Three teams to join Porrino in semi-final line-up this weekend

• MSK Iuventa Michalovce hold the biggest advantage going into the second legs, leading Polish side MKS Urbis Gniezno by 15 goals as the Slovakian powerhouse dominated the first leg, 36:21, leaving Gniezno needing a minor miracle to turn things around in the second leg in Poland.
• Czech side Hazena Kynzvart can also look forward to the second leg with confidence against Haukar from Iceland, after a convincing 35:24 victory at home. Haukar's unbeaten home record in the competition this season will give them confidence, though Hazena Kynzvart are yet to lose an away match in during this campaign.
• there will two further encounters between Icelandic and Czech opposition on Icelandic soil this weekend, when Valur welcome DHC Slavia Praha to Reykjavik for a double-header. Both legs will throw-off at 17:00 CET on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, to decide who progresses.
• among the four teams, only MSK Iuventa Michalovce have made it to the semi-finals of the EHF European Cup Women before. DHC Slavia Praha reached the quarter-finals in the 2020/21 season, but were eliminated by Croatian outfit HC Lokomotiva Zagreb.

Icelandic-Czech encounters

For the first time in the 2024/25 season, three matches between Icelandic and Czech sides will be held this weekend in the Women's EHF European Cup. Iceland's Valur host Czech team, DHC Slavia Praha, twice, in a double-header. In neighbouring Hafnarfjordur, the second leg is scheduled this weekend between home side Haukar and Hazena Kynzvart, representing Czechia.

Main photo © MSK Iuventa Michalovce, in-text image © romanknedlik.com