Werder and Pontoise open quarter-finals

Two out of four 2013/14 MECL quarter final games will be held this Friday, at Bremen and Angers: Werder Bremen – AS Pontoise Cergy (January 17th, 19h00 CET), Angers Vaillante – SVS Niederosterreich (January 17th, 19h30 CET, live on ETTU TV powered by Laol,

Two out of four 2013/14 MECL quarter final games will be held this Friday, at Bremen and Angers: Werder Bremen – AS Pontoise Cergy (January 17^th, 19h00 CET), Angers Vaillante – SVS Niederosterreich (January 17^th, 19h30 CET, live on ETTU TV powered by Laola.tv). Other two are coming next week: Borussia Dusseldorf – Fakel Gazproma Orenburg (January 26^th, 13h00 CET), Hennebont – UMMC (January 24^th, 19h30 CET).

Hennebont and UMMC agreed to play 1^st leg in France (according to regulations game no. 1 should be at Russia) because of Hennebont`s problem with Russian visas. Actually, French club had not enough time to provide visas due to Christmas holidays (Russian Christmas is in on January 7^th, and New Year on January 13^th).

This Friday, at Bremen, Werder and Pontoise are opening 2013/14 Men`s European Champions League quarter final. “The Greens” are far from shape they had last season, but still have a power to beat anyone in Europe. First of all, they were better ranked team than French side, but they didn`t showed it during the group stage. CHUANG Chih Yuan has just 3-3 score in 6 matches, while Adrian CRISAN 2-2. Werder was clear favorite in Group C, but finished second, behind Hennebont.

On the other side, Pontoise is continuing good play from last season, reaching top spot in Group B, overcoming UMMC who was considered as the best team in that group. French side started with a loss, but won last five matches in a row. It was good team work, especially at Verkhnaya Pyshma where each Pontoise`s player (WANG, FREITAS and KARLSSON) took one point (3:1 win). Werder and Pontoise participated in last season`s MECL semi final, but this time just one can repeat it.

SVS Niederosterreich is favorite against Angers, but French side showed that is able to beat better ranked clubs (Ochsenhausen in Group A). Austrian champion was pushed on the top spot of Group D, because of disqualification on Chartres, having 2-2 score (two losses from Chartres and two wins against Borussia).

Good thing for Angers is that Panagiotis GIONIS, bronze medalist from 2013 LIEBHERR European Championships, plays his best table tennis, confirming that against reigning MECL champion Orenburg (he beat SAMSONOV and OVTCHAROV, but his team lost 3:2). On the other side, each Niederosterreich`s player had their special role in the wins against Dusseldorf. The biggest surprise came, no doubt, from Daniel HABESOHN who beat Timo BOLL in five games of opening clash at Germany.

2013/14 MECL quarter final (leg1):
Werder Bremen – AS Pontoise Cergy (January 17^th, 19h00 CET)
Angers Vaillante – SVS Niederosterreich (January 17^th, 19h30 CET)
Hennebont – UMMC (January 24^th, 19h30 CET)
Borussia Dusseldorf – Fakel Gazproma Orenburg (January 26^th, 13h00 CET, live on ETTU TV powered by Laola1.tv)