On returning from the beach and before the aperitif for a majority of them, at the end of a new session of suffering or handball training for those like Thibaud Briet, Aymeric Minne, Nicolas Tournat, Kauldi Odriozola without forgetting the Japanese Shuichi Yoshida and the Slovenian Matej Gaber are preparing for the Olympic Games (July 26-August 11), the HBC Nantes players discovered their opponents for next season in the group stage of the Champions League. The least we can say is that they are varnished!
We are used to talking about an interminable and uninteresting formula with these two groups of eight teams. Because while there is bound to be some heavy stuff, it all very often starts in the next round, with the knockout matches. As a reminder, the top two in each group are directly qualified for the quarter-finals, with the teams ranked from third to sixth place going through to the round of 16. Consequently, only the last two remain on the floor.
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Except that on this Thursday evening, in Vienna, within the walls of the EHF, the draw produced on paper two groups that were not necessarily balanced. Placed by authority in B since Paris Saint-Germain had been drawn in A, Valero Rivera’s partners inherited the two finalists from the last edition (Aalborg, finalist, and Barcelona, winner) and even a third thief present in Cologne with the German champion, Magdeburg. “It’s hard to do worse as a draw in terms of level of play.breathes coach Grégory Cojean. Two years ago it was tough for us, but now it’s even tougher! We really want to measure ourselves against the best in Europe. We’re going to have to fight to get out of the group.”
FC Barcelona XXL?
An HBC Nantes – Barça, on December 4 or 5 at the XXL de la Beaujoire, we must admit that it would look good. Without a doubt, the club led by president Gaël Pelletier will bring the idea to European authorities.
In any case, the H has planned to relocate three of its matches to the exhibition center during the month of December. One in the Champions League and two in the NHL. With the reigning European champion, the H will come up against a French colony (Dika Mem, Melvyn Richardson and Timothey N’Guessan) but also the one who has become the best goalkeeper in the world, the Dane Emil Nielsen.
The H will also come across a lot of exes since the draw reserved the Polish team from Kielce where Jorge Maqueda and Théo Monar landed, exchanged for Nicolas Tournat, but also Szeged where Jérémy Toto will play in the fall, exchanged for Matej Gaber.
Even Kolstad…
From September 11 or 12, Grégory Cojean’s team will be confronted with the 14 labors of Hercules. The Danes of Aalborg, unfortunate finalist of the last edition (30-31), are very heavy like their young right back Mads Hoxer and their goalkeeper, the legendary Niklas Landin. Yes, Mikkel Hansen is retiring but he signed the Portuguese Miguel Martins… The Germans from Magdeburg with Claar, Kristjansson, Magnusson, Saugstrup without forgetting, in the cage, the Hernandez/Portner pair (the Swiss saw his suspension lifted ) are designed to lead the Bundesliga and the European Cup at the same time. The Kielce Poles from the Dujshebaev siblings will be revengeful.
The recruitment carried out by the Hungarians of Szeged (Red, Kukic, Thulin, Smarasson) makes them more than dangerous opponents. If two have to be left, it will certainly be necessary to look more towards Zagreb, even if the young guard (Mandic, Klarica, Kos, Srna) will sell their skin dearly and the Norwegians of Kolstad too quickly catalogued as nouveau riche. “They are also very heavy, there are 70% of the Norwegian team”Cojean concluded.
Group A. Plock (POL), Veszprém (HON), Paris Saint-Germain, Berlin (ALL), Frederica (DAN), Sporting Lisbonne (POR), Pelister (MAC), Dinamo Bucarest (ROU). Group B. Aalborg (DAN), Magdebourg (ALL), FC Barcelone (ESP), Kielce (POL), Szeged (HON), Zagreb (CRO), Kolstad (NOR).
