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Besiktas and ABC throw off the new season
- Updated: September 20, 2016
On paper, teams from France and Denmark should be favourites in an European competition.
However, HBC Nantes and TTH Holstebro are both at their first game in the VELUX EHF Champions League, therefore they should be moderate favourites in their games against Motor Zaporozhye and Dinamo București. The season will kick off in style with a game between Besiktas Mogaz HT and Portuguese champions ABC/UMinho Braga. Besiktas Mogaz HT (TUR) vs ABC/UMinho (POR) Wednesday, 21 September, 19:00 hrs local time, live on ehfTV.com After a long wait, the VELUX EHF Champions League throws off in style, in what promises to be a carnivalesque setting in Izmit. Besiktas are making their comeback after a sole win last season in the toughest group of the competition. This season, the Turkish giants will be competing for one of the first two places which ensure a play-off berth for the Last 16 phase. But the competition is far away from easy, therefore Besiktas need to enjoy a winning start in order to achieve their objectives. The motto is clear and has already been repeated inside the team, after a winning start in which Besiktas won two games, including the Turkish Supercup against Goztepe: “The VELUX EHF Champions League is a totally different competition and we have to be better than ever”. Müfit Arın, Besiktas’ coach, is confident that his team will prevail: “There is no such thing as an easy game in Europe, but with our fans’ support, I think we can play good and enjoy positive results”.
But their first opponents of the season, ABC/UMinho Braga have already played in the competition, winning the Qualifying Tournament organised in Bregenz, after an impressive game against the hosts, in which the Portuguese prevailed 33:32. The Portuguese side have not played for 15 years in the VELUX EHF Champions League, but have plied their trade in the EHF Challenge Cup, which they won last season. “After being part of two straight Challenge Cup Finals and winning the Portuguese championship, the club, and the players have the chance to express themselves on the highest …
