Late Sunday afternoon Danish champions Viborg will be starting their third attempt to win the Women's Champions League, when the first leg of this years' finals between Krim Ljubljana and Viborg take place in the Tivoli Hall of Ljubljana...

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Late Sunday afternoon Danish champions Viborg will be starting their third attempt to win the Women’s Champions League, when the first leg of this years’ finals between Krim Ljubljana and Viborg take place in the Tivoli Hall of Ljubljana.

Viborg are in their third Champions League final in history - and on the two previous occasions - against Mar Valencia in 1997 and against this year´s opponent Krim in 2001 - Viborg lost on aggregate both times.

It therefore comes as no surprise that the Danes are eager to make it in their third attempt and lift the trophy, when the second leg has been played in Denmark next Saturday.

Well-known opponent
It will be two teams, who know each other well, who meet in this year´s finals - and not only from the finals five years ago. In the group stage in this year´s tournament Krim and Viborg were in the same group, and in the group matches back in January and February, Krim won both meetings clearly - 34:28 in Viborg and 26:21 at home.

However, these results do not worry Viborg coach Tomas Ryde. "We play considerably better at the moment, than we did back then, while it is difficult to judge, if Krim is stronger or weaker now, than they were then. If we can find good solutions against their aggressive and physically strong defence, I think we have a very good chance of winning, and we go for a win in Ljubljana, too!" Tomas Ryde told eurohandball.com.

Optimistic pivot
Pivot and Danish national team player Lene Lund Nielsen - who was recently awarded National Team Player of the Year in Denmark - is also very optimistic about her team’s chances, only a week after winning the Danish championship.

"Winning the Danish championship meant a lot to us. We are all full of self-confidence right now, and eager to take on Krim. We also got a lot of big-match experience from the three equal finals against Slagelse, where we were lying behind several times. Our ability to handle such situations will undoubtedly come in useful against Krim" said Lene Lund Nielsen.

Viborg will be close to their strongest formation in Ljubljana on Sunday. Only left back court player and defence specialist Lene Thomsen is injured.

Text: Peter Bruun