The first and second in the groups qualify directly for the quarter-finals, while the rest have to fight for the round of 16 places.
On Monday night, CSKA beat Croatian Podravka Vegeta for the second time in two days and secured one of the direct places.
- It will not be an easy quarterfinal.
That's how it is.
But it is great that we do not have to play the round of 16, says Sabina Jacobsen.
In addition to a usually solid defensive effort, Jacobsen accounted for two goals when her team won 36-20.
- We have had a tough game schedule and have a tough game schedule ahead of us.
We were tired in the end but so were they.
In the end, we could run home the match, she says.
CSKA Moscow closed down its handball business in 2001 and re-emerged as a handball club in 2019. In two years, they have managed to attract several Russian national team stars, secured a third place in the league and have now reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
- We have still managed to get a team together in two years.
We have had some injuries to important players and still have but had a large squad when we started this summer.
We are incredibly skilled individually in the attack but we raise it a level when we really play together, then we are ruggedly good!
Poked out of the EC squad
Jacobsen returned last autumn from a knee injury and aimed for a place in the Swedish European Championship squad but was left out.
She has apparently responded to the petting in the best possible way and plays regularly in the Russian league second.
How do you see your future in the national team?
- I actually do not really know.
It depends a little on how the body feels simply.
Right now I'm just concentrating on being able to play and be injury free quite simply.
How does the body feel now then?
- Right now it feels good, we have a very tight game program but right now I can be part of everything I play every match so it feels good.