# 2016–17 Women's EHF Champions League

The 2016–17 Women's EHF Champions League was the 24th edition of the Women's EHF Champions League, the competition for top women's clubs of Europe, organized and supervised by the European Handball Federation. CSM București were defending champions.

## Team allocation

13 teams were directly qualified for the group stage.
Group stage :
| Team Esbjerg (1st) | FC Midtjylland (2nd) | Metz Handball (1st) | Thüringer HC (1st) |
| Ferencváros (2nd) | Győri ETO (1st) | HC Vardar (1st) | Budućnost (1st) |
| Larvik HK (1st) | CSM București (1st) | Astrakhanochka (1st) | Rostov-Don (2nd) |
| IK Sävehof (1st) |
| Qualification tournament ||||
| Glassverket IF (2nd) | Krim Ljubljana (1st) | Selgros Lublin (1st) | HC Gomel (1st) |
| HC Leipzig (2nd) | Podravka Koprivnica (1st) | Yenimahalle Bld. SK (1st) | Indeco Conversano (1st) |
| Hypo Niederösterreich (1st) | Bera Bera (1st) | SERCODAK Dalfsen (1st) | IUVENTA Michalovce (1st) |
* $^{TH=Titleholders}$

## Round and draw dates

The qualification and group stage draw will be held in Glostrup, Denmark.
| Phase | Draw date |
| Qualification tournaments | 29 June 2016 |
| Group stage | 1 July 2016 |
| Knockout stage | 1 July 2016 |
| Final Four | 18 April 2017 |

## Qualification stage

The draw was held on 29 June 2016 at 13:00 in Vienna, Austria. The twelve teams were split in three groups and played a semifinal and final to determine the last participants. Matches were played from 9 to 11 September 2016.

### Qualification tournament 1

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| 10 September | 10 September |
| Glassverket IF | 34 |
| Glassverket IF | 34 | 11 September | 11 September |
| Yenimahalle Bld. SK | 23 | 11 September | 11 September |
| Yenimahalle Bld. SK | 23 | Glassverket IF | 28 |
| 10 September | 10 September | | Glassverket IF | 28 |
| 10 September | 10 September | Podravka Koprivnica | 19 |
| Podravka Koprivnica | 30 | Podravka Koprivnica | 19 |
| SERCODAK Dalfsen | 17 | | |
| SERCODAK Dalfsen | 17 | Third place | Third place |
| | | 11 September | 11 September |
| | | Yenimahalle Bld. SK | 31 |
| | | SERCODAK Dalfsen | 22 |

### Qualification tournament 2

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| 9 September | 9 September |
| HC Leipzig | 29 |
| HC Leipzig | 29 | 10 September | 10 September |
| HC Gomel | 18 | 10 September | 10 September |
| HC Gomel | 18 | HC Leipzig | 32 |
| 9 September | 9 September | | HC Leipzig | 32 |
| 9 September | 9 September | Hypo Niederösterreich | 30 |
| Hypo Niederösterreich | 25 | Hypo Niederösterreich | 30 |
| BM Bera Bera | 21 | | |
| BM Bera Bera | 21 | Third place | Third place |
| | | 10 September | 10 September |
| | | HC Gomel | 20 |
| | | BM Bera Bera | 28 |

### Qualification tournament 3

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| 10 September | 10 September |
| Krim | 28 |
| Krim | 28 | 11 September | 11 September |
| IUVENTA Michalovce | 22 | 11 September | 11 September |
| IUVENTA Michalovce | 22 | Krim | 37 |
| 10 September | 10 September | | Krim | 37 |
| 10 September | 10 September | Indeco Conversano | 16 |
| MKS Selgros Lublin | 27 | Indeco Conversano | 16 |
| Indeco Conversano | 28 | | |
| Indeco Conversano | 28 | Third place | Third place |
| | | 11 September | 11 September |
| | | IUVENTA Michalovce | 21 |
| | | MKS Selgros Lublin | 33 |

