Ciudad Real win

The Spanish side were trailing 13-12 at half-time in Germany in front of home crowd of over 10,000 spectators at the Color Line Arena, but the defending champions managed to overturn the deficit.

If Hamburg can win the second leg and progress, they set up an all-German final, with THW Kiel and Rhein-Neckar Loewen contesting the other semi-final, the first leg of which takes place on Sunday.

Should Ciudad Real and Kiel both progress they will set up a repeat of last year's final.

The second legs are scheduled for April 30 and May 2.