Muratovic saves Valladolid

The Austrian side had lost their previous three Group H matches, while the Spaniards came into the game with a 100 % record, but if it wasn't for 11 goals from summer signing Alen Muratovic, then Valladolid would have fallen to an embarrassing defeat.

Famed European Cup outfit FC Barcelona also had a tough time of things on the road, as their perfect record looked in danger for a while before they finally secured a 34-31 victory in Sweden over Hammarby in Group G .

One Spanish side who did look good however, were Ciudad Real, with nine goals from Croatian international Mirza Dzomba helping the defending champions to a 37-30 Group B away victory over Kadetten Schauffhausen.

Also in that group there was a massively important win for Bulgarian side SC Pick Szeged, as they beat Belarus side Brest HC Meshov to take a firm grip of second place in the group.

In Group A, meanwhile, Hungary's MKB Veszprem look a good bet to qualify after defeating MSK Povazska 46-30 in Slovakia.

German sides currently enjoy a 100% record in this year's competition, and that record was maintained by VfL Gummersbach in Group F as 11 Daniel Barcisse goals helped them to squeeze out a 37-35 victory in Norway over Sandefjord.

Elsewhere, in Group D, Chehovskie Medvedi defeated RK Zagreb 29-24, and in Group H Montpellier earned a crucial 27-24 away victory over HC Portovik Yuzhny.