## Group stage

The draw was held on 1 July 2016 at 13:00.
In each group, teams played against each other in a double round-robin format, with home and away matches.
* Tiebreakers
* In the group stage, teams are ranked according to points (2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). After completion of the group stage, if two or more teams have scored the same number of points, the ranking will be determined as follows (article 4.3.1, section II of regulations):
* Highest number of points in matches between the teams directly involved;
* Superior goal difference in matches between the teams directly involved;
* Highest number of goals scored in matches between the teams directly involved (or in the away match in case of a two-team tie);
* Superior goal difference in all matches of the group;
* Highest number of plus goals in all matches of the group;
* If the ranking of one of these teams is determined, the above criteria are consecutively followed until the ranking of all teams is determined. If no ranking can be determined, a decision shall be obtained by EHF through drawing of lots.
* During the group stage, only criteria 4–5 apply to determine the provisional ranking of teams.

### Group A

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | BUD | MET | THC | GLA |
| 1 | Budućnost | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 158 | 136 | +22 | 10 | Main round | — | 21–19 | 28–19 | 22–21 |
| 2 | Metz Handball | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 146 | 133 | +13 | 8 | Main round | 28–25 | — | 25–18 | 25–19 |
| 3 | Thüringer HC | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 148 | 153 | −5 | 6 | Main round | 26–32 | 28–25 | — | 24–16 |
| 4 | Glassverket IF | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 128 | 158 | −30 | 0 | | 23–30 | 22–24 | 27–33 | — |

### Group B

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | VAR | FER | AST | LEI |
| 1 | HC Vardar | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 220 | 148 | +72 | 11 | Main round | — | 27–27 | 39–25 | 41–24 |
| 2 | FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 172 | 154 | +18 | 9 | Main round | 24–37 | — | 32–23 | 26–22 |
| 3 | HC Astrakhanochka | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 156 | 189 | −33 | 2 | Main round | 26–31 | 28–33 | — | 27–24 |
| 4 | HC Leipzig | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 139 | 196 | −57 | 2 | | 22–45 | 17–30 | 30–27 | — |
* 1 2 Astrakhanochka 54–54 Leipzig, Astrakhanochka advanced on away goals.

### Group C

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | GYO | BUC | MID | ROS |
| 1 | Győri Audi ETO KC | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 174 | 147 | +27 | 10 | Main round | — | 33–25 | 31–19 | 32–25 |
| 2 | CSM București | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 142 | 145 | −3 | 6 | Main round | 24–27 | — | 26–20 | 24–21 |
| 3 | Midtjylland | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 135 | 150 | −15 | 6 | Main round | 27–23 | 24–21 | — | 25–23 |
| 4 | Rostov-Don | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 142 | 151 | −9 | 2 | | 27–28 | 20–22 | 26–20 | — |
* 1 2 Bucharest 47–44 Midtjylland

### Group D

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | KRI | LAR | ESB | SAV |
| 1 | Krim | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 168 | 165 | +3 | 8 | Main round | — | 24–22 | 27–22 | 32–29 |
| 2 | Larvik HK | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 174 | 170 | +4 | 6 | Main round | 31–36 | — | 30–29 | 22–25 |
| 3 | Team Esbjerg | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 164 | 151 | +13 | 6 | Main round | 35–25 | 24–31 | — | 29–18 |
| 4 | IK Sävehof | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 150 | 170 | −20 | 4 | | 26–24 | 32–38 | 20–25 | — |
* 1 2 Larvik 61–53 Esbjerg

## Main round

The top three teams of each preliminary group advanced. Points obtained against qualified teams from the same group were carried over.
In each group, teams played against each other in a double round-robin format, with home and away matches.

### Group 1

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | VAR | FER | BUD | MET | THC | AST |
| 1 | HC Vardar | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 311 | 279 | +32 | 15 | Quarterfinals | — | 27–27 | 28–31 | 23–21 | 36–26 | 39–25 |
| 2 | FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 290 | 265 | +25 | 14 | Quarterfinals | 24–37 | — | 23–24 | 29–23 | 32–24 | 32–23 |
| 3 | Budućnost | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 286 | 248 | +38 | 14 | Quarterfinals | 28–31 | 25–33 | — | 21–19 | 28–19 | 38–20 |
| 4 | Metz Handball | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 273 | 238 | +35 | 10 | Quarterfinals | 42–28 | 25–28 | 28–25 | — | 25–18 | 37–18 |
| 5 | Thüringer HC | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 257 | 286 | −29 | 5 | | 29–31 | 29–29 | 26–32 | 28–25 | — | 34–22 |
| 6 | HC Astrakhanochka | 10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 229 | 330 | −101 | 2 | | 26–31 | 28–33 | 21–34 | 20–28 | 26–24 | — |
* 1 2 FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 56–49 Budućnost

