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

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

In comparison to groups A and B which are composed of eight teams, Groups C and D of the EHF Velux Champion League 2015/16 are formed only of six sides each. These twelve teams do not all possess the quality level that the ones present in group A and B have. Yet, they include among them some squads that can occasionally surprise even some of Europe’s handball powerhouses.

• EHF Velux Champions League 2015/16
• Naturhouse La Rioja favorites to top Group C
• Oporto are the main rivals of the Spanish runners-up

This is especially the case with the Spanish runner up, Naturhouse La Rioja, which was the head of Group C in last Fridays draw in Vienna. According to online sportsbooks in the EU, the team is claimed to be top favorite to win the group. The rest of the teams forming group C are Meshkov Brest (BLR), Vojvodina (SRB) and Tatran Presov (SVK), all participants of the strong regional SEHA League, toghether with the Russian Champion Chekhovskie Medvedi (RUS) and Oporto (POR).

What is peculiar about Groups C and D is that there is practically no place for mistake, which makes the pressure on the favorites even greater. Every team must show its best performance in every match since only the winner of the group will gain a place in the qualification matches for the 1/4 final.

Their task there will be anything but easy. For entrance in the top eight handball teams in Europe they will need to have defeat one of the teams finished second position in Groups A or B.

Spanish runners-up a bit in front of the others

The top of the group C won’t be an easy enterprise for the favorite, Naturhouse La Rioja. The team from Logrono will need to prove its quality especially against their biggest rivals for winning the group: Chekovskie Medvedi and Brest Meshkov. Until today only one transfer is confirmed by Naturhouse. The Swedish international Richard Kappelin, a well-known face in the Liga ASOBAL, will reinforce the position between the posts of the Spanish runners-up. Three more new players are expected to come during the summer period, all already playing in the domestic league.

The team of Chekhovskie Medvedi has been participant in the first Final Four in Cologne but has lowered its level considerably in the past two years. Due to the bankruptcy of the club in 2013 when they withdrew from competing in the Champions League the club lost its high reputation. Last year however, they showed that they still have some talents in their squad. Alexander Dereven had a fantastic season which was not unnoticed by the scouts. If he still continues playing for the “Bears”, then anyone who bet on sports in the EU will have an additional reason to place a wager on the Russian champions.

The SEHA trio is also not far from the quality that the favorites from Logrono possess. The appearance of Meshkov Brest and Tatran Presov in the Final Four of the SEHA League along with teams like RK Varadar Skopje, MKB MVM Veszprem and RK Zagreb is a plausible indication about their high quality and the deserved place in Europe’s finest handball company. The ones that we might expect to shine and make a difference on the court this season are the youngsters in these teams. Participating in the EHF Champions League will definitely be a motivational plus for prospects such as Brest’s goalkeeper Ivan Pesic, the Baltic giant Dajnis Kristopans from Tatran Presov, and others to show their talent on the great scene.

A team that should not be excluded from the fight for the first place in the group is the last drawn participant, Oporto. A regular participant in the Champions League group phase that plays some of the most attractive handball in the league. They demonstrated this in the past seasons in fantastic matches in their home arena against some of the greatest European teams such as THW Kiel and Vive Tauron Kielce.They have the amazing Gilberto Duarte at the right back position and the fantastic support from their fans. Enough reasons for online gambling sites in the EU to give big chances to Oporto for conquering Group C.

GamingZion Prognosis

The prediction about the winner the Group C is not an easy one to make since none of the teams have shown consistency in their play for a longer period and outside their home arena. They can beat many teams on their day, but also lose from any team when this is not the case. The home arenas are an advantage point for all of them, however in their away matches they could look like a completely different team. In a negative way.

However some have shown glimpses of character in the past seasons which makes GamingZion’s prognosis concerning the final placements in Group C to look like this: first place for the Spanish runners-up Naturhause La Rioja, second for Oporto, third for the Belarusian champion Meshkov Brest, followed by Chekhovskie Medvedi, Tartan Presov and Vojvodina.