Record
european cup winner Borussia Duesseldorf from Germany and Austria´s
SVS Niederoesterreich moved to the finals of the Liebherr European
Champions League and will compete for the title on 20th of March
and the 3rd of April. By this duel like in the European League
for national squads teams from Germany and Austria reached the
deciding stage.
On
the sixth and last round of the preliminaries Duesseldorf and
Niederoesterreich used their good positions as leaders of their
groups and advanced to the finals by victories in their own.
In group A the Austrians celebrated the necessarily success
to secure the final berth by winning 3-1 at defending champion
of France´s Caen TTC. After this neither Germany´s
TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen nor Belgium´s Royal Villette
Charleroi had any chance for becoming the final number one.
So Ochsenhausen´s 1-3 defeat versus Charleroi had only
almost statistical meaning.
The
same happened in group B - but with a happy end for the German
club. Duesseldorf defendend its leading position by winning
3-0 versus STK "Unirea" Uzdin, leaving Kalmar BTK
without any possibility to take the first place already before
their match at Levallois. So the Swedish team lost finally 2-3
in France.
But
Kalmar´s second place was perfect before this too, so
they qualified for the world league as like as Charleroi in
group A. Niederoesterreich and Duesseldorf will start at the
tournament in Asia too. Ochsenhausen and Levallois as the third
ranked teams have to hope for the expected extension of the
world league from eight to twelve clubs.
Also
the relegation seems to be open. Formally Caen and Uzdin, both
at the bottom of the tables, have to leave the Liebherr European
Champions League. But Ochsenhausen as the lower ranked team
of the two german clubs still must fear relegation, because
of the promotion of the German champion of TTC Zugbrueke Grenzau.
But as like as in the world league there is an extension planned
for the Liebherr European Champions League too, so that there´s
a possibility for three clubs out of one nation.
3.900
spectators in the last four matches of the preliminaries were
again a good result, although there were two matches without
meaning for the race to the finals. This number underlines the
high standard of play in the Liebherr European Champions League.
In
the finals Niederoesterreich will be the hosting club at the
20th of March in Austria. The winner will be determined on the
3rd of April in Duesseldorf.
Final rounds :
20.03.2000,
19.00 h CET SVS Niederösterreich - Borussia Düsseldorf
03.04.2000, 19.30 h CET Borussia Düsseldorf - SVS Niederösterreich
Group
A - Round 1
03.-06.09.1999
Charleroi
- Ochsenhausen 2-3
Niederosterreich - Caen 3-1
Group
B - Round 1
03.-06.09.1999
Uzdin
- Dusseldorf 0-3
Kalmar - Levallois 3-0
Group
A - Round 2
08.-11.10.1999
Caen
- Charleroi 3-1
Ochsenhausen - Niederosterreich 3-2
Group
B - Round 2
08.-11.10.1999
Dusseldorf - Kalmar 1-3
Levallois - Uzdin 3-0
Group
A - Round 3
05.-08.11.1999
Charleroi
- Niederosterreich 3-0
Caen - Ochsenhausen 3-2
Group
B - Round 3
05.-08.11.1999
Dusseldorf - Levallois 3-1
Udzin - Kalmar 2-3
Group
A - Round 4
26.-29.11.1999
Niederosterreich
- Charleroi 3-2
Ochsenhausen - Caen 3-1
Group
B - Round 4
26.-29.11.1999
Levallois
- Dusseldorf 0-3
Kalmar - Uzdin 3-2
Group
A - Round 5
07.-10.01.2000
Charleroi
- Caen 3-0
Niederosterreich - Ochsenhausen 3-0
Group
B - Round 5
07.-10.01.2000
Kalmar
- Dilsseldorf 1-3
Uzdin - Levallois 0-3
Group
A Round 6
28.-31.01.2000
Ochsenhausen
- Charleroi 1-3
Caen - Niederosterreich 1-3
Group
B - Round 6
28.-31.01.2000
Dilsseldorf - Uzdin 3-0
Levallois - Kalmar 3-2
