Five things to know about Szeged vs Sporting in round 3

1. “Blue night” in Szeged

A clash as exhilarating as the one between OTP Bank - PICK Szeged and Sporting Clube de Portugal is sure to draw plenty of attention, so if it is not already in your calendar, now is the time to add it.

While Wednesday and Thursday nights are usually reserved for EHF Champions League Men action, this round’s highlighted match breaks tradition — the two sides meet on Saturday 10 October at 20:00 CEST, with fans invited to enjoy a whole evening of entertainment around the game, adding to the excitement of the handball showdown.

The event — called the “Blue night” — transforms Pick Arena into an authentic handball celebration. A pre-match show featuring player introductions, fan choreographies, a DJ set, food trucks, competitions and a meet-and-greet with the club mascot sets the tone before the first whistle. Half-time brings additional activities and games, while fans can also look forward to the post-game autograph and photo sessions with their favourite players, along with access to exclusive “Blue night” merchandise.

All you have to do is be there and enjoy the show!

2. First clash in more than a decade

So what outcome can we expect on Saturday evening? It has been more than a decade since the last encounter between Szeged and Sporting, so the upcoming clash is still uncertain and everything is still open.

The two rivals previously met in the quarter-finals of the EHF Cup 2013/14, when both teams took advantage of their home courts to grab wins. Sporting overturned a one-goal deficit at half-time (11:12) to win 29:27 on 20 April 2014, but the tie was still undecided.

One week later in Hungary, Szeged were already enjoying a commanding 16:10 lead by half-time, and maintained the same gap until the end (28:22) — a margin that secured their overall advantage (55:51) and progression to the next phase. That campaign ultimately led Szeged to the historic EHF Cup title, their first and only European trophy to date.

Now, 12 years later, the rivalry continues on the EHF Champions League stage — who will have the upper hand?

3. Youth and experience leading the packs

Both Szeged and Sporting bring individual quality and strong squad depth into Saturday’s game, with powerful shooters and skilled goalkeepers promising a fiery battle on the court.

It is still early in the season, but a look at the two sides’ performances so far might give us a hint on the players to watch.

As expected, the Costa brothers are still the driving attacking force for Sporting. Martim Costa had a strong start to the 2026/27 campaign with 18 goals, including 11 in the opening match against GOG, when the Portuguese hosts secured a commanding 43:33 victory. The left back was assisted by his younger brother “Kiko”, who netted nine times against the Danish rivals.

In Szeged’s case, Norwegian right back Magnus Rød leads the charts with 13 strikes so far, as the goals have been spread more evenly within the Hungarian club's squad. He is followed closely by newcomer on the line player position Miklós Rosta with 10.

Beyond their leading scorers, the squads’ rosters also show some differences. Szeged show a more seasoned roster, with eight players aged 30 or above. Among these are veteran 42-year-old goalkeeper Roland Mikler, his 32-year-old pair between the posts Nikola Portner, as well as their top scorer from last season, Mario Šoštarić.

Meanwhile, Sporting lean more on youth talent — including 24-year-old Martim and 21-year-old Kiko — a recipe that has helped the side climb their way to the top in recent years.

4. Two successive high-stakes encounters

Fans will not have to wait long for the rematch — the return game in round 4 takes place just five days later, on Thursday 15 October at 20:45 CEST. These two encounters carry significant weight, as they could prove decisive for main round berths and shape the paths of both teams in the competition.

Sporting currently lead group D with four points from their previous two victories, while Szeged are third with only two points, following their narrow 34:36 away defeat at GOG. With two games coming in such close succession, the pressure on the squads intensifies.

A strong outcome on Saturday would give either side an important boost in confidence and in the standings, making for a thrilling tie.

5. Defence is key

With experience on their side, Szeged have high ambitions for their 24th EHF Champions League campaign, after their journey stopped in the quarter-finals in both 2024/25 and 2025/26. On the other side, