Women’s EHF Champions League: New race for the trophy begins

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Just months after Györi Audi ETO KC clinched their fourth EHF Champions League title in another thrilling final match against the Vardar, all fans of women’s handball are ready to witness the start of another season of the top-class club competition.

A plethora of stars will be back on the court from Friday, 5 October as Europe’s premier club handball competition returns for the 26th edition.

Their aim remains the same: a place at the high point of the season, Women’s EHF FINAL4, which take place once again in Budapest on 11/12 May 2019.

Commenting on the start of the new season, EHF President Michael Wiederer said: “We’ve seen strong growth in the Women’s EHF Champions League over a number of years.

“Media interest continues to increase and the development of the Women’s EHF FINAL4 has been hugely successful.

“We can be certain that the new season will bring further positive progress in what has become one of the most-followed club competitions in women’s sport.”

16 clubs from 11 countries on the starting grid

Five countries – Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary and Norway – are represented by two teams each in the competition. There is just one brand new team in the competition, Denmark’s Odense HC, while three other sides – Sweden’s IK Sävehof, Croatia’s Podravka Vegeta and Kobenhavn Handball from Denmark – are returning to the European top-flight after a break.

The defending champions, Györi Audi ETO KC, will start in Group C alongside the German champions Thüringer HC and two other former EHF Champions League winners RK Krim Mercator and Podravka, the Croatian side having reached the group phase via the qualification tournaments.

The second qualifier, SG BBM Bietigheim, is in Group D together with 2016 winners CSM Bucuresti, brand new Norwegian champions Vipers Kristiansand and FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria.

Ambros Martin, who steered Györ to four EHF Champions League titles in the last six seasons, will begin a new era on the Rostov bench in Group B; their opponents will be Kobenhavn, Sävehof and Brest. The French side has big ambitions this season having signed several new players including the charismatic Swede, Bella Gullden.

In Group A, the 2012 and 2015 winners Buducnost will lock horns with Metz, Odense and Larvik, where the most open race for the main round berths can be expected.

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