# 2017–18 Women's EHF Champions League

The 2017–18 EHF Champions League was the 25th edition of Europe's premier club handball tournament.
Győri Audi ETO KC defended their title by defeating HC Vardar in the final.

## Competition format

16 teams participated in the competition, divided in four groups who played in a round robin, home and away format. The top three teams in each group qualified for the main round

### Main round

The 12 qualified teams were divided in four groups who played in a round robin, home and away format. The points gained against the qualified teams in the first round were carried over. The top four teams in each group qualified for the quarterfinals.

### Knockout stage

After the quarterfinals, the culmination of the season, the WOMEN'S EHF FINAL4, will continue in its existing format, with the four top teams from the competition competing for the title.

## Team allocation

14 teams were directly qualified for the group stage.
Group stage :
| FC Midtjylland | Nykøbing Falster Håndbold | Brest Bretagne Handball | Metz Handball |
| SG BBM Bietigheim | FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria | Győri Audi ETO KC | HC Vardar |
| ŽRK Budućnost | Larvik HK | Vistal Gdynia | CSM București |
| Rostov-Don | RK Krim | | |
| Qualification tournaments ||||
| Hypo Niederösterreich | HC Gomel | Podravka Koprivnica | Thüringer HC |
| Vipers Kristiansand | CB Atlético Guardés | H 65 Höör | Kastamonu Belediyesi |

## Round and draw dates

The qualification draw was held in Vienna, Austria, the group stage draw in Ljubljana, Slovenia and the final four draw in Budapest, Hungary.
| Phase | Draw date |
| Qualification tournaments | 29 June 2017 |
| Group stage | 30 June 2017 |
| Knockout stage | 30 June 2017 |
| Final Four | 17 April 2018 |

## Qualification stage

The draw was held on 29 June 2017. The two winners of the qualification tournaments advanced to the group stage.

### Qualification tournament 1

Vipers Kristiansand hosted the tournament.

### Bracket

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| 9 September | 9 September |
| Vipers Kristiansand | 43 |
| Vipers Kristiansand | 43 | 10 September | 10 September |
| HC Gomel | 19 | 10 September | 10 September |
| HC Gomel | 19 | Vipers Kristiansand | 42 |
| 9 September | 9 September | | Vipers Kristiansand | 42 |
| 9 September | 9 September | Podravka Koprivnica | 14 |
| Podravka Koprivnica | 21 | Podravka Koprivnica | 14 |
| Kastamonu Belediyesi | 17 | | |
| Kastamonu Belediyesi | 17 | Third place | Third place |
| | | 10 September | 10 September |
| | | HC Gomel | 29 |
| | | Kastamonu Belediyesi | 28 |

### Qualification tournament 2

Thüringer HC hosted the tournament.

### Bracket

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| 9 September | 9 September |
| Thüringer HC | 31 |
| Thüringer HC | 31 | 10 September | 10 September |
| CB Atlético Guardés | 21 | 10 September | 10 September |
| CB Atlético Guardés | 21 | Thüringer HC | 33 |
| 9 September | 9 September | | Thüringer HC | 33 |
| 9 September | 9 September | H 65 Höör | 24 |
| H 65 Höör | 32 | H 65 Höör | 24 |
| Hypo Niederösterreich | 19 | | |
| Hypo Niederösterreich | 19 | Third place | Third place |
| | | 10 September | 10 September |
| | | CB Atlético Guardés | 27 |
| | | Hypo Niederösterreich | 29 |

## Group stage

The draw was held on 30 June 2017.
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:
* 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 | BUC | NYK | KRI | GDY |
| 1 | CSM Bucureşti | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 192 | 144 | +48 | 10 | Main round | — | 39–26 | 30–18 | 34–22 |
| 2 | Nykøbing Falster | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 168 | 163 | +5 | 8 | Main round | 25–22 | — | 28–26 | 27–21 |
| 3 | RK Krim | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 159 | 158 | +1 | 6 | Main round | 30–33 | 27–26 | — | 29–22 |
| 4 | Vistal Gdynia | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 135 | 189 | −54 | 0 | EHF Cup | 23–34 | 28–36 | 19–29 | — |

