Draw for the Handball Champions League 2015/16: Review Group A

GamingZion points on the favorites, the outsiders and the possible surprises in the Velux EHF Champions League 2015/16.

The 22nd edition of the Velux EHF Champions League is behind us. FC Barcelona Lassa conquered Cologne once again and proclaimed itself champion for the eighth time in the history of the competition.

• EHF Velux Champions League 2015/16
• THW Kiel and MKB-MVM Veszprem clear favorites

• PSG Handball to challenge the favorites

However, the European handball events continue. While waiting for the summer transfer bombs, EHF drew the groups for the next season in the Champions League last Friday in Vienna. GamingZion makes a review of the groups and some prognoses concerning the favorites, the outsiders and the possible surprises.

A new, complicated Champions League system

The next Chapmpions League season will be organized according to a new system of competition. And it is not only new but a rather complicated one, criticized by many handball experts from the time when it was still just a suggestion. More matches then ever in the history of the Champions League, and more possibilities for “benefit” from handball for those that bet on sports in the EU. There will be two clusters composed of two groups each. The first one contains groups A and B, formed by Europe’s Top handball teams. They are both composed of 8 teams and only the winners of the groups go directly to the quarter final.

The formation of groups C and D, however, is in according with the policy of EHF for a broader inclusion of handball teams, so the teams that compose them are mainly the champions of the “second class European leagues”. There are 6 teams in each group and only the winners of the groups secure a place in the qualifying matches for the quarter final, which are supposed to replace the 1/8 final from the previous years. Teams placed between the second and the fifth place in groups A and B toghether with the winners of groups C and D will fight for the remaining six places in the quarter final.

Waiting for the eternal derby

Group A will again offer us a clash of the European titans: THW Kiel will face MKB-MVM Veszprem in the fifth and the tenth round of the competition. The German champions will have a chance to take a revenge for this year’s elimination in the semi-final in Cologne. Veszprem on the other side will have the opportunity to show that the final from the past season was not a coincidence. Beside THW Kiel and MKB MVM Veszprem the teams of Paris Saint-Germain Handball (FRA), Celje Pivovarna Lasko (SLO), Orlen Wisla Plock (POL), Zagreb (CRO), Besiktas (TUR) and Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) will also compete in this group, online gambling sites in the EU report.

After the draw, interesting views on the teams in the group were expressed in EHF TV interviews. According to Sabine Holdorf-Schust, official of THW Kiel, this is the toughest possible group that they could get. Kiel, Veszprem, Paris and Flensburg in one group is something that the German champions definitely did not wish, but she stressed however that these four teams make Group A extremely attractive for the fans and the TV audience.

Dirk Schmäschke, manager of SG Flensburg-Handewitt shares the opinion of Holdorf-Schust. He stated that on one hand this group will provide seven top class but also seven very hard matches for his team, and on the other hand it will provide great entertainment for the spectators. Carlos Ortega, coach of the MKB MVM Veszprem, also noted the strength of the teams in the group. He pointed out that the imperative for the Hungarian champion will be to win all home matches, and have a better goal difference in the duels with their main rivals: THW Kiel and PSG Handball.

GamingZion’s prognosis

The question about the favorite to win this group is clearly open. The two main contenders are the German and the Hungarian champions but things might get complicated if we consider the other members of the group. If PSG succeeds during this summer to bring in Nikola Karabatic, 2014 handball player of the year, with signing Noka Serdarusic to the bench, then they will definitely have a chance equal to Kiel’s and Veszprem’s to take the first spot in the group.

Flensburg’s young team lead by Ljubo Vranjes should also be considered for the highest position. They will be the secret favorites of the shadow once again, but we have already seen this is their desired role. In the 2013/2014 season, they were considered to be outsiders in the Final Four in Cologne, but in the end, lucky or not, they won the Champions League. Their high ranking according to online sportsbooks in the EU should not surprise any bettor on the EHF Velux Chamions League.

On the other side the favorites are getting even stronger. Kiel are reinforcing the position between the posts with one of the top three goalkeepers in the world, Niklas Landin who is a guarantee that they will have a rock-solid defense next season. The Hungarians did not remain silent to these transfers either. Veszprem brought in Kiel’s Aron Palmarson, who is considered to be a world class left back. The young Icelander signed a four years contract with the Hungarian Champions last june.

Summing up all the possibilities GamingZion prognosis concerning the final result in group A is the following: first place for Hungarian champions MKB-MVM Veszprem, second for the “Zebras”, THW Kiel, followed by Paris Saint-Germain Handball, Flensburg-Handewitt, Orlen Wisla Plock, Zagreb, Celje Pivovarna Lasko and the Turkish champion Besiktas, the latter beaing a true outsider in this company.