Four fantastic doubleheaders decided the four teams qualified for the EHF FINAL4 in Cologne, as reigning champions and the 2023 IHF Men’s Super Globe winners SC Magdeburg, Spanish powerhouse Barça, German side THW Kiel and Danish side Aalborg Håndbold are the remaining sides to battle for the big trophy in the EHF Champions League Men.

After the group phase was completed in March, four sides – the semi-finalists – progressed to the quarter-finals directly, securing the first two places in each group, while the teams ranked third to sixth made it to the play-offs, where Montpellier HB, Telekom Veszprem HC, Industria Kielce and Paris Saint-Germain Handball clinched their quarter-finals berths.

The four quarter-finals were dramatic, as the most balanced one was the one between Industria Kielce and SC Magdeburg, two matches which saw last year’s finalists collide, and Magdeburg extended their chances to retain their title, after eliminating the Polish side on penalties.

Last season, Magdeburg needed extra-time in the final to secure their second trophy in the European premium competition and they were backed into the corner this time around too, as the injury-stricken Kielce took a 27:26 win in the first leg.

The second leg saw the two sides lock horns in a defensive masterclass, where attacks were contained, but Magdeburg eventually sealed the 23:22 win in regular time, pushing the match to penalties to decide the qualified team for the EHF FINAL4.

There, Tim Hornke and Igor Karacic both missed the first penalties, while Kielce had the upper hand after Christian O’Sullivan, Magdeburg’s captain, missed the third penalty. Therefore, when right back Alex Dujshebaev prepared for the last penalty throw, Kielce knew that if he scored, they would qualify for the final.

Dujshebaev missed that penalty, followed by teammate Dylan Nahi, while Magdeburg’s Omar Ingi Magnusson, calmed and controlled, delivered a perfect penalty to help his side progress with a 53:52 aggregate win.

Magdeburg are joined by another German side in the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4 in Cologne, THW Kiel, as the “Zebras” return after a one-year hiatus to the business end of the EHF Champions League Men, with a magnificent comeback for the ages in the doubleheader against Montpellier HB.

The German side, which won the title four times, in 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2020, had lost the first leg in France, 30:39, and their chances of progression looked to be slim to none, especially as Montpellier had an extra incentive, with coach Patrice Canayer leaving his position after more than 30 years.

By half-time in the second leg, Kiel cancelled half of Montpellier’s advantage, leading 17:12. The second half was even more entertaining, as Kiel goalkeeper Tomas Mrkva had 12 saves for a 41.3% saving efficiency, limiting Montpellier’s attack in key moments.

Kiel had their pair of backs, Eric Johansson and Nikola Bilyk combine for 15 goals and it was enough in the end, as they cruised to a 31:21 win, as Montpellier scored only twice in the las 17 minutes, to deliver a huge upset. Eventually, Kiel progressed with a 61:60 aggregate win and are in the EHF FINAL4 for the eighth time in 15 editions.

One team which had qualified only once for the EHF FINAL4 in their history was Aalborg Håndbold and the Danish side made it for the second time in Cologne, after another fantastic doubleheader against Telekom Veszprém HC.

A perennial contender, which has never won the title in the EHF Champions League Men, the Hungarian side won the first leg, 32:31, but Aalborg bounced back after a fantastic outing from right back Mads Hoxer, who scored nine goals in the second leg to lift his side to a 33:28 win and a 64:60 aggregate win.

Therefore, Mikkel Hansen, the IHF Male Player of the Year in 2011, 2014 and 2018, still has a chance to win his maiden title in the EHF Champions League Men, after announcing his retirement after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Last, but not least, Barça secured their 11th appearance in the EHF FINAL4 and their sixth in a row, after a fantastic performance against Paris Saint-Germain Handball, where they won both matches, 30:22 and 32:31.

The writing was on the wall for the Spanish side, which delivered a fantastic 30:22 away win in the first leg, with no chance for PSG to bounce back, despite three-time IHF Male Player of the Year, Nikola Karabatic, aiming to finish his career on a high, with his fourth crown in the Champions League.

The draw for the EHF FINAL4 semi-finals will take place in Budapest, on 7 May, while the competition is scheduled to take place in the LANXESS Arena on 8 and 9 June.

Machineseeker EHF Champions League - quarter-finals results

Montpellier HB (FRA) vs THW Kiel (GER) 60:61 on aggregate (39:30 and 21:31)
Industria Kielce (POL) vs SC Magdeburg (GER) 52:53 on aggregate (27:26 and 22:23) - Magdeburg won 4:3 on penalties
Telekom Veszprém HC (HUN) vs Aalborg Håndbold (DEN) 60:64 on aggregate (32:31 and 28:33)
Paris Saint-Germain Handball (FRA) vs Barça (ESP) 53:62 on aggregate (22:30 and 31:32)

Photo credit: Franziska Gora / SC Magdeburg