In the third round of the EHF Champions League, Győri Audi ETO KC hosted the French team of Metz in Audi Aréna Győr. In the first half the French unforgivingly punished every mistake of Győr. They scored easy goals and and built up a confident lead until the break. Our team could not turn the game around in the second half, ultimately suffering a 24 – 28-defeat.

Head coach Ambros Martín started the match with the line-up of Schatzl, Kristiansen, Nze Minko, Blohm, Ryu, Győri-Lukács and Toft in the goal. The first goal came from Blohm, the vistors responded immediately (1 – 1). At the 13-minute mark Metz was leading by three (6 – 9). They punished us with a goal after every mistake made in attack, so Ambros Martín called for a timeout. However, the difference between the two teams increased further in the last ten minutes (7 – 12). At the very end of the first half Győr could come closer with a last-second goal from Anne Mette Hansen (18 – 14).

Silje Solberg started in the goal in the second half, who started saving straightaway, but we couldn’t close up due to the mistakes in our attack (15 – 22). In the 45th minute we could cut from their lead (19 – 24), but in the last ten minutes Metz was leading again with eight goals (19 – 27). Despite fighting throughout the evening, our team was only capable of producing occasional flashes during the game. Turning the match around was not possible, despite coming closer in the last minutes, Győri Audi ETO KC suffered a 28 - 24 defeat. This was the first time the team was beaten in the EHF Champions League in Audi Aréna Győr since 25th October 2015.

Ambros Martín: „Metz played better than us from the very first minute. I can fairly say that this was one of our worst performances ever at home. I don’t have an explanation for this kind of play. We made a lot of mistakes both individually and as a team, I can only mention our fighting spirit as a positive. I am thankful to our fans who cheered for us throughout. This defeat has to make us better and stronger.

Anne Mette Hansen: „We were suffering throughout the match, mainly trying to find our rhythm in attack. The opponent severely punished us for our mistakes. Naturally, I am disappointed, we have to learn from this game.