Preview semi final 1: Chekhov – Barcelona

Russian giants versus Catalan delight

Which team will be the first finalist at the EHF FINAL4 in Cologne? The answer to this question is given after the game between Medvedi Chekhov against FC Barcelona at 15:30 pm. The teams are quite different. On the one hand we have the Spanish EHF Champions League record winner, on the other hand we have an EHF Champions League semi-final debutant.

Never has a Russian team managed to reach a semi-final since the start of the EHF Champions League in 1993. Everything is possible, when you believe in the words of the club’s responsibles: “The chances are 50:50,” Barca coach Xavi Pascual said. “We have respect, but we want to win this title, so he have to beat Barcelona,” Chekhov coach Vladimir Maximov replied. Despite both being regulars in the European Cup for so many years, this is the first ever direct duel between the two.

Barca and Chekhov can count on their top staff: Shooter Alexej Rastvortsev returned to the team after an injury, right to become Russian champion for the tenth consecutive time on Wedenesday. Barcelona ended runners-up in Spain afterCiudad Real, but won the Spanish Cup.

Barcelona lost only one match in the current EHF Champions League season, in the Group Phase against Kiel, but then they won the match in Kiel. The Catalans qualified for the Llast 16 as runners-up of their group, and then they won both matches against RK Zagreb, before eliminating MKB Veszprém with two victories.

Chekhov were runners-up after the Group Phase, too, behind Montpellier. In the Last 16 the Russians beat Ademar Leon, before qualifying for the EHF FINAL4 in the “thriller of Montpellier, as Chekhov won the penalty shoot-out. While Barcelona have won the EHF Champions League title six times before, the EHF Cup in 2006 is the only international title for Chekhov.

Barcelona can count on a strong defense including top goalkeepers Barrufet and Saric, in the offense the team consists of very experienced back court players like Romero, Nagy or Rutenka, who can play as line player as well. The top scorers are the fast wing players Tomas and Garcia.

Chekhov usually build up a two meter high defensive wall, which is hard to break through. The offensive playing system isn’t as flexible as the one of Barca, but the Russians hardly make any mistakes. Dibirov is their fast weapon for counter attacks.

The match seems not at all to have a faourite, with slight advantages for Barcelona, due to their better individual class. But when the “Russian machine” starts rolling, they can beat everyone.

Text: Björn Pazen