42 teams were involved in the draw; 22 who will enter the EHF European League Men at the group matches, plus the 20 teams who must first navigate the qualification round, which was drawn on Tuesday 16 July.
10 teams advancing from qualification means 32 teams will participate in the group matches, which retains the same format as recent seasons, with the teams divided into eight groups of four teams.
Reigning champions SG Flensburg-Handewitt have been drawn into group G alongside MOL Tatabanya KC of Hungary, Croatian side MRK Sesvete and the winner of the qualification round tie between HCB Karvina (CZE) and RK Izvidac (BIH), as the German team begins its bid to claim back-to-back titles.
Record German Bundesliga champions THW Kiel will be strong contenders to win the trophy, having last won the second-tier European competition in 2019. They will take on Croatia's RK Nexe, Spanish debutants Bathco BM Torrelavega and HC Vojvodina of Serbia in group E.
Group E is, in fact, the only group where all four teams are set, with the other seven featuring at least one qualification round winner.
With Montpellier HB lining up in group B and HC Vardar 1961 in group F, there are no fewer than four former EHF Champions League winners taking part in the 2024/25 EHF European League Men.
The draw procedure ensured that no team - including those beginning in the qualifying round - could be drawn into a group with another team from their respective country.
The group matches begin on October 8 and run through to November 26. The top 16 teams - the two top-ranked sides in each group - will progress to the main round.
But before the group matches get underway, the qualification round will determine the final 10 places. The first leg of the qualification round will be played on 31 August/1 September, while the second leg will take place on 7/8 September.
The full draw for the group matches is as follows:
EHF European League Men 2024/25 group phase
GROUP A
GOG (DEN)
RK Gorenje Velenje (SLO)
ABC de Braga (POR) or Abanca Ademar Leon (ESP)
GC Amicitia Zürich (SUI) or HC Kriens-Luzern (SUI)
GROUP B
Montpellier Handball (FRA)
Gornik Zabrze (POL)
Bjerringbro-Silkeborg (DEN) or FTC Green-Collect (HUN)
IFK Kristianstad (SWE) or Fraikin BM Granollers (ESP)
GROUP C
Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI)
Tatran Presov (SVK)
Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR)
RK Trimo Trebnje (SLO) or Limoges Handball (FRA)
GROUP D
Bidasoa Irun (ESP)
CSM Constanta (ROU)
KGHM Chrobry Glogow (POL)
Maritimo da Madeira Andebol SAD (POR) or Ystads IF HF (SWE)
GROUP E
RK Nexe (CRO)
THW Kiel (GER)
Bathco BM Torrelavega (ESP)
HC Vojvodina (SRB)
GROUP F
FC Porto (POR)
HC Vardar 1961 (MKD)
MT Melsungen (GER) or Elverum Handball (NOR)
Valur (ISL) or RK Bjelin Spacva Vinkovci (CRO)
GROUP G
SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER)
MOL Tatabanya KC (HUN)
MRK Sesvete (CRO)
HCB Karvina (CZE) or RK Izvidac (BIH)
GROUP H
IK Sävehof (SWE)
FH Hafnarfjordur (ISL)
Fenix Toulouse Handball (FRA)
Mors-Thy Handbold (DEN) or VfL Gummersbach (GER)
To watch the draw in full, head over to the Home of Handball YouTube channel or click on the video below.
Main photo © Uros Hocevar / kolektiff
