After 84 games in group play and knock out competition, the 2 clubs remaining are the 2 clubs everyone expected: Spain’s Ciudad Real and Germany’s THW Kiel. Both sides are clearly the best teams in their respective leagues so it is a true heavyweight battle. Last year Ciudad Real got the best of Kiel in the Final winning 58-54 on aggregate as the two clubs traded losses on their home floors. This year the 2 clubs also met during Main Round Group play with Kiel winning the first match 33-26 and Ciudad Real winning the 2nd 35-33 It should be noted, however, that the 2nd match was a “throw away game” in that both teams were already guaranteed to advance to the quarterfindals and the outcome didn’t matter.
[b]Schedule[/b]
1st Leg Ciudad Real at Kiel Sunday, 24 May at 1845 CET Video: http://www.ehftv.com/ec/cl/men/2008-09/video/000607
2nd Leg Kiel at Ciudad Real Sunday, 31 May at 1800 CET
Courtesy of ehfTV.com www.ehftv.com both matches will be available for viewing at no charge either live or on tape delay. Live availibity, however is subject to restrictions for those nations where TV coverage is available. Tape delay is usually available several hours after the completion of each match. Check this site for the link to the tape delay video, if you want to avoid finding out the final score.
[b]Kiel (2008-2009) Resume[/b]
HBL Record 31 Wins, 1 Draw, 1 Loss
Champions League Record 13 Wins, 1 draw, 2 Losses
German Cup Champion
[b]Ciudad Real (2008-2009) Resume[/b]
Liga Asobal Record (28 Wins, 2 Losses)
Champions League Record (14 Wins, 2 losses)
Spanish Cup Runner up
[b]Recent Head to Head competition[/b]
[u]Last year’s Champions League Final[/u]
4 May 2008 Ciudad Real 27 29 Kiel
11 May 2008 Kiel 25 31 Ciudad Real
Ciudad won on aggregate 58-54
[u]Main Round matches in this year’s competition[/u]
22 February 2009 Kiel 33 26 Ciudad Real
7 March 2009 Ciudad Real 35 33 Kiel
[b]Odds[/b] (Courtesy of Best Betting http://eu.bestbetting.com/handball/)
[u]To Win the Champions League[/u]
Kiel (-118) (Bet $118 to win $100)
Ciudad Real (+125) (Bet 100 to win $125)
[u]To win 1st leg[/u]
Ciudad Real (-270)
Kiel (+400)
[u]1st Leg Handicap (point spread)[/u]
Ciudad Real (-3)
[b]ehfTV.com Video Previews[/b]
Analysis of Matchup by Spanish and Germany National team coaches: http://www.ehftv.com/ec/cl/men/2008-09/video/000627
Kiel’s Road to the Final: http://www.ehftv.com/ec/cl/men/2008-09/video/000625
Ciudad Real’s Road to the Final: http://www.ehftv.com/ec/cl/men/2008-09/video/000626