The group stage of the Handball Champions League has come to an end, and the teams that advanced to the next round now have a three-week break to prepare for their upcoming matches. This season has been particularly exciting, with high-quality games that have kept fans and spectators engaged. Now comes the crucial stage, where only the best-prepared teams will be able to sustain their form and fight for the Champions League trophy.
This is the 65th edition of the tournament, which began back in September and will conclude at the end of June, making it a nine-month-long season for the competing handball players. Defending champions Barcelona are once again among the favorites, and given their performances this season, it would be no surprise if they managed to retain the trophy. Fans and bettors following the tournament via Merkur XTip will closely monitor the upcoming matchups, as the most thrilling part of the season is about to begin.
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Competition Format
The format of this year’s Champions League remained unchanged from the previous three seasons. The 16 participating teams were divided into two groups, each playing 14 matches—home and away—against every other team in their group.
At the end of the group stage, the top two teams from each group earned direct qualification to the quarterfinals, while the teams placed 3rd to 6th entered the playoffs to fight for a spot in the next round. The quarterfinal matches will take place on April 23-24 and April 30-May 1, with the Final Four set for June 14-15 in Cologne.
Group A
The final round of Group A saw:
- Eurofarm Pelister losing to PSG (26-35)
- Orlen Wisła Płock drawing with Sporting (29-29)
- Dinamo Bucharest securing an away win over Fredericia HK (37-32)
- Telekom Veszprém suffering a surprising 32-33 home defeat to Füchse Berlin, an outcome that was not widely expected by sports betting platforms.
Despite this loss, Telekom Veszprém remained top of the table, having secured 12 wins and only two losses. Sporting finished in second place, also securing direct qualification to the quarterfinals—a position they clinched thanks to a superior goal difference, despite having the same points as the third and fourth-placed teams.
The playoff qualifiers from this group are:
- 3rd place: Füchse Berlin
- 4th place: PSG
- 5th place: Dinamo Bucharest
- 6th place: Orlen Wisła Płock
Meanwhile, Eurofarm Pelister finished 7th, and Fredericia HK ended in last place with just one win and one draw in 14 matches.
Group B
The final round of Group B included the following results:
- SC Magdeburg defeating OTP Bank-Pick Szeged (31-24)
- Industria Kielce edging out RK Zagreb in an away match (27-26)
- Barcelona overpowering Kolstad Handball (36-27)
- HBC Nantes and Aalborg Handbold playing to an exciting 29-29 draw, a match that was particularly intriguing for those tracking live results.
At the end of the group stage, Barcelona topped the standings with 10 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses, securing direct passage to the quarterfinals alongside Aalborg Handbold, who finished second.
The playoff qualifiers from this group are:
- 3rd place: HBC Nantes
- 4th place: SC Magdeburg
- 5th place: OTP Bank-Pick Szeged
- 6th place: Industria Kielce, who advanced due to a better goal difference over Kolstad Handball.
At the bottom of the standings, RK Zagreb finished last, managing only three wins and one draw in 14 matches.
Playoff Matchups
The first-leg matches of the playoffs are scheduled for March 26-27, with the return legs set for April 2-3. These matchups will determine the four remaining quarterfinalists:
- Industria Kielce vs. Füchse Berlin → Winner will face Aalborg Handbold in the quarterfinals.
- Orlen Wisła Płock vs. HBC Nantes → Winner will play Sporting in the next round.
- OTP Bank-Pick Szeged vs. PSG → A highly anticipated clash, with the winner set to face Barcelona in the quarterfinals.
- Dinamo Bucharest vs. SC Magdeburg → The victorious team will take on Telekom Veszprém in the next stage.
With the stakes rising and the best teams in Europe competing for a spot in Cologne’s Final Four, handball fans can expect intense battles in the coming weeks.
