Three-team duel for two playoff places

The business end of the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase is here and the teams that will make mistakes are likely to fall on their swords, with little room of error. With Nantes failing to win against Motor last week, the battle for the first two places is more open, but the French side can secure a playoff berth with a win against Besiktas on Sunday. The Ukrainian side is the in-form team of the group, with a three-game winning streak and can edge closer to the playoff with a win against Dinamo that would mean the end of the road for the Romanian champions. •    Nantes were the only unbeaten team heading into Round 7, but a tough Motor side took a 34:32 win in France •    Dinamo’s morale has been boosted by a 22:19 win against rivals Steaua Bucuresti in the Romanian League •    Besiktas is the only team in the group that boasts a 100 per cent home record, with wins against ABC, Motor and TTH Holstebro •    TTH Holstebro and ABC will only play for pride, as both teams have been eliminated after Round 7 GROUP D HC Motor Zaporozhye (UKR) vs Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU) Saturday, 26 November, 16:00hrs local time, live on ehfTV There is literally no room for error for Dinamo, as the Romanian side will throw-off the most important part of the season. Their win against Holstebro last round meant that the “Red Dogs” still have everything to play for, but they must win in their last two away matches against Motor and Besiktas to proceed to the playoff phase. Not only have Dinamo not earn a point in away games this season, but both Motor and Besiktas protected their home court with 100 per cent efficiency until the Round 8. It will be even harder for the Romanian champions, who are meeting an in-form Motor, a team that is hoping to ride their three-game winning streak right to the next phase for the third time in the last four years.

“I do not think that any of these teams are weak, hence the results until now. We lost against Besiktas and Dinamo, but bounced back with a win against Nantes, who were previously unbeaten.” “We are tired, but we need to be up at 100 per cent against Dinamo and Besiktas. I think these games will be decisive,” said Motor’s right back, Evgeniy Buinenko. The Ukrainian side is eyeing a playoff berth ahead of their last game against TTH Holstebro that will take place in February 2017, due to the break caused by the World …

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