2015–16 EHF Champions League#Group C

Twenty-seven teams were directly qualified for the group stage.{{cite news|url=http://www.ehfcl.com/men/2015-16/article/22790/VELUX+EHF+Champions+League+2015%2F16+line-up+confirmed|title=VELUX EHF Champions League 2015/16 line-up confirmed|website=EHF Champions League 2015/16|publisher=EHF|date=20 June 2015|access-date=2 October 2015}}

• ^{TH = Title holders}

In March 2014, EHF introduced a new competition format.{{cite news|url=http://www.eurohandball.com/article/018817/EHF+Executive+meets+in+Vienna|title=EHF Executive meets in Vienna|website=EHF Champions League 2015/16|publisher=EHF|date=21 March 2014|access-date=2 October 2015|archive-date=20 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420223333/http://eurohandball.com/article/018817/EHF+Executive+meets+in+Vienna|url-status=dead}}

Twenty-eight teams participated in the competition, divided in four groups. Groups A and B played with eight teams each, in a round robin, home and away format. The top team in each group qualified directly for the quarter-finals, the bottom two in each group dropped out of the competition and the remaining 10 teams qualified for the first knock-out phase.

In groups C and D, six teams played in each group in a round robin format, playing both home and away. The top two teams in each group then met in a 'semi-final' play-off, with the two winners going through to the first knock-out phase. The remaining teams dropped out of the competition.

;Knock-out Phase 1 (Last 12)

12 teams played home and away in the first knock-out phase, with the 10 teams qualified from groups A and B and the two teams qualified from groups C and D.

;Knock-out Phase 2 (Quarterfinals)

The six winners of the matches in the first knock-out phase joined with the winners of groups A and B to play home and away for the right to play in the VELUX EHF FINAL4.

;Final four

The culmination of the season, the VELUX EHF FINAL4, with the four top teams from the competition competing for the title.

All draws held at the European Handball Federation headquarters in Vienna, Austria.{{cite news|url=http://www.ehfcl.com/2015-16/article/22771/Vienna+city+centre+to+host+first+draw+of+new+season|title=Vienna city centre to host first draw of new season|website=EHF Champions League 2015/16|publisher=EHF|date=16 June 2015|access-date=2 October 2015}}

There was no draw held. The four teams played a semifinal and final to determine the last participant. Matches were played on 5 and 6 September 2015.{{cite news|url=http://www.ehfcl.com/men/2015-16/article/22797/Semi-final+pairings+for+the+qualification+tournament+set|title=Semi-final pairings for the qualification tournament set|website=EHF Champions League 2015/16|publisher=EHF|date=23 June 2015|access-date=2 October 2015}} RK Banja Luka organized the tournament.{{cite news|url=http://www.ehfcl.com/men/2015-16/article/23162/Qualification+tournament+to+be+played+in+Banja+Luka|title=Qualification tournament to be played in Banja Luka|website=EHF Champions League 2015/16|publisher=EHF|date=29 July 2015|access-date=2 October 2015}}

{{#invoke:RoundN|N4

|widescore=yes|bold_winner=high

|3rdplace=yes

| RD1=Semifinals

| RD2=Final

| Consol=Third place

|5 September 2015|{{flagicon|NOR}} Elverum Håndball|35|{{flagicon|NED}} Limburg Lions|30

|5 September 2015|{{flagicon|AUT}} Alpla HC Hard|35|{{flagicon|BIH}} RK Banja Luka|33

|6 September 2015|{{flagicon|NOR}} Elverum Håndball|28|{{flagicon|AUT}} Alpla HC Hard|25

|6 September 2015|{{flagicon|NED}} Limburg Lions|33|{{flagicon|BIH}} RK Banja Luka|29

}}

All times are local (UTC+2).

