of making a comeback in the return leg in Hungary.

IFK Kristianstad (SWE) vs Fraikin BM. Granollers (ESP) 29:32 (13:15)

In a tight contest between a couple of young squads, Fraikin BM. Granollers earned a hard-fought win in Kristianstad and the Spanish club will defend a three-goal lead in the return leg on home soil. However, it was not a smooth sailing for the visitors as the motivated hosts held a three-goal lead (12:9) of their own in the opening half before Fraikin BM. Granollers successfully mounted a comeback and restricted IFK Kristianstad to only one scored goal in the final ten minutes ahead of half-time. Additionally, the Spaniards turned on the heat in the second half and even held a seven-goal lead on a few occasions, but the Swedish club managed to narrow down the advantage before the final whistle thanks to Axel Mansson who scored seven goals, while Antonio Jesus Garcia Robledo from Granollers scored one more and was the match's top scorer. Judging by the timeline of events from the first leg and the turnarounds, an exciting return leg awaits in Spain as IFK Kristianstad undoubtedly have the quality to hurt the impressive Granollers.

Mors-Thy Håndbold (DEN) vs VfL Gummersbach (GER) 22:35 (10:17)

With a debutant place in the EHF European League's group stage as a reward for the winner of the tie, the stakes were high in Thisted, but VfL Gummersbach quickly took control of the match's result in their own hands and never looked back. The former three-times Cup Winners' Cup winners displayed an impressive all-round performance as only one outfield player did not get on the scoresheet, which speak volumes about VfL Gummersbach's equally distributed talent across the squad. The German club spent the whole duration of the match in the lead and Mors-Thy Håndbold never looked like mounting a comeback. Additionally, the goalkeeper - Bertram Obling recorded 14 saves, accompanied by 38 per cent save efficiency for the visitors, which was a further obstacle for the hosts. In the end, VfL Gummersbach celebrated a deserved win with Julian Köster finishing as the match's top scorer with six goals by his name as they look set to join the other German clubs in the group phase, barring a miraculous comeback by the Danish club in the return leg.

Ystads IF HF (SWE) vs Maritimo da Madeira Andebol/SAD (POR) 39:31 (16:15)

Despite the flying start from the visitors which took Ystads IF HF by surprise, Maritimo de Madeira Andebol/SAD could not maintain the high tempo throughout the match and furthermore, the lack of experience proved crucial in deciding the winner too. The Portuguese club held a lead until the 24th minute in the opening half when the hosts equalized and then took a minimal one-goal lead at the break. However, it was a completely different story in the second half as the Swedish club looked far more determined to secure a win and they outclassed the opponent in the final 20 minutes of the match. Linus Fernerbrand (11) and Niclas Ekberg (9) combined for 20 goals between themselves, which set the tone and resulted with Ystads IF HF celebrating an eight-goal win. Last but not least, if Maritimo de Madeira Andebol/SAD can replicate the first half's performance in the return leg, an attempt to mount a comeback can't be ruled out in Portugal.

ABC de BRAGA (POR) vs Abanca Ademar Leon (ESP) 23:21 (14:10)

In a low-scoring match, ABC de BRAGA secured a two-goal lead going into the return leg in Spain, but Abanca Ademar Leon demonstrated quality to get back into the match from an eight-goal deficit in the second half. Even though the Portuguese club dominated throughout the match, the Spanish side did not give up at any point despite BRAGA building a comfortable lead. Carlos             Álvarez Dominguez was instrumental for the visitors and scored 10 or almost half of their goals which helped them to narrow down the difference to only two in the end, leaving them with a chance to improve and possibly mount a comeback in the return leg in Portugal.

HC Kriens-Luzern (SUI) vs GC Amicitia Zürich (SUI) 37:31 (19:18)

The Swiss derby truly delivered as HC Kriens-Luzern and GC Amicitia Zirich played a high-scoring first leg as the hosts recorded a win, which puts them closer to booking a ticket to the EHF European League's group stage. The motivated hosts edged out the first half going with a minimal one-goal lead at the break, but they demonstrated persistence and increased their advantage with the help of their fans. At one point in the second half, Kriens-Luzern even held a ten-goal lead (34:24), but GC Amicitia Zürich narrowed down the difference thanks to Noah Grau and Martin Popovski who scored six goals each. In the end, the hosts celebrated a deserved win with Gino Steenaerts and Luca Sigrist being the joint-top scorers of the match with nine goals by their names, leaving Amicitia with a difficult task for the return leg.

