The second-tier European competition in women’s club handball had its group phase concluding this weekend, with eight teams progressing to the quarter-finals, while reigning champions Les Neptunes de Nantes were surprisingly eliminated from contention after conceding four losses in six matches.

2,676 goals were scored in the 48 matches played throughout the group phase, an average of 55.75 goals per game. Norwegian side Sola HK and Danish team Herning-Ikast Håndbold boast the best attacks, with 196 goals and 193 goals scored respectively throughout their six wins in the group phase.

Only three teams came out with a perfect record from the group phase – Sola, Herning-Ikast and German team SG BBM Bietigheim, who conceded the lowest amount of goals, only 134 in six games. 

The Norwegian side, back for the second season in European competitions after making their debut in the EHF Women’s Cup Winners’ Cup in the 2005/06 season, were unstoppable, winning Group A with six victories in six matches.

World champion Camilla Herrem had an outstanding season for Sola HK. The three-time IHF Women’s World Championship winner, who made the All-star Team in the premium event of women’s handball twice, in 2009 and 2019, was the top scorer of the EHF European League Women’s group phase with 49 goals.

French team Besançon ESBF joined Sola in the quarter-finals, despite finishing tied at points with Motherson Mosonmagyarovari KC. Besançon held the tie-breaker after winning the home match against Mosonmagyarorvar, 34:24, losing the away game 30:38.

The biggest surprise of the group phase was, however, the elimination of the reigning champions, Les Neptunes de Nantes. Losing last season’s MVP of the EHF Finals Women, Bruna de Paula Almeida, who left for Metz Handball, was a huge blow for Nantes, who finished third in their group after losing four games.

The last loss came in the last round, 27:28 against MKS Zaglebie Lubin, who were already eliminated. Nantes needed only one point, took the lead late in the game, 26:25, but failed to protect it, conceding their fourth loss.

While SG BBM Bietigheim, one of the big favourites for the title – a team that is unbeaten in 25 games in all competitions this season – had already sealed the first place in the group, CS Minaur Baia Mare sealed the second place with five points, taking advantage of Nantes’ woes.

In Group C, Herning-Ikast also clinched safe passage to the quarter-finals by winning all six games, while Storhamar HK also progressed with six points, two more than Romanian side Magura Cisnadie.

Finally, Group D saw old rivals clash, as Viborg HK went undefeated, with four wins and two draws, ahead of SCM Ramnicu Valcea, who lost only the away match against the Danish powerhouse. Chambray Touraine Handball and Vaci NKSE were eliminated.

The quarter-finals will pit together one group winner against a second-placed team, with a double-header deciding the winner. The teams that will seal the wins in the games scheduled for 26 and 27 March and 3 and 4 April will progress to the EHF Finals Women, which will take place on 14 and 15 May.

In total, two teams from Denmark, Norway and Romania and one from Germany and France each progressed to the quarter-finals, all vying for the title clinched by Nantes last season.

Quarter-finals EHF European League Women

M01: Sola HK (NOR) vs CS Minaur Baia Mare (ROU)
M02: SG BBM Bietigheim (GER) vs Besançon ESBF (FRA)
M03: Herning-Ikast Håndbold (DEN) vs SCM Ramnicu Valcea (ROU)
M04: Viborg HK (DEN) vs Storhamar Handball Elite (NOR)

For more information on the EHF European League Women, visit eurohandball.com.

Header photo: Kenneth McDowell