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

GamingZion discusses the favorites, the outsiders and the possible surprises in Group B of the Velux EHF Champions League 2015/16.

Defending champion of the EHF Champions League FC Barcelona will begin their march towards their ninth crown from the Group B together with the teams of Vive Tauron Kielce, HC Vardar, KIF Kolding Kobenhavn, MOL-Pick Szeged, Rhein-Neckar Löwen, IFK Kristianstad and Montpellier HB, online gambling sites in the EU report.

• EHF Velux Champions League 2015/16
• FC Barcelona Lassa are favorites for the title
• Interesting race for the fifth place in the group

Many consider Group B tougher than Group A and consequently its outcome is even more difficult to predict. There are at least five clear aspirants for winning the group and except the newcomers in the European Handball crème de la crème, IFK Kristianstad, everybody has equal chances for advancing from the group and continuing in the next phases.

FC Barcelona Lassa: always aiming at the top

Barcelona left wing Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson, who was assisting the draw in Vienna past Friday, stressed the quality of the rivals but also reclaimed the high ambitions of Barcelona as a club and their aspirations for the first place in the group. It is clear to every handball fan that there is nothing that can satisfy their appetites except the first place just by seeing their squad: Karabatic, Lazarov, Rutenka, and Saric, are all world class players. And if the Catalans also manage to bring in Danish superstar Mikkel Hansen, they will be clear favorites not only in Group B but for defending the European title as well.

Vardar coach Raul Gonzalez expressed his satisfaction with the draw and emphasized that the following European season will offer the highest possible level of quality in this sport. He also stated that the fans will benefit most from the new format of the competition, having an opportunity to watch more top class handball matches than ever before. Rhein Neckar trainer Nikolaj Jakobson is on the same line with his Spanish colleague from Vardar Skopje. He also thinks that the group is composed of Europe’s top handball teams and will be a great attraction for all handball fans in Northern Germany.

Gregor Tkaczyk, captain of Vive Tauron Kielce, also expects a big fight for the first position in the group next season. He considers FC Barcelona, the favorites according to online sportsbooks in the EU, to be their main rival, but sees the teams of RK Vardar Skopje and Rhein Neckar Lowen as top contenders for the first place as well.

GamingZion’s prognosis

One thing is sure about Group B: FC Barcelona are the absolute favorites for winning the Group B. Whether the ambitions of the super powerful teams of Vive Tauron Kielce, Vardar Skopje or Rhein Neckar Lowen will succeed to take some points from the current champions is something we need to wait and see. They definitely have everything that is needed to meet this challenge: top class players, experience and knowledge on the benches and amazing supporters.

Although Barcelona might be favorites to finish as number one, everything else in this group is clearly open, anyone who bet on sports in the EU could agree with that. The chances of Kielce, Vardar and Rhein Neckar for second position in the group seem to be equal and it is absolutely uncertain who will be the team that will finish fifth place in the group and secure a place in the qualifications for the quarter final.

KIF Kolding Kobenhavn, MOL-Pick Szeged, and Montpellier HB all share the same quality level and on a good day they can beat any European team, as they showed many times in past. It is expected that goal difference would decide their mutual duels and who will take the fifth place and advance to the next phase of the competition.

GamingZion prognosis concerning the placements in Group B: first place for the superstars of FC Barcelona, second for the more and more attractive RK Vardar Skopje, third for Talant Duyshebaev’s Vive Tauron Kielce, followed by Rhein Neckar Lowen, MOL-Pick Szeged, Montpellier HB, KIF Kolding Kobenhavn and IFK Kristianstad.