The inaugural EHF Finals Women, the highlight of the EHF European League season, is scheduled for this weekend in Baia Mare, Romania, with hosts CS Minaur Baia Mare, Danish side Herning-Ikast Handbold, French outfit Nantes Atlantique Handball and the Hungary’s Siófok KC fighting for the trophy.

The EHF European League Women has replaced the Women’s EHF Cup this season, with 16 teams headlining the preliminary round, divided into four groups of four teams each.

All group winners have progressed to the final weekend of the competition after sweeping their opponents in the quarter-finals.

Siófok KC are the only unbeaten side still in the competition, winning seven games and drawing the eighth, against Russian side Kuban in the preliminary round.

“It is the form of the moment who decides the winner, therefore we will have to pay attention,” said Siófok’s back, Gabriella Toth, on the club’s official website.

Yet Siófok will have their work cut out in the semi-finals against Herning-Ikast Handbold, one of the most decorated teams in the history of European competitions.

Herning have won the Women’s EHF Cup and the Women’s Cup Winners’ Cup twice, and also have one title in the Women’s City Cup and in the Champions Trophy.

The Danish powerhouse have the best attack of the competition, scoring 257 goals, 15 more than Siófok in the previous rounds of the EHF European League Women.

But Siófok, who are on a 16-game unbeaten streak in European competitions, have won both mutual games against Herning-Ikast, 25:21 and 34:22, in the Women’s EHF Cup preliminary round in the 2018/19 season.

In the other semi-final, hosts CS Minaur Baia Mare will face Nantes Atlantique Handball, in what could prove to be Baia Mare’s biggest-ever European performance, after reaching the Women’s Challenge Cup final in the 2001/02 season.

A plucky side, whose home advantage has worked wonders this season – winning all five games on home court – Baia Mare have both the experience and the desire to mark their comeback in European competitions after a five-year hiatus.

“We did not know a lot about our opponent, but the draw has been favourable to us, so I want us to win even more,” said Baia Mare’s coach, Costica Buceschi.

With players from six different countries and three continents – Europe, Asia and South America – Baia Mare are an interesting cocktail of characters and cultures, but have dropped only one game out of eight in the competition.

However, Nantes boast the top goal scorer of the EHF European League Women this season, Brazilian centre back Bruna de Paula, who has scored 54 goals throughout the competition, including the qualification phase.

Nantes have played the most games this season, but there will be no complacency, as they have already achieved their best-ever European performance.

The four games will take place in the Lascar Pana Arena in Baia Mare, on Saturday, 8 May and Sunday, 9 May, with the final scheduled for Sunday, at 18:00 CET.

For more information about the games and how to watch, visit the competition website.

Photos (clockwise): Siófok KC, Hamistolen, OvyDrag Sportography, DENIS VALENCE