### Group 2

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | GYO | LAR | BUC | MID | KRI | ESB |
| 1 | Győri Audi ETO KC | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 305 | 234 | +71 | 17 | Quarterfinals | — | 27–27 | 33–25 | 31–19 | 39–22 | 33–22 |
| 2 | Larvik HK | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 279 | 271 | +8 | 12 | Quarterfinals | 25–26 | — | 35–33 | 24–22 | 31–36 | 30–29 |
| 3 | CSM București | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 265 | 257 | +8 | 11 | Quarterfinals | 24–27 | 26–26 | — | 26–20 | 28–26 | 33–25 |
| 4 | Midtjylland | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 250 | 241 | +9 | 10 | Quarterfinals | 27–23 | 24–28 | 24–21 | — | 28–19 | 38–26 |
| 5 | Krim | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 238 | 290 | −52 | 6 | | 17–34 | 24–22 | 21–24 | 21–27 | — | 27–22 |
| 6 | Team Esbjerg | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 251 | 295 | −44 | 4 | | 26–32 | 24–31 | 20–25 | 22–21 | 35–25 | — |

## Knockout stage

The first four placed teams from the main round qualified for the knockout stage.

### Quarterfinals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Midtjylland | 50–54 | HC Vardar | 26–28 | 24–26 |
| Metz Handball | 54–59 | Győri Audi ETO KC | 32–31 | 22–28 |
| CSM București | 57–51 | FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria | 30–25 | 27–26 |
| Buducnost | 66–47 | Larvik HK | 31–17 | 35–30 |

### Final four

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| 6 May | 6 May |
| Budućnost | 20 |
| Budućnost | 20 | 7 May | 7 May |
| Győri Audi ETO KC | 26 | 7 May | 7 May |
| Győri Audi ETO KC | 26 | Győri Audi ETO KC (OT) | 31 |
| 6 May | 6 May | | Győri Audi ETO KC (OT) | 31 |
| 6 May | 6 May | HC Vardar | 30 |
| CSM București | 33 | HC Vardar | 30 |
| HC Vardar | 38 | | |
| HC Vardar | 38 | Third place | Third place |
| | | 7 May | 7 May |
| | | Budućnost | 20 |
| | | CSM București | 26 |

#### Final

| 7 May 2017 17:45 | Győri Audi ETO KC | 31–30 (ET) | HC Vardar | László Papp Budapest Sports Arena, Budapest Attendance: 12,000 Referees: Christiansen, Hansen (DEN) |
| 7 May 2017 17:45 | Görbicz 7 | (15–12) | Althaus, Lacrabère 6 | László Papp Budapest Sports Arena, Budapest Attendance: 12,000 Referees: Christiansen, Hansen (DEN) |
| 7 May 2017 17:45 | 3× 6× | Report | 2× 5× | László Papp Budapest Sports Arena, Budapest Attendance: 12,000 Referees: Christiansen, Hansen (DEN) |
| László Papp Budapest Sports Arena, Budapest Attendance: 12,000 Referees: Christiansen, Hansen (DEN) |||

## Awards and statistics
### All-Star Team

The all-star team and awards were announced on 5 May 2017.
* Goalkeeper: Kari Aalvik Grimsbø (NOR)
* Right wing: Carmen Martín (ESP)
* Right back: Nora Mørk (NOR)
* Centre back: Nycke Groot (NED)
* Left back: Cristina Neagu (ROU)
* Left wing: Camilla Herrem (NOR)
* Pivot: Marit Malm Frafjord (NOR)

### Other awards

* MVP of the Final Four: Nycke Groot (NED)
* Best Coach: Ambros Martín (ESP)
* Best Young Player: Blanka Bíró (HUN)
* Best Defence Player: Eduarda Amorim (BRA)
* Top scorer: Andrea Penezić (CRO), 98 goals