Viborg HK´s Swedish coach Tomas Ryde is in no doubt, what will be the deciding factor in the first leg of the women's Champions League semi-finals, when his team is playing away against Spanish Astroc Sagunto on Saturday afternoon.

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Viborg HK´s Swedish coach Tomas Ryde is in no doubt, what will be the deciding factor in the first leg of the women's Champions League semi-finals, when his team is playing away against Spanish Astroc Sagunto on Saturday afternoon.

"Such deciding matches, like the one we are going to play in Valencia Saturday, will always be very defence-oriented. The defence has therefore taken up a lot of time in our training lately" Thomas Ryde said.

"We also have to be very precise in our attacking play, though. Astroc Sagunto´s strongest weapon is obviously their 3-2-1 defence, where they always try to take the initiative and concur the ball - and their counter-attacks are extremely dangerous!" added the Viborg coach.

Only one problem

Ryde can almost send his strongest possible team into the match in Spain. Left back and defence expert Rikke Skov has just returned to the team after having been sidelined for almost the entire season by an injury. Furthermore, Dutch national team player Olga Assink is also rapidly approaching her best shape, also after a very long injury break.

This means that Tomas Ryde has two extremely good pivots at his disposal. Apart from Assink, the team´s other line player, Lene Lund Nielsen was recently awarded Danish national team player of the year and is probably better than ever at the moment.

Ryde´s and Viborg´s only problem is the fact that left back Lene Thomsen, who joined the club from KIF Kolding, during the winter break, is out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. She will undoubtedly be missed in the defence.

New player for Sagunto

Astroc Sagunto has just been reinforced by Danish right winger Lene Tobiasen, who has joined from FC København. Viborg will not have to worry about her, though, as she is not allowed to play European matches for her new team until next season.

"I have heard a lot of possitive things about Astroc coach Christina Mayo. I also know about her temperament of course, but then again, I am probably the kind of player, who needs to be shouted at once in a while!" said Lene Tobiasen with a smile when explaining, why she has moved to Spain.

Text: Peter Bruun