EHF Champions League 2023/24 – 2. Round

Metz HB vs Ikast HB 36:39 (17:20)

by J. Schuetz

Before the Match

Both teams started the 2023/24 EHF Champions League season on a high note, defeating the two 2023 EHF FINAL4 finalists decisively. Metz beat FTC 38:25 and Ikast came out on top against the three times Champions League winners from Kristiansand.

Prior to the match in France, a flash poll of stregspiller.com saw the Danish team (60%) as the odds-on favorite.

The Result

Ikast head coach, Kasper Christensen, had prepared his team well and it showed from the very first minute at Les Arenes. Once the Danes took the lead (18th Min.) they never looked back. Metz never regained the advantage and only for a short period of time in the second half it appeared as if Metz could turn the table. It did not happen.  Ikast ran away with victory in a high scoring match.

1st Half

For the better part of 18 minutes, Metz were in the lead (12:11) before the 2023 EHF European League champions outscored the team of coach, Manu Mayonnade, 9:5 during the remainder of the half.   Emma Friis and Ingvild Bakkerud  dominated the score board during this phase.

2nd Half

After the break Ikast kept the momentum, while Metz struggled to cut down the deficit. Only slowly, the French record champions caught up, but in the 41st minute, right wing Lucie Granier, was able to score the equalizer (27:27).

Jerabkova and Bakkerud made sure that Ikast would stay in the lead and the red card against Sarah Bouktit (Metz) disrupted the game for good as the two referees struggled to apply consistent decision making throughout.

Player of the Match

The flawless shooting of Emma Friis (9/9) stood out from an otherwise strong Ikast collective.

Scorers

Metz HB

A. Grijseels (2), C. Valentini (5), A-M Hansen (6), K. Jorgensen (7), M. Brkic (1), L. Vinter Burgaard (3), Z. Mlamali (1), S. Bouktit (4), L. Granier (5), D. Chambertin (1)

Ikast HB

J. Scaglione (1), S. Skogrand (3), S. Iversen (1), E. Lindquist (2), E. Friis (9), S. Petersen (2),  M. Lykkegaard (2), I. Bakkerud (8), M. Jerabkova (7), L. Hougaard (4)

Post-Game Reactions

Marketa Jerabkova (Ikast HB)

SOUND ON!

After the @ehfcl match between @MetzHandball and Ikast, @saschastaat caught up with the three times #EHF FINAL4 winner – Marketa Jerabkova. # METIKA 36:39#handball
📸 @stregspiller pic.twitter.com/fQaf8654rj

— stregspiller (@stregspiller) September 18, 2023

Emma Friis (Ikas HB)

SOUND ON! @saschastaat caught up with Emma Friis after the impressive performance of Ikast HB against @MetzHandball in round two of the 2023/24 @ehfcl season.#handball
📸 @stregspiller pic.twitter.com/UpMsscuUZ1

— stregspiller (@stregspiller) September 18, 2023

Kristina Jorgensen (Metz HB) – Part 1

SOUND ON!

Despite good preparation and scoring 36 goals at home, @MetzHandball left the pitch as “2nd winners” against Ikast in round 2 of the @ehfcl . #METIKA 36:39@saschastaat talked to Danish international Kristina Jorgensen about the reasons.#handball
📸 @stregspiller pic.twitter.com/JeGkVMOY9M

— stregspiller (@stregspiller) September 18, 2023

Kristina Jorgensen (Metz HB) – Part 2

SOUND ON!

Following the loss at home , Kristina Jorgensen is already looking forward to the upcoming @ehfcl match between @TeamEsbjerg and @MetzHandball as @saschastaat found out.#handball
📸 @stregspiller pic.twitter.com/mZTlC0dIc3

— stregspiller (@stregspiller) September 18, 2023