Well, while I might prefer a Super League with “Best of 5” playoffs, I certainly shouldn’t have too much to complain with the upcoming Champions League quarterfinal matches that start Thursday.  The pretenders are all gone and each of the remaining eight clubs has legitimate aspirations for advancing to the Final Four in Cologne at the end of May.

Based on the betting lines, the oddsmakers have made Ciudad Real a significant favorite over Flensburg as they are favored to win by 2.5 goals tomorrow in Germany.  In the other 3 matchups the home teams are favored to hold serve in the first leg.  Rhein-Neckar is a 2.5 goal favorite over Montpellier and Kiel is a 2 goal favorite vs. Barcelona.  Hamburg is expected to have fewer problems with Chekov and is a 5 goal favorite.  All of the home teams will be hoping to build up a goal differential
cushion as they know that a difficult return leg on the road awaits them next weekend.  Conversely, the visitors will be looking to steal a victory or at least keep it close.

ehfTV will be broadcasting each of the matches live and will have English commentary with Tom O’Brannagain for the Rhein-Neckar vs. Montpellier matchup.  Subject to the availability of the ehfTV on demand stream and the demands of the Ryan  family household, I may do some bonus audio commentary of the other 3 matches.  Check back at the site for updates.

Match Schedule (Handicap point spread in parentheses)

Ciudad Real (-2.5) at Flensburg (ehfTV: Thursday, 21 April,8:00 PM CET)
On Demand broadcast at ehfTV:  http://www.ehftv.com/ec/cl/men/2010-11/video/001615
See bottom of post of for audio commentary

Chekhov at Hamburg (-5) (ehfTV: Saturday, 23 April, 3:45 PM CET)
On Demand broadcast at ehfTV:  http://www.ehftv.com/ec/cl/men/2010-11/video/001616

Montpellier at Rhein-Neckar (-2.5) (ehfTV: Sunday, 24 April: 5:45 PM CET, 11:45 AM (U.S. East Coast) (With English language commmentary)
Live Broadcast link:  http://www.ehftv.com/ec/cl/men/2010-11/live/high/001617
On Demand broadcast at ehfTV:  http://www.ehftv.com/ec/cl/men/2010-11/video/001617

There is also a televised tape delayed broadcast on the MHz Network in the U.S. at 4:00 PM (U.S. East Coast) on Sunday 24 April. For information on how you can watch MHZ see this link: http://www.mhznetworks.org/mhzworldview/carriage/

Kiel at Barcelona(-2) (ehfTV: Sunday, 24 April: 7:30 PM CET)
On Demand broadcast at ehfTV:  http://www.ehftv.com/ec/cl/men/2010-11/video/001618

EHF Preview of Quarterfinals: http://www.ehfcl.com/men/2010-11/article/13862/Last+steps+to+Cologne

Audio recording links are below. Open the on demand video in one window and then click on the podcast link. I do a countdown of the ehfTV clock in the lower left hand of the screen. Pause the audio when I start the countdown and then play the video. Then unpause the audio when you get to the appropriate time on the clock.