16:47
Two of the four semi-finalists have arrived at the team hotel in Cologne: Füchse Berlin and Aalborg Håndbold. Let's take a look at their journeys (back) to the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4 2026, starting with Füchse.
Berlin had a very strong group phase early on — they did not drop a single point until round 10, when they lost to Kolstad Håndball, with the season's leading scorer Mathias Gidsel absent. Gidsel's absence should not be thought of as the only cause for the loss, as last season they beat HBC Nantes in the semi-final after Gidsel received a direct red card early in the game — they can certainly win, and win under pressure, without him.
Nevertheless, Gidsel was missing for Berlin's first loss of the Machineseeker EHF Champions League 2025/26. In the four subsequent rounds, Füchse were defeated twice, and in both Gidsel scored double digits — contributing to the enormous 144 season tally he brings to Cologne, which make him the top scorer of 2025/26 and all but confirmed to take the crown for the second time in a row.
Despite a shaky end to the group phase, Berlin finished first in group A and therefore proceeded directly to the quarter-finals. There, they met Veszprém in a very close encounter that saw a 69:68 result on aggregate. After the first leg saw a 35:34 win fo Veszprém on home ground, the aggregate score was equal at the end of regular time and penalties were required to decide the winners — Füchse.
So Füchse Berlin reached the EHF FINAL4 for the third time and second in a row. Their first participation was in 2011/12, and last year they made a return, reaching the final but ultimately losing to SC Magdeburg.
16:24
So what's on the schedule for the semi-finalists in the lead up to throw-off at the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4 2026?
On Friday, the sides will take part in interviews, from where we will bring you all the insights from key players and the coaches. They will also attend the opening party at LANXESS arena — an event that signifies the official start of the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4 2026. And of course, the four teams will undergo their last preparations for the big matches.
On Saturday, prior to the Champions League semi-finals, the semi-finals of the second edition of the EHF Youth Club Trophy Men will take place in nearby Dormagen. Two of the Machineseeker EHF Champions League 2025/26 semi-finalists, Barça and Füchse Berlin, also feature in the Youth Club Trophy — meaning those clubs have the chance to take two titles this weekend. Their rivals in the Youth Club Trophy are defending champions GOG and Veszprém Handball Academy.
The Youth Club Trophy will conclude on Sunday, with the 3/4 placement match also in Dormagen, while the final will open the day of action in LANXESS arena. Read the semi-final preview below!
