The SEHA – Gazprom League returned to action on Thursday with Croatian side RK Nexe Nasice defeating the Serbian champions, Vojvodina Novi Sad 24:23.

After a hard-fought game, which featured a surprising comeback from Vojvodina, who scored the last five goals of the game, Nexe managed to secure the first win of the season.

The two sides also threw off last year’s season, however, it was Vojvodina who won the match 29:23.

Only one other game will be played before the New Year, as HC Eurofarm Pelister will host Serbian side HC Metaloplastika Sabac on Monday, 21 December. After that, games will resume in February.

Hungarian powerhouse Telekom Veszprém HC aim to defend their title, while North Macedonian rivals HC Vardar 1961 look to claim their fourth championship in five years.

Scheduled to end in April, last season’s competition was postponed until September, with Veszprém taking the crown after a 35:27 victory against Vardar.

Vardar – five titles – and Veszprém – three titles – are the most decorated teams in the competition. Croatian champions HC PPD Zagreb have won the trophy once.

Teams from seven countries will play in the SEHA League this season, two clubs from Croatia, North Macedonia and Serbia and one from Belarus, Hungary, Slovakia and Ukraine.

During a 14 December meeting, the SEHA - Gazprom League Executive Committee confirmed the competition will feature ten teams, with two groups of five teams each.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the busy 2020/2021 calendar for top European teams, the SEHA - Gazprom League Executive Committee decided Telekom Veszprém HC and Belarussian side HC Meshkov Brest are already qualified to the quarter-finals phase.