{{handballbox

|date= 5 September 2015

|time= 17:30

|team1= Elverum Håndball {{flagicon|NOR}}

|score= 35–30

|team2= {{flagicon|NED}} Limburg Lions

|report= [http://www.ehfcl.com/en/men/matches/201611020101001 Report]

|goals1= Burud 9

|goals2= Baart, Steins 7

|HT= 14–15

|twomin1= 3

|yellow1= 3

|red1=

|twomin2= 4

|yellow2= 3

|red2=

|stadium= Sportska dvorana Borik, Banja Luka

|attendance= 500

|referee= Gasmi, Gasmi

|refnat= FRA

}}

----

{{handballbox

|date= 5 September 2015

|time= 20:00

|team1= Alpla HC Hard {{flagicon|AUT}}

|score= 35–33

|team2= {{flagicon|BIH}} RK Banja Luka

|report= [http://www.ehfcl.com/en/men/matches/201611020101002 Report]

|goals1= Zeiner 8

|goals2= Trivundža 13

|HT= 17–14

|twomin1= 7

|yellow1= 3

|red1= 1

|twomin2= 11

|yellow2= 3

|red2= 1

|stadium= Sportska dvorana Borik, Banja Luka

|attendance= 3,500

|referee= Baranowski, Lemanowicz

|refnat= POL

}}

{{handballbox

|date= 6 September 2015

|time= 17:30

|team1= Limburg Lions {{flagicon|NED}}

|score= 33–29

|team2= {{flagicon|BIH}} RK Banja Luka

|report= [http://www.ehfcl.com/en/men/matches/201611020101003 Report]

|goals1= Heijnen 7

|goals2= Janković 8

|HT= 16–14

|twomin1= 5

|yellow1= 3

|red1=

|twomin2= 3

|yellow2= 3

|red2=

|stadium= Sportska dvorana Borik, Banja Luka

|attendance= 400

|referee= Gasmi, Gasmi

|refnat= FRA

}}

{{handballbox

|date= 6 September 2015

|time= 20:00

|team1= Elverum Håndball {{flagicon|NOR}}

|score= 28–25

|team2= {{flagicon|AUT}} Alpla HC Hard

|report= [http://www.ehfcl.com/en/men/matches/201611020101004 Report]

|goals1= Stegavik 10

|goals2= Schlinger 8

|HT= 15–11

|twomin1= 4

|yellow1= 3

|red1=

|twomin2= 4

|yellow2= 2

|red2=

|stadium= Sportska dvorana Borik, Banja Luka

|attendance= 400

|referee= Baranowski, Lemanowicz

|refnat= POL

}}

{{Location map+|Europe|width=500|float=right|caption=Location of teams of the 2014–15 EHF Champions League group stage.
8px Red: Group A; 8px Blue: Group B; 8px Green: Group C; 8px Yellow: Group D.

|places=

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=54.325278|long=10.140556|label=Kiel|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=49.488889|long=8.469167 |label=RN Löwen|position=top|mark=Blue_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=54.781944|long=9.436667 |label=Flensburg|position=left}}

{{location map~|Europe|lat=41.383333|long=2.183333 |label=Barcelona|position=bottom|mark=Blue_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=42.465 |long=-2.445556|label=Logroño|position=bottom|mark=Green_pog.svg}}

{{location map~|Europe|lat=48.835278|long=2.256111 |label=PSG|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=43.6119 |long=3.8772 |label=Montpellier|position=top|mark=Blue_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=47.092778|long=17.913611|label=Veszprém|position=top}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=46.255 |long=20.145 |label=Szeged|mark=Blue_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=55.491667|long=9.5 |label=KIF|mark=Blue_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=55.95 |long=8.5 |label=Skjern|position=left|mark=Yellow_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=46.235833|long=15.2675 |label=Celje|position=left}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=50.883333|long=20.616667|label=Kielce|position=left|mark=Blue_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=52.55 |long=19.7 |label=Płock|position=top}}

{{location map~|Europe|lat=42.07 |long=21.533333|label=Vardar|position=top|mark=Blue_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=41.80 |long=21.533333|label=Metalurg|position=bottom|mark=Yellow_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=56.029444|long=14.156667|label=Kristianstad|mark=Blue_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=52.133333|long=23.666667|label=Brest|mark=Green_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=47.7 |long=8.633333 |label=Kadetten|position=left|mark=Yellow_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=47.666667|long=23.583333|label=Minaur|mark=Yellow_pog.svg}}

{{location map~|Europe|lat=45.8167 |long=15.9833 |label=Zagreb|position=bottom}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=41.162142|long=-8.621953|label=Porto|position=bottom|mark=Green_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=55.15 |long=37.45 |label=Chekhov|mark=Green_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=47.833333|long=35.166667|label=Motor|position=left|mark=Yellow_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=45.25 |long=19.85 |label=Vojvodina|mark=Green_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=49.001667|long=21.239444|label=Tatran|position=right|mark=Green_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=60.9275 |long=11.715278|label=Elverum|mark=Yellow_pog.svg}}

