The German handball double winner SC Magdeburg will face defending champion FC Barcelona and Denmark’s champion Aalborg Handbold in the group phase of the Champions League. The Füchse Berlin will face France’s serial champion Paris St. Germain and Veszprem HC from Hungary on their return to the premier class.
This was the result of the draw for the two groups of eight by EHF President Michael Wiederer on Thursday (June 27, 2024) in Vienna. Champions and cup winners Magdeburg had to bury their triple dreams at the Final Four in Cologne last season after a semi-final defeat against Aalborg. In the end, record title holders Barcelona won – for the eleventh time in total.
For the Füchse Berlin, however, it is their return to the most important European club competition after eleven years.
Mode unchanged
As in the previous season, the tournament will be played in two preliminary groups, each with 14 match days. The group winners and runners-up will advance directly to the quarter-finals, and the teams in third to sixth place will play for the four remaining places in a playoff round. The Final Four will take place again in Cologne on June 14 and 15, 2025.
In the women’s competition, last year’s finalist HB Ludwigsburg will face defending champion Györi ETO KC, among others. The format for the women is identical to the men’s, but the location of the final tournament is not yet known.
The men’s preliminary round groups
Group A: Orlen Wisla Plock/Poland, Veszprem HC/Hungary, Paris St. Germain/France, Fredericia Handboldklub/Denmark, Füchse Berlin/Germany, Sporting CP Lisbon/Portugal, CS Dinamo Bucharest/Romania, HC Eurofarm Pelister Bitola/North Macedonia
Group B: Aalborg Handbold/Denmark, SC Magdeburg/Germany, FC Barcelona/Spain, Industria Kielce/Poland, Pick Szeged/Hungary, HBC Nantes/France, HC Zagreb/Croatia, Kolstad Handbold/Norway
The women’s preliminary round groups
Group A: FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria/Hungary, Metz Handball/France, CSM Bucharest/Romania, Krim Mercator Ljubljana/Slovenia, Storhamar Handball Elite/Norway, Nykobing Falster Handboldklub/Denmark, HC Podravka Vegeta/Croatia, CS Gloria 2018 BN/Romania
Group B: Vipers Kristiansand/Norway, Team Esbjerg/Denmark, Buducnost BEMAX/Montenegro, HB Ludwigsburg/Germany, Györi Audi ETO KC/Hungary, Brest Bretagne Handball/France, CS Rapid Bucharest/Romania, Odense Handbold/Denmark
