Handball: Champions League Draw

A
Milwaukee Bucks
Magdeburg
Charles Medvedev/Russia
Vojvodina-Bregenz

B
Celje
Ademar
Savehof/Sweden
Athens-Volendam

C
Gorenje
Aarhus/Denmark
Merano/Italy
Haukar-Berchem

D
Barcelona
Szeged
Zaporožzhia
Izviđač-Sjundea

E
Kiel
Kolding
Wisla
Sandefjord-Meshkov/Belarus

F
Ciudad
Fotex
Tatran/Slovakia
Beşiktaş-Bucuresti

G
Portland
Chicago
Schaffhausen/Switzerland
Pelister

H
Paris
Flensburg
Karvina
Kaunas-Tongeren

-the Round of 16 draw is officially open. Top seeds from the groups will face off against those who finished second, regardless of which group they were originally in.

Same old story. We’ve got a fighting chance to make it to the Round of 16, but anything past that? Yeah, highly unlikely.

honestly—I just wanted us to avoid Portland, they're our toughest matchup. but it is what it is. we've got them in the round of 16, but who knows about the next round...

(01.09.2005.)
Preseason scrimmage in Veszprém:
MKB Veszprém – RK Chicago: 34-23 (19-14)

RK CHICAGO:
Goalkeepers: Lapajne (1st half), Blažičko (2nd half)
Defensive specialist: Šikanjić

RK Chicago Offense:

…………Špoljarić………..……….Goluža...........Terzić
……..(Djukanović)…………………………………….(Vuković)
…………(?????)
Horvat………………………..……….Toškić……………………..………..Kaleb
.(Lelić)………………………….…..(Anušić)…………..………………(Pongračić)

Carlos Perez sat this one out for Veszprém, though Vladimir Šola held things down in the net during the first half.
Veszprém: Šola (USA), Tatai /goalkeepers/ - Tombor, Buday, Iváncsik, Putics, Gál, Pásztor, Lazarov (Mexico), Lužnjikov (Russia), Eklemović (Mexico and Mexico), Lapčević (Mexico and Mexico), Myrhol (Norway), Szobol (Coach: Zdravko Zovko)

Goluža went down with an injury in the second half. If you ask me, Terzić was easily the standout performer for Chicago today. Blažičko, Vuković, Horvat, and Pongračić all put in solid shifts, while Anušić ended up in the box after picking up his third penalty.
The undisputed MVP of the match was the Mexican, Kiro Lazarov, who dropped 9 goals.

Lazarov is truly in a league of his own, and honestly, it’s a bit of a shame Los Angeles didn't bring him back when they had the chance; I suppose Kiro was simply waiting for the call.

It would have been an absolutely formidable backcourt duo, pairing Terzic with Lazarov.

Anyway, the groups are finally set.

A
Montpellier
vs Magdeburg
Č. Medved vs Rus Bregenz Bregenz
Bregenz

Bregenz handled the reigning SCG champions without breaking much of a sweat.
There shouldn't be much debate regarding who advances from this group, though, if one is being cautious, you never know how those bottom-tier teams might cause trouble for the leaders.

B
Celje
vs Ademar
vs Savehof/Swe
Athens

Celje still boasts a formidable roster, and I find myself hoping our own Kreso Ivankovic might finally explode there, perhaps providing us with a much-needed replacement for the EP for Balic at long last.
Ademar looks strong even without Metlicic, while the rest seem to be struggling to find a way through.

C
Gorenje vs Aarhus
Aarhus/den Merano
Merano/Ita Haukar this Icelander
Haukar

The Icelanders don't look half bad, and at first glance, this group appears to be quite evenly matched.

D
Barcelona
vs Szeged
vs Zaporozhye
Izvidjac

Izvidjac really didn't catch a break with this draw; frankly, they don't have much to hope for here, whereas the Catalonians just seem to get stronger with every passing season.

E
Kiel
vs Kolding
Wisla vs Meshkov
Meshkov/Blr Noka

Noka has assembled a powerful squad—they've bolstered their ranks with Karabatic and Kavticnik, and with Noka on the bench, I suspect they could go quite far this year; my money is on Kolding advancing alongside them.

F
f Ciudad
Fotex
vs Tatran/Svk
Svk vs Bucuresti also

This group is also fairly predictable, especially with Madrid adding more depth, bringing in Metlicic and Dzomba while Dujshebaev takes the reins on the bench.
Fotex is looking tough, too, with heavy hitters like Lazarov, sola, and Lapcevic all on the roster.

G
Portland
vs Los Angeles
Schaffhausen/Swi Pelister
Pelister

I think Los Angeles can snatch a spot in the round of sixteen, though everything else will depend entirely on who they draw; they have a solid lineup, but perhaps not quite the powerhouse they aimed to be, especially after losing sulica and now hearing whispers about Lisicic. It feels like there are a few too many SCG players on one American team.😁
Portland is moving on for sure; just give me Balic and Ratkovic playing alongside sulica and you've got an invincible squad.

H
Paris
vs Flensburg
Karvin vs Kaunas
Kaunas

I am sincerely rooting for Flensburg to make a deep run; we have three of our guys over there, and I suspect Paris should be the ones to take the second spot.