Champions League Men | 31 Oct 2013

WECL title rush rolling by Schwechat

2013/14 Women’s ECL group round halfway was completed, so there is no more time to lose in attempt to reach semi-final spots. That is the reason why the Round 4, to  be held from this Friday to Monday (November 1-4th), looks so crucial.  The match in the

2013/14 Women’s ECL group round halfway was completed, so there is no more time to lose in attempt to reach semi-final spots. That is the reason why the Round 4, to  be held from this Friday to Monday (November 1-4th), looks so crucial. 

The match in the focus is one in Group A between SVS STROCK (1-2 score) and Fenerbahce (2-1), and maybe this clash will decide who’s going  to semis. Turkish side, no. 1 seed, beat Austrians at home 3:1 (10:6) and it’s clear that each set could be important.

“The match versus Istanbul is definitely ’a final’ for us”, emphasizes STROCK`s president Martin SOROS. “After the deserved 1:3 versus Berlin our team knows that we have to win from now on all remaining matches to reach the semi-final and I cannot see a reason why we should not be able to do so. Also Istanbul is under pressure now and we have our chance. They are great team with great players and a very good coach, but we too. We are looking forward to a great match and I can promise our supporters and sponsors that we make a perfect preparation and we have a big, big surprise for our guests from Istanbul”

Turkish champion Fenerbahce had two very hard games after opening win against the 2012 WECL runner-up. First they lost at Berlin (3:2) and beat Metz (3:2) at home without Viktoria PAVLOVICH. The club’s manager Gürhan YALDIZ is convinced that the match will be very close and hard:Every result is possible there, two strongest teams will fight. If we win, we’ll go up –that’s why this match is very important for us. Last match Melek can not play good but I hope this match she will be in good form. Really, our wish is to be in half final in our very first year in WECL. Good luck for both teams.”

Other game in Group A will confront the 2012 WECL champion and one of main candidates for the 2013/14 crown, Berlin Eastside and newcomer Metz (Berlin won 3:0 in Round 1 home game). German side has 3-0 score, French 0-3.

“For us it is very important match, to get safe place in semi-final. I thing also that Metz now in the better form, then in first match. We are coming with full team and we will try to win again”, says Berlin’s coach Irina PALINA.

Two times WECL winner (2009, 2013) and reigning champion Linz AG Froschberg (3-0) is in same position in Group B as Berlin in Group A. LIU Jia & Company arrives to Tyumen (1-2) who still has a chance to get semi final ticket.

“Everybody from our team is in good shape. This is our second match here so we had time to feel the hall. We will fight for every point and try to show our best table tennis for ourselves and for the spectators who come to support us”, said Polina MIKHAILOVA, the player of Russian club.

Linz`s staff is not happy to have such long trip, to different time zone, and it looks like as their biggest „opponent” this time. Club’s president Gunther RENNER says: “Now we have to make a very long journey again, and it takes physical recourses from everybody. We hope we can succeed again, so that we celebrate Christmas with a warming place Nr. 1 in the group. Tyumen is a strong team, but they had a bad start in the season. I think. Ruta and PRIVALOVA are hard opponents for us, we will do our best. I think we are favorites with 60 % on our side”.

Froschberg`s coach BIAN Ya Dong are agree with his president, adding next: Only the next three matches in WECL will show if our team is strong enough to win two times against good teams, only we can see if we are ready for the deciding half finals. We want to win, but if we can, we have to find out”.

Iveta VACENOVSKA, who beat Alexandra PRIVALOVA in five sets of Linz`s game (3:0 for the host), knows very well Tyumen`s players: “I won against Ruta, but I felt very unsafe in the match at recent European Championships in Austria. I expect a hard fight in West Siberia and I hope they got some good and warming beverages after the match. After all the matches I would need some break but we will fight for the club’s first priority competition.”

Polish champion Zamek Tarnobrzeg (2-1) goes to Budaorsi (0-3) with aim to get two important points in battle for semi final stage. Zamek`s coach and manager Zbigniew NECEK stressed before the trip to Hungary: We know that upcoming match against Budaorsi is very important for ’to be or not to be’ in semis. Hungarian team is potentially dangerous, so we have to forget 3:0 result from the first leg.”

WOMEN`S EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND 4

Group A: SVS STROCK – Fenerbahce (November 4th, 19h00 CET, live on LAOLA1.tv); Metz – TTC Berlin Eastside (November 1st, 19h30 CET)

Group B: Tyumen – Linz AG Froschberg (November 2nd, 08h00 CET); Budaorsi 2i SC – Zamek Tarnobrzeg (November 3rd, 19h30 CET)

Alex MILETIC, EWT, Alex MILETIC, EWT

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