FAQ
The four German representatives in the handball European League all still have chances for the title. Before the quarter -finals, however, Gummersbach and Melsungen have to go through the playoffs – and meet in the direct duel.
Which German teams are still in use?
From a German perspective, SG Flensburg-Handewitt, VfL Gummersbach, THW Kiel and MT Melsungen are still represented. The German quartet had qualified as a group winner for the main round and also survived. Flensburg and Kiel secured the direct quarter-final participation as a new group winner. Gummersbach and Melsungen hope to reach the round of the last eight via the playoffs. In the direct duel, however, a German club will inevitably leave.
What is the schedule for the quarter-final playoffs?
The playoffs start on March 25th. The remaining four quarter-final participants are determined in the first and second leg. The four main round group winners have already qualified for the quarter-finals.
| pairing | Date (first and second leg) | |
|---|---|---|
Benfica Lisbon – Gog Handbold | 25.03. and 01.04. | |
Kriens -Lucerne – Limoges | 25.03. and 01.04. | |
Gummersbach – Melsungen | 25.03. and 01.04. | |
Porto – Toulouse | 25.03. and 01.04. |
What’s next after the playoffs?
After the playoffs, the quarter-finals are about participating in the final four tournament, in which the winner of the European Leaving is chosen in May. First of all, the semi -finals are up, then the final. The semi-final pairings will be drawn after the quarter-finals.
| pairing | Date (first and second leg) | |
|---|---|---|
Porto/Toulouse – Montpellier | 04/22. and 29.04 | |
Gummersbach/Melsungen – Bidasoa Irun | 04/22. and 29.04 | |
Kriens -Lucerne/Limoges – Kiel | 04/22. and 29.04 | |
Lisbon/Handbold – Flensburg | 04/22. and 29.04 |
Where and when does the Final Four take place?
As in the previous year, the Final Four will be held in the Barclays Arena in Hamburg. The games take place on May 24th and 25th. Tickets are still available on the website of the European League.
Who are the previous winners?
The European League has been in German for years. Since 2003, only two non-German representatives have managed to win the title: in 2013/14 Pick Szeged (Hungary), 2021/22 Benfica Lisbon (Portugal). With four titles each, record winners are three German teams: fresh on Göppingen, THW Kiel and SC Magdeburg.
| season | winner | Final opponent |
|---|---|---|
2013/14 | Pick Szeged (Hun) | Montpellier HB (FRA) |
2014/15 | Foxes Berlin | HSV Hamburg |
2015/16 | Fresh on Göppingen | HBC Nantes (FRA) |
2016/17 | Fresh on Göppingen | Foxes Berlin |
2017/18 | Foxes Berlin | Saint-Raphael (FRA) |
2018/19 | THW Kiel | Foxes Berlin |
2019/20 | Broken down due to corona | |
2020/21 | SC Magdeburg | Foxes Berlin |
2021/22 | Benfica Lisbon | SC Magdeburg |
2022/23 | Foxes Berlin | Balonmano Granollers (ESP) |
2023/24 | SG Flensburg-Handewitt | Foxes Berlin |