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After an impressive four-game winning streak in the knockout rounds against Klaipeda Dragunas in the second round and West Wien in the third, HC Alkaloid has earned a spot in the Round of 16 of the EHF European Cup.

In the draw for this stage, HC Alkaloid has been paired with Italy’s SSV Brixen. The two-leg encounter, scheduled for February, will determine which team advances to the EHF European Cup quarterfinals.

Our next opponent has over 50 years of history in handball, with notable achievements including two Italian Serie A championship titles and three Italian Cup victories. On the European stage, they have participated 11 times including the current season, with their highlight being a semi-final appearance in the Challenge Cup during the 2000/2001 season.

Last season, Brixen reached the EHF Cup Round of 32 but fell to eventual finalist Olympiacos in back-to-back matches in Athens.

The team includes three foreign players and three athletes with dual citizenship: Ukrainian goalkeeper Maksym Voliuvach, Argentinian Tomas Valentin Canete, and Brazilian back Paulo Vinicius de Oliveira Candido. Pivot Andrea Basic also holds Croatian citizenship, while the duo Endrit and Ardian Iballi also hold Kosovan citizenships.

The team is led by head coach Rudolf Neuner, who stepped in this season to replace Serbian coach Davor Cutura.

Two Brixen players, left wing Stefano Arcieri and pivot Endrit Iballi, are on the extended roster for Italy’s senior national team, while goalkeeper Alessandro Lubinati is part of the junior team.

This season, SSV Brixen eliminated H71 from the Faroe Islands in the second round. In the third round, they pulled off an upset against higher-ranked Czech side Lovosice in two matches played in the Czech Republic.

The Round of 16 matches are set for February 15/16 and 22/23. HC Alkaloid will play the first leg away.