{{Location map~|Europe|lat=41.013611|long=28.955 |label=Beşiktaş}}

}}

{{Main|2015–16 EHF Champions League group stage}}

The draw for the group stage was held on 26 June 2015, 20:00 CEST, in the Vienna city centre.{{cite news|url=http://www.ehfcl.com/men/2015-16/article/22823/Barcelona+in+group+with+Kielce%2C+Kiel+with+Veszprem+again|title=Barcelona in group with Kielce, Kiel with Veszprem again|website=EHF Champions League 2015/16|publisher=EHF|date=26 June 2015|access-date=28 September 2015}} The 28 teams were drawn into four groups, two containing eight teams (Groups A and B) and two containing six teams (Groups C and D). The only restriction was that teams from the same national association could not face each other in the same group. Since Germany qualified three teams, the lowest seeded side (Flensburg-Handewitt) had necessarily to be drawn with one of the other two.{{cite news|url=http://www.ehfcl.com/men/2015-16/article/22802/Seedings+for+the+Group+Phase+draw+released|title=Seedings for the Group Phase draw released|website=EHF Champions League 2015/16|publisher=EHF|date=24 June 2015|access-date=27 September 2015}}

In each group, teams played against each other in a double round-robin format, with home and away matches. The matchdays are 16–20 September, 23–27 September, 30 September–4 October, 7–11 October, 14–18 October, 21–25 October, 11–15 November, 18–22 November, 25–29 November and 2–6 December 2015. For Groups A and B, additional matchdays include 10–14 February, 17–21 February, 24–28 February and 2–6 March 2016.{{cite web|title=VELUX EHF Champions League – Season 2015/16 playing system and schedule|url=http://cms.eurohandball.com/PortalData/1/Resources/2_cl/3_download_pdf/VCL_Playing_System_2015-16_June_15(1).pdf|website=EHF Champions League 2015/16|publisher=EHF|access-date=27 September 2015|format=PDF}}

After completion of the group stage matches, the teams advancing to the knockout stage were determined in the following manner:

• Groups A and B – the top team qualified directly for the quarter-finals, and the five teams ranked 2nd–6th advanced to the first knockout round.
• Groups C and D – the top two teams from both groups contested a playoff to determine the last two sides joining the 10 teams from Groups A and B in the first knockout round.

{{:2015–16 EHF Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group A|show_matches=yes}}

{{:2015–16 EHF Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group B|show_matches=yes}}

{{:2015–16 EHF Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group C|show_matches=yes}}

{{:2015–16 EHF Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Group D|show_matches=yes}}

{{:2015–16 EHF Champions League group stage|transcludesection=Playoffs}}

{{main|2015–16 EHF Champions League knockout stage}}

The first-place team from the preliminary groups A and B advanced to the quarterfinals, while the second through sixth place teams advanced to the round 16 alongside the playoff winners.

{{#lst:2015–16 EHF Champions League knockout stage|Round of 16}}

{{#lst:2015–16 EHF Champions League knockout stage|Quarterfinals}}

File:Draw Event Velux EFH Final Four 2016-0009.jpg

{{#lst:2015–16 EHF Champions League knockout stage|Bracket}}

{{#lst:2015–16 EHF Champions League knockout stage|Final}}

Statistics exclude qualifying rounds.{{Cite web|title=Men's EHF Champions League 2015/16 – Scorers|url=http://www.ehfcl.com/men/2015-16/scorers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612134823/http://www.ehfcl.com/men/2015-16/scorers/ |archive-date=June 12, 2016|website=EHF Champions League 2015/16|publisher=European Handball Federation (EHF)|access-date=8 May 2016}}

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

The All-star team of the Champions League 2015/16:{{cite web|url=http://www.ehfcl.com/men/2015-16/article/25976/All-star+team+fan+vote+soars+to+new+heights+as+over+80%2C000+take+part|title= All-star team fan vote soars to new heights as over 80,000 take part|date=27 May 2015|work=ehfcl.com}}

{{Col-2}}

{{Col-end}}

• 2015–16 EHF Cup
• 2015–16 EHF Challenge Cup

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.ehfcl.com/men/2015-16 Official website]

{{EHF Champions League seasons}}

{{2015–16 in European handball (EHF)}}

{{2015–16 European club competitions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2015-16 EHF Champions League}}

Category:EHF Champions League seasons

EHF Champions League

EHF Champions League