Romanian handball is experiencing a rare moment, with excellent results at club level. Because we have three teams, two for girls and one for boys, in the Final Four of the European competitions.
Cristina Neagu scored 9 goals in the round match with Metz. PHOTO: The Truth Archive
Paradoxically, right now, CSM Bucharest, the flagship team in Romanian handball, with the best player of the last many years in the team, we are talking about Cristina Neagu (35 years old), has given her away. One more time! Having reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the 9th time in a row, the team prepared by Adrian Vasile (41 years old) lost, at home, in the first leg against Metz: 24-27.
So, the “tigresses” now risk the 6th elimination in a row in the League quarterfinals, if the handicap in the round is not repaired, on Saturday, by a stellar performance on Metz's field. Apparently, we are talking about an impossible mission, considering that the formation of the Hexagon is unbeaten for nine matches.
On the other hand, Metz was in the center of attention last year, in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, after an incredible double. Then, the French destroyed Ferencvaros, away, score 32-26. After such a success, with a 6 goal difference, Metz seemed to have qualified for the Final Four. It's just that, in return, it turned out to be a fabulous match. Won by Ferencvaros by 7 goals difference: 33-26! And it was the Hungarian team that advanced to the Final Four, where they later lost the match for the trophy to Vipers (Norway).
“You can't rely on Neagu indefinitely”
The return with Metz is a decisive match, first of all, for coach Adrian Vasile. The CSM club announced, since last year, that his remaining in office is conditional on the team's entry into the Final Four. Appointed coach at CSM since 2019, Adrian Vasile has missed this goal every time.
And Vasile Stîngă is of the opinion that, in the event of an elimination with Metz, CSM will need some drastic measures: “If the qualification is missed once more in the quarters, an analysis will be needed at the CSM. And the adoption of some measures. A rebuild will definitely be needed. Especially since you can't rely on Cristina Neagu indefinitely“.
It should be noted that CSM Bucharest won the Champions League trophy only once, in the 2015-2016 season, right before the arrival of Cristina Neagu in the team. Since it signed with the formation financed by the City Hall of the Capital, CSM has two rankings in 3rd place in the Champions League, in 2017 and 2018.
Women's Champions League quarterfinals, second leg
Saturday
Metz – CSM Bucharest (27-24 in the round)
17.00, Digi Sport 1, Orange Sport 1, Prima Sport 2
Gyor – Vipers (30-23 in the round)
19.00, not televised live, but replayed from 21.30, Digi Sport 4
Sunday
Odense – Bietigheim (26-30 in the round)
15.00, Digi Sport 4
Esbjerg – Ferencvaros (26-25 in the round)
17.00, not televised live, but recorded, from 18.00, Digi Sport 3
Where did the “tigresses” from CSM stop in the last years in the League
Season Phase reached Last opponent
2022-2023 Quarter Vipers
2021-2022 Quarters Esbjerg
2020-2021 CSKA Moscow Quarters
2019-2020 Gyor Quarters*
2018-2019 Metz quarters
2017-2018 Final Four Rostov-Don**
*The double with Gyor was canceled due to the pandemic.
**CSM won the small final, capturing the bronze medals.
