Thüringer HC will try to become the first team in history to secure back-to-back trophies in the EHF European League Women, when the EHF Finals Women takes place this weekend, on 16 and 17 May, in Dijon, France.

The three challengers for the trophy will be Danish team Viborg HK, Thüringer’s opponents in the semi-finals, while the other semi-final will pit Hungarian side MOL Esztergom, and hosts JDA Bourgogne Dijon Handball, as the latter side aims to finally get a finals berth, after falling short in the previous edition.

So far, Thüringer HC have won their group, winning four out of the six matches played, while also eliminating Nykøbing Falster Håndbold in the quarter-finals, after two high-octane matches, with a 67:64 aggregate win.

Viborg are also coming in hot, as they are aiming to secure their fourth trophy in the competition, which would make them the team with the largest number of wins in history, being joint-top right now with fellow Danish side Ikast Handbold.

Viborg have also taken part in the EHF Finals Women in 2022, but have reached this point while finishing second in their group, with three wins, two draws and one loss, while eliminating Rapid București, with a 61:58 aggregate win in the quarter-finals.

But Viborg will need to take plenty of care on Johanna Reichert’s performance, as the Austrian left back is clearly on pace to secure the top goal scorer award for the second time in a row, after scoring 77 goals in eight matches.

Dijon will be having both the advantage of the home court, as they host this edition of the EHF Finals Women, as well as the experience of last season’s antics, when they finished third, after losing the semi-final against Thüringer, 29:35, and won the bronze medal match, 32:27, against another German side, HSG Blomberg-Lippe.

The French side won their group, topping Viborg, with four wins, one draw and one loss, thoroughly dominating HC Lokomotiva Zagreb in the semi-finals, with two clear wins, 30:20 and 28:20.

Their opponent will be MOL Esztergom, the rookie Hungarian side, which also won their group with the same number of points as Dijon, and then eliminated Motherson Mosonmagyarovari KC in the quarter-finals, with a 36:25 win, followed by another dominating outing, 32:27.

Only one French side – Nantes – have won the competition, in the inaugural season after the rebranding of the second-tier European club competition, while the last Hungarian side to win was FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria, in the 2005/06 season.

The EHF Finals Women 2025/26 will see its semi-finals played on Saturday, 16 May, at 15:00 CEST and 18:00 CEST, with the finals being played at the same time on Sunday, 17 May.

Credit photo: Thüringer HC