The Zebras are in the group C, together with Barcelona, Drammen from Norway and Izmir from Turkey or Skopje from Macedonia. "I don´t think that Skopje will lose against Izmir", said Niko. "Drammen are very experienced", he added. The most important matches of the group will be, no doubt, against Barcelona. The first two teams in ever group will qualify for the main round, who will start in February 2009, Kiel and the Spanish squad being favourites to come further. But it will mean a big advantage for the German side to win both games against the Spaniards. That´s because they will took in the main round the points against Barcelona and this fact can be decisive for the qualification in the quater final.
Group A :
RK Celje (SLO)
Chambery Savoie HB (FRA)
Hammarby IF (SWE)
Winner Kaunas (LTU) - Brest (BLR)
Group B :
Ciudad Real (ESP)
GOG Gudme Svendborg TGI (DEN)
RK Bosna Sarajevo (BIH)
Winner Doukas Athen (GRE) - Serviti (EST)
Group C :
THW Kiel (GER)
FC Barcelona (ESP)
Drammen HK (NOR)
Winner Izmir (TUR) - Skopje (MKD)
Group D :
FC Kopenhagen (DEN)
HSV Hamburg (GER)
Tatran Presov (SVK)
Winner Red Star Belgrad (SRB) - Casarano (ITA)
Group E :
Chehovski Medvedi Moskow (RUS)
RK Koper (SLO)
Portland San Antonio (ESP)
Winner Steaua Bucharest (ROU) - Sasja (BEL)
Group F :
KC Veszprem (HUN)
SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)
HC ZTR Zaporozhye (UKR)
Winner Cyprus (CYP) - Haukar Hafnarfjördur (ISL)
Group G :
Montpellier HB (FRA)
Ademar Leon (ESP)
Amicitia Zürich (SUI)
Winner Lisbon (POR) - Bregenz (AUT)
Group H :
RK Zagreb (CRO)
Pick Szeged (HUN)
Wisla Plock (POL)
Winner Dudelange (LUX) - Rhein-Neckar Löwen (GER)
