Champions League Men | 2 Oct 2014
Remake of last MECL final in Pontoise
No need to wait too long to see again match between finalists of 2013/14 Men`s European Champions League. AS Pontoise Cergy will host Fakel Gazproma Orenburg in Round 2 of 2014/15 MECL (Saturday, 19h45 CET), and we can just imagine how both sides are moti
No need to wait too long to see again match between finalists of 2013/14 Men`s European Champions League. AS Pontoise Cergy will host Fakel Gazproma Orenburg in Round 2 of 2014/15 MECL (Saturday, 19h45 CET), and we can just imagine how both sides are motivated: French team to confirm its title, and Russian champion to “revenge” for unexpected defeat in the final played four months ago.
All six players involved in the last final are available now: Marcos FREITAS, WANG Jian Jun, Kristian KARLSSON (Pontoise), Dimitrij OVTCHAROV, Vladimir SAMSONOV and Alexey SMIRNOV (Orenburg). So it`s clear that there is no secrets between them. It will be interesting to see how two best ranked players will react after recent TMS European Championships in Lisbon. FREITAS was a key man of Portugal in the final against OVTCHAROV`s Germany, bringing historical win to his country.
“It is a pity that two finalist of the last season already play against each other in the group stage. Also the other teams in our group are very strong opponents. So for every team it is difficult to pass the group stage and every match is very important. Orenburg is as usual the favorit for the title, but we have a strong team too. Spectators can expect a great match!”, explained Pontoise`s coach Peter FRANZ.
Roskilde Bordtennis and Olimpia Unia Grudziadz will play in other Group A game. The winner will be more closer to secure third place in group stage, knowing that Pontoise and Orenburg are clear favorites for first two spots.
The 2012/13 MECL finalist Chartres desperately needs a win in Group B, to recover after unexpectedly big defeat from Niederosterreich in opening game. But, Bremen is not good place to correct mistakes. Werder has a chance to make very important step to quarter final in front of their fans, playing for second win in a row.
Niederosterreich is motivated to confirm their excellent achievement in Chartres. But, Eslov is a dangerous opponent on its soil. “I and our players expect to win the match against Eslövs, because Stefan FEGERL is fit again after his virus infection. We know that it will not be easy for our team but we are the team that is better balanced”, speaks Dr. Johann Friedschröder, president of the 2008 MECL champion.
Two opponents in unforgettable MECL semis two years ago, Saarbrucken and UMMC, will play now in Round 2 of Group C. Both won opening games. It will be interesting to see two gold medalists from recent TMS European Championships in Lisbon, Portuguese players Tiago APOLONIA (Saarbrucken) and Joao MONTEIRO (UMMC). APOLONIA was a hero of Saarbrucken`s victory against Sten Marketing HB Ostrov and managed to beat Dimitrij OVTCHAROV in Portugal – Germany battle for European title last weekend.
Sten Marketing HB Ostrov and Vaillante Angers will play for their first victories. Jan HRNCIRIK, team manager of Czech club, emphasized why this match is important for his side: “We feel that in this home match we might have the greatest chance for victory of all matches. We will try to do our best to win.”
Two clubs which know everything one about another, Hennebont and Borussia, will meet in Group D. Borussia`s player Panagiotis GIONIS, former member of Angers, is looking forward to play again in France: “Timo (BOLL) played excellent in Portugal during the European Championships and our whole team played on a high level in the last games in Bundesliga. Therefore we will fly to Hennebont with self-confidence. I played a long time in Pro A so I know the French League and the actors of Hennebont very well. I expect a very difficult match. The players of Hennebont are all strong players who will fight to win their home match against us. ”
Coach of German champion Danny HEISTER stressed that it will be game without secrets: “We played several times against each other. We know the players, we know the hall and the great atmosphere in Hennebont. They have got a strong team. CHEN Chien An and CHO Eon Rae are one of the best players in the world and Kalinikos KREANGA and Dimitrij PROCOPCOV are still able to beat top actors. Also the youngest player Quentin ROBINOT has often shown his quality. We expect three „hot” players and it will be necessary to be in a good shape to be successful. Our goal is to win our second match and to make the next step for reaching quarter finals.”
Other match in Group B will be held in Poland where Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki expects SPG Walter Wels. One of them will achieve its fist MECL win this season.
Men’s European Champions League, Round 2
GROUP A: AS Pontoise Cergy – Gazproma Orenburg (October 4th, 19h45 CET); Roskilde Bordtennis – Olimpia Unia Grudziadz (October 4th, 17h00 CET)
GROUP B: Werder Bremen – Chartres ASTT (October 3rd, 15h00 CET); Eslovs AL – Weinviertel Niederosterreich (October 3rd, 19h00 CET)
GROUP C: FC Saarbrucken – UMMC (October 3rd, 19h00 CET); Sten Marketing HB Ostrov – Vaillante Angers (October 3rd, 19h00 CET)
GROUP D: GV Hennebont – Borussia Dusseldorf (October 3rd, 19h30 CET); Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki – SPG Walter Wels (October 5th, 16h00 CET)
