2019–20 EHF Cup group stage explained

See main article: 2019–20 EHF Cup. This article describes the group stage of the 2019–20 EHF Cup, a men's handball competition.^{[1] [2]}

Draw

The 16 teams allocated into four pots will be drawn into four groups of four teams.^[3] The draw seeding pots were composed as follows:^[4]

width=25%	Pot 1	width=25%	Pot 2	width=25%	Pot 3	width=25%	Pot 4
PAUC Handball SC Magdeburg Rhein-Neckar Löwen MT Melsungen	Bjerringbro-Silkeborg Liberbank Cuenca HBC Nantes Grundfos Tatabánya KC	USAM Nîmes Gard Füchse Berlin Gwardia Opole RK Gorenje Velenje	TTH Holstebro CB Ademar León BM Logroño La Rioja SL Benfica

The draw of the EHF Cup group stage took place on Thursday, 28 November 2019.^[5]

Format

In each group, teams will play against each other in a double round-robin format, with home and away matches. After completion of the group stage matches, the top teams and the best three second-placed teams advance to the Quarter-finals. Teams are not able to face opponents from the same country in the group.

Tiebreakers

In the group stage, teams will be ranked according to points (2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). After completion of the group stage, if two or more teams had scored the same number of points, the ranking will be determined as follows:

1. Highest number of points in matches between the teams directly involved;
2. Superior goal difference in matches between the teams directly involved;
3. Highest number of goals scored in matches between the teams directly involved (or in the away match in case of a two-team tie);
4. Superior goal difference in all matches of the group;
5. Highest number of plus goals in all matches of the group;

If the ranking of one of these teams is determined, the above criteria are consecutively followed until the ranking of all teams is determined. If no ranking can be determined, a decision shall be obtained by EHF through drawing of lots.

Groups

The matchdays will be 8–9 February, 15–16 February, 22–23 February, 29 February–1 March, 21–22 March and 28–29 March 2020.

The European Handball Federation announced on 13 March 2020, that the EHF Cup group stage matches round 5 and 6 (21 to 22 and 28 to 29 March) matches will not be held as scheduled due to the ongoing developments in the spread of COVID-19 across Europe.^[6] On 25 March, the EHF announced that no matches will be played before June due to the coronavirus pandemic.^[7] On 24 April 2020 the matches were cancelled.^[8]

Group A

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Group B

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Group C

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Group D

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External links

• EHF Cup (official website)

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2019–2020 Men's EHF Cup Group phase. EHF. 2019-07-12. 2019-07-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20190712000632/http://www.eurohandball.com/ec/00-03/ehfc/men/2019-20/round/4/Group+Phase. dead.
2. Web site: European club handball will have a new look from the 2020/21 season. EHF Office.
3. Web site: Season overview. European Handball Federation. 9 July 2019.
4. Web site: EHF Cup Finals hosts in Pot 3 before the group phase draw. EHF European cup. 25 November 2019.
5. Web site: Füchse face tough road to home finals. 28 November 2019.
6. Web site: Information on EHF competition matches in March and April. 13 March 2020. eurohandball.com. 13 March 2020. 30 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200330173533/http://www.eurohandball.com/article/34361. dead.
7. Web site: EHF presents feasibility study for potential re-start of European handball. 25 March 2020. eurohandball.com.
8. Web site: Information on the future of the European handball season 2019/20. 24 April 2020. eurohandball.com.