German newcomers against former Champions League winners

German newcomers against former Champions League winners

TuS Metzingen are ready to end their first European season with a strong performance in the EHF Cup Final, while Dunaujvarosi Kohasz Kezilabda Akademia count on greater experience ahead of the first-leg match on Saturday.

TuS Metzingen (GER) vs Dunaujvarosi Kohasz Kezilabda Akademia (HUN)
Saturday 30 April, 20:00 local time, live on ehftv.com

The first European cup season has been a bit of an adventure for TuS Metzingen’s ‘Pink Ladies’. The German team, who have only played in the Bundesliga for four years, made it all the way to the EHF Cup Final in their first attempt in the competition.

The situation is different for their Hungarian adversaries. Dunaujvaros have a long and proud history in European handball behind them, which includes their so-far greatest achievement: winning the Women’s EHF Champions League in the 1998/99 season. The Champions League victory came the year after they won the EHF Cup for the first and only time so far, in 1998.

There is no doubt that Dunaujvaros and their experienced head coach Zdravko Zovko will be keen on winning their first European title in 17 years when they enter Paul Horn Arena in Tübingen for the first leg on Saturday night.

For Metzingen, it will not only be about winning their first European title ever, but also about their chance to become the first German women’s team to win a European cup tournament since Buxtehude won the Challenge Cup in the 2009/10 season.

“We still have the fate of winning two trophies in our own hands,” said Metzingen manager Ferenc Rott, referring to the fact that the team have the chance to become German champions for the first time in history as well.

However, Metzingen will be handicapped in both legs of the final as line player Julia Behnke is sidelined for the season with a torn ligament in her left knee.

The second leg of the final will be played on Friday 6 May in Veszprem.