Title contenders CSM, Györ clash in fiery MOTW
The EHF Champions League Women 2023/24 heads into round 3 this weekend, highlighted by the Match of the Week in Romania between the two 2016 finalists: CSM Bucuresti and Györi Audi ETO KC on Saturday. Apart from Györ in group A, three more teams want to add a third straight victory to their season start: SG BBM Bietigheim in group A, and Krim Mercator Ljubljana and Ikast Håndbold in group B.
It will be a high level game, and that is why I am so looking forward to play this game. We know that we need to bring all of our qualities on the court to be able to take the points with us back home. I feel the team is ready to play this kind of important match.
We started the season badly and after two defeats, we want our first victory. I believe that we can be disciplined, that we will show the necessary energy and play as a team. IK Sävehof is a young team, but they also have several experienced players. It will be difficult, but I believe we can get two points.
We are actually satisfied with how we have performed in the first two Champions League games of the season, despite losing both. On Sunday, we hope to continue to perform on a high level with our young team. If we manage to do so, then it will be possible for us to return home to Sweden with a point or two.
We have a lot of respect for the opponent, but we will try to achieve a great result against them at home. I think it will take a feat to be able to score a point against Bietigheim, as they have classy players in almost every position and have proven in recent weeks that they can play very effective handball.
Third EHF Champions League match, the second at home. It’s always an event to be able to play matches of this level in front of our supporters. We are committed to giving our best at home. Odense is one of the favourite teams in the group. A great team, with a coach who has just won the competition three times with Vipers. A club with an ambitious project, which is already very successful. For our part, we had a week to prepare and regain energy.
For the match with Vipers Kristiansand we prepare tactically the best we can. We know how good the team from Norway is, with so many titled players like Katrine Lunde or Anna Vyakhireva. On Saturday we go on the court to fight for the best result. We have to start the match well in defence and show the best skills in attack. Our participation in the EHF Champions League started very poorly with Krim. We felt very bad after this match and we want to play better and better in all the next games.
We know that Lubin are a highly motivated team. They are the Polish champions, who not only have a lot of Polish national team players, but also some good international players. Their main strengths are in the counterattack, and we also know that they have a good flow in the attack in general.
For this match we have to be 100% prepared and ready, because I think that, unless you go there with a good mindset and preparation, Lubin can cause massive problems and surprise anyone.
It is going to be a match with a lot of intensity. We have to succeed in many aspects of the game to win. So, we have to be smart. (Metz coach Emmanuel) Mayonnade has a keen tactical mind, and he knows how to instill his ideas into the players.
