Admittedly, the HBC Nantes had an advantage after the first leg at home. But he was really thin. Winners of a single small point on their parquet floor last Wednesday (28-27)the Nantes were to release a high quality match this Wednesday in Lisbon. After a terrible mano a mano, the two teams never took more than two goals in advance for 50 minutes, it was the French who won their ticket for the Final Four of the Champions League handball.
But it was difficult. Worn by the Martim and Francisco Mota Costa brothers, authors respectively 14 and 11 goals, the LisBoets made the Nantes suffer until the 50th minute. Worn by their goalkeeper Ivan Pesic (16 stops out of 45 attempts), they ended up finding the fault at the end of the match to widen a gap and reassure themselves. With 8 goals, Aymeric Minne finished best scorer in the French camp.
Qualified for the third Final Four in their history, the Nantes are now waiting to know their opponent. The Fuchse Berlin is already qualified thanks to its victory against Aalborg, while the last two quarter -finals must take place this Thursday. While Barcelona took the ascendant on Szeged, Veszprem and Madgeburg drew on the outward journey. A draw will determine the semi-finals of June 14 in Cologne.
