The curtain has fallen over the group phase of the EHF Champions League Men, after 101 matches were played in the group phase of the European premium competition.

6,093 goals were scored in the 101 matches played, for the biggest-ever average of scored goals per game in the history of the competition, 60.3.

It was not the only record broken in the competition, as Spanish powerhouse Barça, last season’s VELUX EHF FINAL 4 silver medallists, became the first team to clinch first place in the group by winning all games since eight-team groups were introduced in a new format in the 2015/16 season.

Barça have had a superb season, riding a 14-game winning streak and scoring 505 goals, a 36-goals-per-game average, to secure first place in the group with three rounds to spare, after clinching two wins against powerhouses like Telekom Veszprém and THW Kiel.

German powerhouse SG Flensburg-Handewitt won Group A, with 21 points from 14 games, after taking a commanding 31:28 win against Łomża Vive Kielce in the last round of the group phase.

Kielce, the previous leaders of the group, who are also boasting the top scorer of the competition, Spanish right back Alex Dujshebaev (80 goals), fell down to third place, with Paris Saint-Germain Handball securing the second spot, thanks to a 10:0 default win against MOL-Pick Szeged.

The MVP of the 27th IHF Men’s World Championship, Danish left back Mikkel Hansen, also continued his superb form in the European top competition, scoring 72 goals, the second-highest number behind Dujshebaev. 

Due to the ongoing health situation, the European Handball Federation (EHF) has agreed on the adaptation of the playing schedule in the EHF Champions League Men, with all 16 teams progressing to the next phase of the competition.

Originally, teams ranked 1 to 6 were promoted to the knockout rounds, but the adapted scheduled saw also clubs ranked 7 and 8 going through, enabling all 16 teams to fight for a place in the quarter-finals.

Therefore, highly anticipated clashes between top sides in Europe are scheduled to take place in the Round of 16 on 31 March and 1 April, with the second leg being set on either 6 or 7 April.

Barça will be overwhelming favourites against Norwegian champions Elverum Handball, with Flensburg assuming the same mantle against Croatian side HC PPD Zagreb, who lost all of their 14 games this season, conceding the largest amount of goals (462) and the worst goal difference (-93).

Title holders THW Kiel will have their work cut out after finishing third in Group B, facing a do-or-die clash against Hungarian powerhouse MOL-Pick Szeged. Despite finishing sixth, Szeged conceded two losses due to their inability to play, while also starting the season with four losses in a row, after a COVID-19 outbreak in their roster.

PSG Handball will meet Celje Pivovarna Lasko in the Round of 16, while Łomża Vive Kielce must pay attention as they face a tough task against experienced French side HBC Nantes.

Belarusian champions HC Meshkov Brest, one of the biggest underdogs this season, who finished fourth in Group A, could earn their first-ever quarter-finals berth if they beat Motor Zaporozhye, while FC Porto, who won their first game after the tragic death of their goalkeeper Alfredo Quintana (35:30 against Elverum), meet Danish side Aalborg.

The Round of 16 card is completed by a familiar clash between Vardar and Telekom Veszprém, a throwback to the VELUX EHF FINAL 4 final of the 2018/19 season, when Vardar won their second European trophy after a nail-biting 27:24 win.

Round of 16 schedule – EHF Champions League Men
HBC Nantes – Łomża Vive Kielce
MOL-Pick Szeged – THW Kiel
HC Motor Zaporozhye – HC Meshkov Brest
FC Porto - Aalborg Håndbold
HC PPD Zagreb – SG Flensburg-Handewitt
Elverum Handball – Barça
Celje Pivovarna Lasko – Paris Saint-Germain
Vardar 1961 - Telekom Veszprém

Visit the official website for more information about the EHF Champions League Men.

PHOTO: Barça / Victor Salgado