SG Flensburg-Handewitt retained their title in the EHF European League Men, finishing the European season with two wins in two matches, clinching an extra-time win against MT Melsungen in the semi-finals and a 32:25 win over Montpellier Handball in the final of the competition.

Four sides lined up at the start of the EHF Finals Men in Hamburg, with three German sides aiming for the title - SG Flensburg-Handewitt, THW Kiel and MT Melsungen – as well as French outfit Montpellier Handball, eyeing their third European trophy.

In a packed Barclays Arena in Hamburg, the first semi-final, between Melsungen and Flensburg, needed extra-time to provide the finalist, after a nip-and-tuck battle between the two German teams.

Flensburg led at the break, 16:15, and had a two-goal lead, 25:23, close to the end of the match, but Melsungen bounced back, and tied the score after 60 minutes, 28:28, pushing the match into extra-time.

With a fantastic output from left wing Emil Jakobsen, who scored nine goals, closely followed by right back Niclas Kirkeløkke, with six, as well as goalkeeper Kevin Møller, who had 18 saves for a 35% saving efficiency, Flensburg secured a 35:34 win, earning the chance to defend their trophy, sealed last May in Hamburg.

The second semi-final had Kiel as favourites, as the German powerhouse aimed to become the first team in history to clinch five titles in the second-tier European competition. But their start was subpar, scoring their maiden goal after nearly eight minutes, with Montpellier running away with a 4:0 lead.

Still, Kiel had enough in their tank and took a 17:16 lead at the break, leading by as many as three goals in the first half. After 43 minutes, Kiel still had a three-goal lead, 23:20, but Montpellier roared back and centre back Ahmed Hesham scored the final goal of the match, with a few seconds left on the clock, to gift Montpellier a place in the final, with a 32:31 win.

But were Montpellier going to produce another shock in the final?

Once again, Flensburg relied on their Danish players, as their five top scorers in the match – Lukas Jørgensen, Emil Jakobsen, Lasse Møller, Niclas Kirkeløkke and Mads Mensah Larsen – were Danish.

Add yet another fantastic outing from goalkeeper Kevin Møller, with 19 saves, which earned him the MVP title for the EHF Finals Men, and Flensburg had the perfect recipe for their second title in a row.

The German side took an early lead and never looked back, leading by six goals at the break, 19:13. They carefully managed the lead in the second part and with Jørgensen scoring 10 times and Jakobsen adding nine goals, Flensburg were impossible to beat, taking a 32:25 win in the final and, subsequently, the title.

SG Flensburg-Handewitt, which finished the competition with 12 wins and two draws, became first side to retain their trophy in the second-tier European competition, after another German side, Frisch Auf Göppingen, managed this feature in 2016 and 2017.

The German side became the fifth team in history to secure the title in the European second-tier club competition at least three times, having previously won it in 1997 and 2024. SC Magdeburg, Kiel and Frisch Auf Göppingen have won the competition four times, while Füchse Berlin won it three times.

In the bronze medal match, THW Kiel took a 37:31 win over MT Melsungen.

The top goal scorer of the competition was Melsungen’s Ian Barrufet, who scored 81 goals since the start of the group phase.

Credit photo: Saša Pahič Szabó / EHF / Kolektiff