Whom is last ECL Friday night for?

Who will play in the 2014/15 Men`s European Champions League semifinal we`ll know this Friday when all four returning matches of the quarter final will be held. Bearing in mind results from the first leg two times MECL champion Orenburg is practically q

Who will play in the 2014/15 Men`s European Champions League semifinal we`ll know this Friday when all four returning matches of the quarter final will be held. Bearing in mind results from the first leg two times MECL champion Orenburg is practically qualified after 3:0 (9:3) away victory in Saarbrucken while the UMMC should have the biggest chance out of all defeated clubs because they lost 3:1 in Chartres with an acceptable set difference (9:9).

But there are too many examples in the past that big advantages were not enough for the ticket to the next stage. For instance Pontoise lost from Bremen 3:0 (9:5) in the first quarter final game last season but managed to continue its way to the crown.

“The forthcoming match is very important for our team” emphasized Valeriy SALABAEV Coach of Fakel Gazproma Orenburg the 2012 and 2013 MECL champion. “The final stage is played as a knock-out competition. A failure can lead to elimination of the team from the tournament. All players of the German club are experienced and very strong sportsmen so the match is expected to be tense and spectacular. All our players are preparing hard for the match”.

Orenburg`s Vladimir SAMSONOV Dimitrij OVTCHAROV and Alexei SMIRNOV are focused on the new MECL title. On the other side Tiago APOLONIA Bojan TOKIC and Adrien MATTENET will try to do impossible.

The 2008 MECL winner Niederosterreich hosts Bogoria with 3:1 (9:6) advantage. Polish champion had no answer for good defensive play of HOU Yingchao who provided two points for his side. If Korean OH Sang Eun will be able to repeat some of his best performances in MECL in last couple of seasons guests will have a chance.

The 2012/13 finalist Chartres defeated UMMC 3:1 in the first leg but Russians lost all three matches playing five games. That is the reason why Coach Tatiana KUTERGINA believes that her club can reach the semis. “We understand that we need to win at least a 3:1 because we have a good set difference” stressed KUTERGINA adding: “Each our player must give their 100 percent and then we will have a chance to continue our way in the MECL. I hope that everyone will cope with this task because everybody understands the position in which we find ourselves”.

Other reason for UMMC`s optimism is Jun MIZUTANI`s comeback from Japan where he won National Championships last weekend. “The mood is now positive” said Grigory VLASOV who took unique point for his club in France. “Jun (MIZUTANI) will surely contribute too much and I hope that he is in the good shape”.

Ten-time European champion Borussia is faced with a super hard task because reigning MECL champion starts the rematch with 3:1 (11:6) advantage. Manager Andreas PREUSS explains: “We wished to have a better position for the re-match and the chance to reach the semi-finals isn´t really good. But we will try to use it.”

Borussia`s Coach Danny HEISTER stressed that his side is “ready for the big fight”: “We´ve got four healthy players. We need a great team performance and every player in our team.

MECL quarter final leg2
Fakel Gazproma Orenburg – Saarbrucken (January 23rd 13h20 CET)
Wienviertel Niederosterreich – Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki (January 23rd 18h00 CET)
TTSC UMMC – Chartres ASTT (January 23rd 15h00 CET)
Borussia Dusseldorf – AS Pontoise Cergy (January 23rd 19h00 CET)

MECL quarter final leg1 results
Saarbrucken – Fakel Gazproma Orenburg 0:3
Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – Wienviertel Niederosterreich 1:3
Chartres ASTT – TTSC UMMC 3:1
AS Pontoise Cergy – Borussia Dusseldorf 3:1

Related News

Finlandia Open 2024 – U21 Titles Clinched by VAN DESSEL and Jeanne ROBBES

The first champions of the 2024 Finlandia Open table tennis tournament were crowned on Friday evening. In the U21 Men’s category, Mael VAN DESSEL of Luxembourg triumphed over Norway’s Alexander...

Read more

Moldova Hosts Successful Seminar on Training Young Table Tennis Talents

As part of the European Table Tennis Union’s (ETTU) National Association Assistance Program (NAAP), a practical-methodical seminar titled “The Process of Training Young Players – The Road to the Olympics”...

Read more

2025 Champions League Final 4 Saarbrücken: Book the tickets now

This year, 4,500 spectators in Saarlandhalle Saarbrücken contributed to the resounding success of the first-ever Champions League Final 4. The event returns next year, promising another thrilling experience for players...

Read more

33rd Finlandia Open – Everything You Need to Know

The traditional Finlandia Open returns this year, welcoming over 160 players from 27 countries to the enchanting home of Father Christmas. Hosted at the Kisakallio Sports Institute, just an hour’s...

Read more

Contact

About Us

Privacy Policy

Terms and Conditions

The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) is the governing body of the sport of table tennis in Europe, and is the only authority recognized for this purpose by the International Table Tennis Federation. The ETTU deals with all matters relating to table tennis at a European level, including the development and promotion of the sport in the territories controlled by its 58 member associations, and the organization of continental table tennis competitions, including the European Championships.

Powered By

All Competitions

Senior Competitions

Club Competitions

Youth Competitions

More Competitions