MT Melsungen (GER) vs Elverum Håndball (NOR) 28:23 (13:12)

The ambitious hosts were on a mission to defy the odds as MT Melsungen faced the far more experienced Elverum Håndball who were mainstays in the EHF's club competitions over the past decade. The German club started the match on the front foot and one could easily see the motivation to cause an upset and move closer to the EHF European League's group stage. It was not long before they took a three-goal lead (8:5) in the first half, but the visitors used every opportunity to narrow down their lead and they went into the break with only one goal separating them. In the second half, the scoreline was also close until MT Melsungen went on a scoring run in the final ten minutes to decide the winner. The Spanish duo - Ian Barrufet Torrebejano and Eric Balenciaga Azcue scored six goals each for the hosts and were the match's joint-top scorers, celebrating a deserved win with their teammates. Finally, MT Melsungen celebrated a deserved five-goal win, leaving Elverum Håndball with the risk of ending their unbelievable streak of playing in every season in the EHF's club competitions since 2009/10, if they don't overturn the tie in the return leg in Norway.

RK Trimo Trebnje (SLO) vs Limoges Handball (FRA) 32:28 (16:10)

In an extremely interesting match, the Slovenian club looked determined to secure a decent advantage in the first leg against the ambitious Limoges Handball, who are debutants in the EHF's club competitions this season. However, it was not an easy ride for RK Trimo Trebnje as the French club displayed quality to stay in the tie despite trailing by six goals (16:10) at the break. Limoges started the second half with a much better performance and showed an intent to narrow down Trimo's lead and they succeeded, with the difference going down to only a couple of goals at one point, but the hosts used the helping hand from their fans to celebrate a four-goal win in the end. The talented centre back, Lovro Viscek was the match's top scorer and three of his seven goals were scored in the final 15 minutes of the match, which helped his teammates to earn a four-goal lead going into the return leg, while Limoges will be hoping to maintain a much more consistent performance on home soil, to have any chance of securing a first-ever appearance in the EHF European League's group stage.

Valur (ISL) vs RK Bjelin Spacva Vinkovci (CRO) 34:25 (13:16)

The reigning EHF European Cup winners did not have the start of their dreams in the EHF European League as the visitors from Croatia started the match on the front foot and took an unexpected six-goal lead (0:6). Furthermore, RK Bjelin Spacva Vinkovci continued to torment Valur's goal, but the hosts managed to improve their performance ahead of the break and the visitors held a comfortable three-goal lead at half-time. However, the Icelanders' iron mentality came on show in the second half as they mounted an astonishing comeback and looked like a different team, both in defence and attack. It took them only four minutes in the second half to fully annulate Spacva's advantage and once they took over the lead (19:18), they did not look back and their only target was to secure as big as possible lead ahead of the return leg in Croatia. Additionally, they restricted the visitors to only nine goals scored in the second half, while they scored a sky-high 21 and moved closer to another milestone in the EHF's club competitions. Bjarni í Selvindi was the joint-top scorer of the match with seven goals scored for Valur, while Patrik Maroš scored seven for the visitors too. In the end, Valur celebrated a huge victory despite their poor first half's performance, while RK Bjelin Spacva Vinkovci will hope to replicate their first half's performance if they are to have any chance of getting back in the tie.

HCB Karvina (CZE) vs HC Izvidac (BIH) 33:22 (18:12)

The ambitious hosts looked like a team on a mission from the very beginning as HCB Karvina were determined to get ever closer to reaching the EHF European League's group stage for the first time in their history. The Czech club rushed into a comfortable lead inside the opening 15 minutes and even reached an advantage of seven goals (18:11) towards the break. The talented centre back, Jonas Patzel contributed with five goals by his name in the first half, which set the tone for the rest of the match. Not much changed in the second half as HCB Karvina continued to build on their lead, while HC Izvidac tried to get back into the match, but ultimately, their poor performance from the first half decided the winner. Also, the young goalkeeper - Vojtech Kostalek made 16 saves with 55 percentage of save efficiency and displayed a brilliant performance between the sticks for Karvina. Finally, the hosts celebrated a massive win and are going to Bosnia and Herzegovina with an eleven-goal lead, which will be a hard task for HC Izvidac to achieve.