Nora Mørk scoring Esbjerg's winning goal (from 7m) in their Danish Cup QF last night has made me realise that she was out with a reported small ankle fracture for less time than I felt sorry for myself after a fall in May.
(Luckily, my right foot survived heavy bruising...)
This was about the latter stages of the GOG vs Sporting game.
Players know that referees will feel obliged to use video review if they stay down after high or heavy contact.
The sanctions that result (2min /🟥) are generally warranted, but it's a case of incentive ➡️ outcome.
10/12 teams that qualified for the knockout stages of the men's CL last season have reached the main round this season.
The effective changes - though not necessarily direct in a group sense - are/were...
In: Melsungen (EL winners) and Dinamo Bucuresti.
Out: Nantes and Szeged.
Whatever I posted about Group B being an interesting group shortly after the EHF Champions League draw was right in one sense and an understatement in another.
Exciting until the very end - and Vardar more than played their part in the last two weeks.
After Jakob Vestergaard was sacked, I looked again at Odense's current squad vs the team they had when they reached the CL final (thanks to Katrine Lunde).
My simple thoughts started with "On paper, stronger at RB. CB? Hmm - if they had been able to keep Elver..."
I put five minutes into working out which remix of "Blå" (Hov1) is normally played at the end of Sweden's women's games at home.
Yes, I've just watched their 24-21 win vs 🇧🇷, but I didn't get too far. Even if it's this one, none are on Spotify in 🇬🇧.
soundcloud.com/loke-music-22…
Montpellier beating Barça last night was unlikely. If Montpellier weren't ahead at HT after how many fast breaks they had in the first half, it wasn't happening.
All of Barça's games have had the *possibility* of the points being carried over – including next week vs SAH Aarhus.
More significantly tonight, GOG are the first club to reach the main round that you could say weren't projected to do so from the Men's Club Ranking.
If my memory is correct, they played a good first leg against Nantes for 3/4 of the game in the play-off round last season.
My view on this is known.
The pattern of a game starts normally and once a team takes a clear lead, it's then 7v6 time for the trailing team has become close to typical/standard.
Vardar spoiling my idea of a 'perfect' three-way tie in Group B by beating Nantes away was the one part I didn't really anticipate.
But Vardar leading by nine goals against Nantes with five minutes remaining? 😲
I appreciate Dinamo Bucuresti winning tonight as it gives the Barça vs Montpellier game tomorrow night in the 20:45 slot some meaning.
My very efficient process of working out which CL games are worth watching on Wednesday and Thursday (🟢, 🟡 or 🔴).
I might have to pause working out if I can watch the 🇩🇰-🇩🇪 women's game on Saturday.
(Obviously translated from TV2 (🇩🇰) as part of my daily check of handball news...)