### Group B

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | GYO | ROS | MID | BRE |
| 1 | Győri Audi ETO KC | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 153 | 126 | +27 | 10 | Main round | — | 25–23 | 27–16 | 29–17 |
| 2 | Rostov-Don | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 149 | 138 | +11 | 8 | Main round | 23–22 | — | 27–20 | 26–24 |
| 3 | FC Midtjylland | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 134 | 147 | −13 | 6 | Main round | 24–27 | 24–21 | — | 27–23 |
| 4 | Brest Bretagne Handball | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 132 | 157 | −25 | 0 | EHF Cup | 23–26 | 23–29 | 22–23 | — |

### Group C

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | VAR | FER | THÜ | LAR |
| 1 | HC Vardar | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 182 | 147 | +35 | 12 | Main round | — | 34–31 | 29–21 | 30–27 |
| 2 | FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 183 | 167 | +16 | 8 | Main round | 28–29 | — | 28–25 | 37–33 |
| 3 | Thüringer HC | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 145 | 167 | −22 | 2 | Main round | 21–29 | 25–29 | — | 22–25 |
| 4 | Larvik HK | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 152 | 181 | −29 | 2 | EHF Cup | 19–31 | 21–30 | 27–31 | — |
* 1 2 Thüringer HC 53–52 Larvik HK

### Group D

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | MET | BUD | BIE | KRI |
| 1 | Metz Handball | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 157 | 137 | +20 | 10 | Main round | — | 27–23 | 27–21 | 30–22 |
| 2 | ŽRK Budućnost | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 144 | 148 | −4 | 6 | Main round | 23–18 | — | 32–24 | 26–23 |
| 3 | SG BBM Bietigheim | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 152 | 158 | −6 | 6 | Main round | 26–30 | 27–21 | — | 25–24 |
| 4 | Vipers Kristiansand | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 144 | 154 | −10 | 2 | EHF Cup | 22–25 | 29–19 | 24–29 | — |
* 1 2 ŽRK Budućnost 53–51 SG BBM Bietigheim

## Main round

The top three teams of each preliminary group advance. Points obtained against qualified teams from the same group are carried over.
In each group, teams play 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 | GYO | ROS | BUC | MID | NYK | KRI |
| 1 | Győri Audi ETO KC | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 281 | 231 | +50 | 16 | Quarterfinals | — | 25–23 | 28–24 | 27–16 | 32–23 | 34–25 |
| 2 | Rostov-Don | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 266 | 232 | +34 | 15 | Quarterfinals | 23–22 | — | 25–24 | 27–20 | 32–22 | 29–22 |
| 3 | CSM Bucureşti | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 282 | 246 | +36 | 13 | Quarterfinals | 28–22 | 22–22 | — | 29–24 | 39–26 | 30–18 |
| 4 | FC Midtjylland | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 226 | 251 | −25 | 6 | Quarterfinals | 24–27 | 24–21 | 26–31 | — | 24–20 | 24–24 |
| 5 | Nykøbing Falster | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 240 | 284 | −44 | 5 | | 24–32 | 25–29 | 25–22 | 21–21 | — | 28–26 |
| 6 | RK Krim | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 243 | 294 | −51 | 5 | | 21–32 | 26–35 | 30–33 | 24–23 | 27–26 | — |
* 1 2 Nykøbing Falster 54–53 RK Krim

