In the Champions League, CSM Bucharest solved a formality, namely qualification in the quarters, after the return with Krim Ljubljana (Slovenia). We are talking about a formality, not to minimize the performance achieved by Neagu and her colleagues, but because, in this double, the clearly superior “Tigers” clarified things even after the away game. Won 30-24. The score was repeated in the return, hosted, on Sunday, by the Sala Polivalentă in the capital. With Neagu in the foreground, this being the best scorer of the CSM with seven goals.
Cristina Neagu earns over 20,000 euros per month at CSM Bucharest. PHOTO: The Truth Archive
So, the formation financed by the Capital City Hall ticked off a remarkable performance: the 9th consecutive presence in the quarterfinals of the Champions League! The problem is that, in recent years, the CSM has “blocked” in this phase. Four times defeated on the field and once by the pandemic aberrations that stopped performance sports in a year, 2020, truly black for human history.
Now, between CSM and the much-desired qualification to the Final Four, an objective that depends on the coach Adrian Vasile remaining on the bench, stands Metz. That is, a formidable formation, far above Krim. Moreover, in order to realize how different the following double will be for the CSM, it is enough to review four of the results of the French women in the group phase:
*Metz – Rapid 33-22
* Crimea – Metz 22-28
*Metz – Krim 40-31
*Fast – Metz 31-34
So, as can be seen, the future opponent of the CSM of “sweep” with two teams that Bucharest also played against this season, in the Champions League and in the Flower League. With the clarification that, if CSM won in both legs with Krim, on the other hand, in the championship, it lost the last derby with Rapid, score 28-30, on February 7.
Beyond the statistics, it is clear that this confrontation in the League quarters will be on a knife edge. In Romania, CSM is in first place in the Florilor League, with a 6-point lead over Rapid. In the first French league, Metz is second in a much tighter competition, two points behind the leader Brest.
Even if the current double starts from the score of 5-3 for the French team, CSM has reasons for optimism. Because the last time they reached the Final Four of the Champions League, six years ago, they even got past Metz in the quarters, 54-48 on aggregate.
Cristina Neagu (CSM Bucharest): I believe in our chance with Metz. We're not making a wedding out of this qualification, we've got a month left until the quarters. No one is invincible and I think from now on we can talk about the Final Four.
Historic premiere for Romania
Two of our less publicized teams, Gloria Bistrița and Dunărea Brăila, achieved a historic performance over the weekend for Romanian handball. Concretely, it is the first time that we have two clubs in the Final Four of the European League. Which is the second continental competition and which we have won four times, the last time in 2018.
The draw for the semi-final matches will take place today and, considering the record of our representatives in this edition, we can dream of winning the trophy. Specifically, Gloria Bistrita, trained by coach Florentin Pera, advanced to the Final Four without defeat! Bazaliu and her teammates registered five wins and a draw in the groups, after which they eliminated Motherson Mosonmagyaróvár (Hungary) with a double victory in the quarters: 32-30 away and 27-25 at home.
Dunărea Brăila, coached by Dane Jan Leslie, had five wins and one loss in the group stage. In the quarters, Udriștiioiu and company got past Podravka Vegeta (Croatia), winning both legs: 32-26 away and 26-25 at home.
