Greek derby headlines EHF European Cup Men round 1

The action starts on Saturday with four matches, throwing off at 18:00 CEST in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary and Luxembourg. In total, nine matches will be played over the weekend, with five first-leg ties and two double-headers.

• 18 teams from 13 countries take part in round 1 – Türkiye is represented by three clubs, more than any other nation
• Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luxembourg and Greece are represented by two clubs each
• Handball Esch (against RK Vogošca) and Balatonfüredi KSE (against Beykoz BLD SK) have the advantage of playing both legs on home soil this weekend in Luxembourg and Hungary, respectively
• Handball Esch were runners-up of the Challenge Cup in the 2012/13 season
• Spor Toto SK, Raimond Sassari, CSM Constanta and Parnassos Strovolou have to wait one week longer for their European campaign to start, playing double-headers in Türkiye and Romania next week
• the nine winners of round 1 will meet 55 more teams in round 2, with their potential opponents already drawn

All eyes on the Greek derby

An interesting duel awaits in Greece, as E.S.N. Vrilissia and A.C. PAOK meet for a Greek derby in round 1. Looking back at the results of the previous season, we could be in for a thriller.

A.C. PAOK won both encounters with their Greek counterparts in the domestic league in 2024/25, but only with the slightest of margins — 21:20 at home in December and 31:30 in Vrilissia in March. Vrilissia were knockout specialists last season, enjoying a perfect run in the Greek Cup until the final, when they lost against AEK Athens HC. Over the course of the domestic league, PAOK had the better campaign, finishing fifth, while Vrilissia secured eighth place.

Photos © FILIP VIRANOVSKI