### Group 2

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | VAR | MET | FER | BUD | BIE | THÜ |
| 1 | HC Vardar | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 301 | 245 | +56 | 18 | Quarterfinals | — | 29–23 | 34–31 | 31–24 | 30–22 | 29–21 |
| 2 | Metz Handball | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 269 | 256 | +13 | 14 | Quarterfinals | 24–22 | — | 28–25 | 27–23 | 27–21 | 35–29 |
| 3 | FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 282 | 265 | +17 | 12 | Quarterfinals | 28–39 | 29–27 | — | 34–26 | 31–22 | 28–25 |
| 4 | ŽRK Budućnost | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 251 | 260 | −9 | 8 | Quarterfinals | 25–30 | 23–18 | 23–24 | — | 32–24 | 29–21 |
| 5 | SG BBM Bietigheim | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 242 | 294 | −52 | 4 | | 26–38 | 26–30 | 27–23 | 27–21 | — | 31–24 |
| 6 | Thüringer HC | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 257 | 282 | −25 | 4 | | 21–29 | 29–31 | 25–29 | 24–25 | 28–26 | — |
* 1 2 SG BBM Bietigheim 57–52 Thüringer HC

## 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 |
| ŽRK Budućnost | 48–56 | Győri Audi ETO KC | 20–26 | 28–30 |
| FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria | 51–63 | Rostov-Don | 29–31 | 22–32 |
| CSM București | 54–48 | Metz Handball | 34–21 | 20–27 |
| FC Midtjylland | 48–56 | HC Vardar | 23–24 | 25–32 |

### Bracket

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| 12 May | 12 May |
| CSM București | 20 |
| CSM București | 20 | 13 May | 13 May |
| Győri Audi ETO KC | 26 | 13 May | 13 May |
| Győri Audi ETO KC | 26 | Győri Audi ETO KC (OT) | 27 |
| 12 May | 12 May | | Győri Audi ETO KC (OT) | 27 |
| 12 May | 12 May | HC Vardar | 26 |
| Rostov-Don | 19 | HC Vardar | 26 |
| HC Vardar | 25 | | |
| HC Vardar | 25 | Third place | Third place |
| | | 13 May | 13 May |
| | | CSM București | 31 |
| | | Rostov-Don | 30 |

#### Final

| 13 May 2018 18:00 | Győri Audi ETO KC | 27–26 (ET) | HC Vardar | László Papp Budapest Sports Arena, Budapest Attendance: 12,000 Referees: Bonaventura, Bonaventura (FRA) |
| 13 May 2018 18:00 | Groot 9 | (9–9) | Lekić 6 | László Papp Budapest Sports Arena, Budapest Attendance: 12,000 Referees: Bonaventura, Bonaventura (FRA) |
| 13 May 2018 18:00 | 3× 6× | Report | 2× 4× | László Papp Budapest Sports Arena, Budapest Attendance: 12,000 Referees: Bonaventura, Bonaventura (FRA) |
| László Papp Budapest Sports Arena, Budapest Attendance: 12,000 Referees: Bonaventura, Bonaventura (FRA) |||

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

The all-star team and awards were announced on 11 May 2018.
* Goalkeeper: Kari Aalvik Grimsbø (NOR)
* Right wing: Yulia Managarova (RUS)
* Right back: Ana Gros (SVN)
* Centre back: Veronica Kristiansen (NOR)
* Left back: Cristina Neagu (ROU)
* Left wing: Siraba Dembélé (FRA)
* Pivot: Dragana Cvijić (SRB)

### Other awards

* MVP of the Final Four: Amandine Leynaud (FRA)
* Best coach: Ambros Martín (ESP)
* Best young player: Tjaša Stanko (SVN)
* Best defence player: Zsuzsanna Tomori (HUN)

## Top goalscorers

    As of 13 May 2018
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Cristina Neagu | CSM București | 110 |
| 2 | Iveta Luzumová | Thüringer HC | 105 |
| 3 | Andrea Penezić | HC Vardar | 92 |
| 4 | Veronica Kristiansen | FC Midtjylland | 91 |
| 5 | Johanna Westberg | Nykøbing Falster | 76 |
| 6 | Ana Gros | Metz Handball | 74 |
| 7 | Milena Raičević | ŽRK Budućnost | 72 |
| 8 | Anita Görbicz | Győri Audi ETO KC | 70 |
| 9 | Andrea Lekić | HC Vardar | 69 |
| 10 | Nerea Pena | FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria | 66 |
| 10 | Anna Vyakhireva | Rostov-Don | 66 |
| 10 | Isabelle Gulldén | CSM București | 66 |