Reigning champions Györ top pre-season power ranking

8. Brest Bretagne Handball

It has been a truly busy summer for Brest, from where 12 players departed, as well as coach Pablo Morel, who led the team for the past three years. However, the French side, aiming to return to the EHF FINAL4 for the first time in four years, did great on the transfer market and secured some interesting players.

New coach Raphaëlle Tervel, who worked as assistant coach at Györi Audi ETO KC, has several big hitters at her disposal. Among those is the top scorer of the previous season, right back Anna Vyakhireva, who netted 113 goals for Vipers Kristiansand in 2023/24. Other new arrivals include centre back Meline Nocandy, who showed brilliance at the Paris 2024 Games, while line player Oriane Ondono was also part of the France team that won the Olympic silver medal.

There will be some growing pains for Brest, that is sure, but the French side can deliver some good performances. And Tervel herself is a defensive specialist, which is crucial in the EHF Champions League Women.

7. Vipers Kristiansand

Vipers’ reign at the top of the EHF Champions League Women ended last season, after three consecutive titles for the Norwegian side. A turbulent season saw the Norwegian powerhouse miss out on a place at the EHF FINAL4, as they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by the eventual title winners, Györi Audi ETO KC, but now Vipers look to bounce back and aim to at least make the cut for Budapest.

The only problem is that they lost 10 players, including Vyakhireva, whom they will face in the first match of the new season. Vipers compensated by bringing in some experienced players, like backs Carin Strömberg and Larissa Nüsser. Ushering in Silje Solberg-Østhassel is a big plus, creating the perfect pair of goalkeepers as she joins her Norway teammate Katrine Lunde, after the two won the gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games. But will Vipers have what it takes to secure a place among the top teams in the competition so far? That is the big question.

6. HB Ludwigsburg

Formerly known as SG BBM Bietigheim, the German champions were the surprise package last season, when they made it to the EHF FINAL4 for the first time and finished as runners-up. Their group will definitely be hard, but they are an experienced team that can deliver good performances in the knockout matches under the guidance of coach Jakob Vestergaard, so long as they make it out of the group phase unscathed.

Seven players came in, seven players left. It is difficult to see how the losses of Dutch pair Kelly Dulfer and Inger Smits, as well as goalkeeper Gabriela Moreschi, will affect the team. Swedish pair Johanna Bundsen and Jenny Carlson will definitely improve Ludwigsburg, while Guro Nestaker and Viola Leuchter can add another dimension to the back line.

5. Metz Handball

Metz saw eight players come in and eight players depart, with several stalwarts that helped the side reach their second EHF FINAL4 last season leaving. Losing four key players in goalkeeper Hatadou Sako and backs Alina Grijseels, Kristina Jørgensen and Louise Burgaard has definitely hampered Metz’s chances of repeating their trip to Budapest, but Emmanuel Mayonnade’s side has always been a team that is hard to beat.

Some excellent young back-court talent has been brought in, with Tyra Axnér, Petra Vamos and 2023 IHF Young Player of the Year Léna Grandveau joining the French champions, as well as veteran centre back Allison Pineau, who can bring a bit of leadership and experience. Moreover, right back Laura Flippes is also back at Metz, which boosts their chances this season, as she can score plenty of goals and also be a crucial defender.

4. CSM Bucuresti

The Romanian champions have been somewhat of an enigma since 2018/19, making the quarter-finals each time but failing to return to the EHF FINAL4 in Budapest. Every time, CSM could not deliver their best performance in the crucial parts of the season, but the hope now is that the EHF FINAL4 is closer than ever.

With the second all-time top scorer in the premium European competition, Cristina Neagu, having turned 36 in August, CSM know the window of opportunity for the left back is shutting and they will aim to enhance their chances of a big success this season. Yet there has been plenty of movement in the roster, with seven players leaving, including experienced Grace Zaadi, Laura Glauser and Flippes, while Moreschi, Emma Friis, and Grijseels arrived to fill the gaps.

There has also been a change on the coaching side, with Adrian Vasile leaving and being replaced by Helle Thomsen. Thomsen returns to CSM after seven years, having led the team for a few months in the 2017/18 season.

3. FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria

A disappointing outing last season, which had the Hungarian champions on the brink of elimination in the group phase, saw FTC go back to the drawing board and pursue an aggressive summer on the transfer market. They brought in some much-needed reinforcements that will surely improve the chances in 2024/25.

Coach Allan Heine remained in his position after winning the Hungarian league last season and will have more power at his disposal, with the arrival of Russian backs Valeriia Maslova and Daria Dmitrieva — one of the most consistent scorers in the EHF Champions League Women in the past years. They are joined by Orlane Kanor, a fantastic and powerful left back. Glauser will reinforce the goalkeeping department, after a fantastic display at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

FTC look to be one of the teams to beat this season, especially in group A, where they will be one of the favourites.

2. Team Esbjerg

The Danish champions made the EHF FINAL4 for the last three editions, but only secured their first win on the pinnacle weekend in last season’s 3/4 placement match. However, they still have a stellar line-up and are one of the teams this did not overhaul their roster, with just three players leaving and three coming in.

The biggest change was in the coaching department, as Jesper Jensen left after seven years in charge. He was replaced by another experienced coach in Tomas Axnér, which will probably not impact the team too much.

With four gold medallists from the 2024 Olympic Games — including backs Henny Reistad and Nora Mørk — as well as five bronze medallists with Denmark in the squad, Esbjerg look set to make a fourth consecutive trip to Budapest. But there are still questions about their depth, with any injury having the potential to derail their campaign.

1. Györi Audi ETO KC

Winning the sixth Champions League title last season was a huge relief for Györ, ending a five-year wait. Coach Per Johansson, who joined the Hungarian side in March 2024, has retained his position and aims to make it back-to-back trophies this season.

It has been an extremely busy transfer season for Györ. 10 players left, including the MVP of the EHF FINAL4 2024, Stine Bredal Oftedal, who retired from handball after the Olympics. Players like Ana Gros and Line Haugsted will also be missed, but Györ have welcomed some bombshells, including goalkeeper Sako, backs Jørgensen and Kristine Breistøl, and Dutch trio Dione Housheer, Bo van Wetering and Kelly Dulfer.

All in all, Györ look like the team to beat once again, with a strong core on both sides of the ball and players that can decide a match by themselves. They have clearly the most balanced team, in terms of experience and depth, in the EHF Champions League Women 2024/25.

Photos: kolektiff images (main, Ludwigsburg and Esbjerg), Györ (Anna Vyakhireva), CSM (Cristina Neagu)