Low-scoring matches produce EHF Champions League drama

• NFH and Storhamar shared the spoils in a scrappy match, which produced the second lowest number of goals this season
• Storhamar are now tied with CS Gloria 2018 BN with six points, while NFH are not far behind with four, in a fierce battle for the play-offs spot, with four group matches to go
• with their fourth win of the season and their second in a row on their home court, Ludwigsburg are now six points ahead of Buducnost and hold the tiebreaker
• Buducnost had another subpar attacking performance against Ludwigsburg, scoring the second lowest number of goals in a Champions League match, 18, two shy of the record set against the same opponents in February 2024
• Odense dealt Rapid their worst-ever loss in history, after that record was already broken by the Romanian side in the previous match against Brest, lost by 12 goals
• the Danish side also came close to breaking their record for number of goals in a single match, 44, set against Sävehof in November 2023

GROUP A

Storhamar Handball Elite (NOR) vs Nykøbing Falster Håndbold (DEN) 22:22 (12:9)

After three consecutive losses, which saw them drop into seventh place in the group, Storhamar failed to turn the tide against NFH, although they did save a point. While NFH’s defence had a better outing than their average conceding rate of 30.4 goals per match, their attack was somehow limited. It turned out to be a scrappy match; NFH produced a 3:0 run late in the second half to tie the score at 19:19, but failed in their last attack to secure a win. The draw further complicates the battle for the last play-offs spot in the group.

GROUP B

HB Ludwigsburg (GER) vs Buducnost (MNE) 26:18 (13:10)

With only four points separating Ludwigsburg and Buducnost, last season’s runners-up faced a must-win match against the Montenegrin side and delivered a calm and collected performance, preventing their opponents from securing back-to-back wins for the first time this season. The German side, who had right back Viola Leuchter and left wing Antje Döll combine for 11 goals, took another big step towards the play-offs with this win, their fourth in 10 games, with their 6:3 start to the second half instrumental. Buducnost will fight with Rapid for the last play-offs place, but their woes in away matches continue, as they have now won only twice in 16 matches away from Podgorica.

Rapid Bucuresti (ROU) vs Odense Håndbold (DEN) 25:42 (15:20)

It is looking like a season to forget for Rapid, who have now set a record for their largest-ever loss twice in two matches and are on their longest-ever losing run, of eight matches. Odense led by three goals after less than five minutes and a 6:0 run at the start of the second half left Rapid floundering. Odense’s 42 goals is their second-highest score in Champions League history. The Romanian side have conceded 33.3 goals per match this season, by far the worst average in the competition, but still have chances to progress to the play-offs, as they maintain a two-point lead ahead of Buducnost. Odense, who had all but one outfield player score at least one goal, jumped to second place in the group with 16 points, one more than rivals Esbjerg.

Main photo © Fredrik Olastuen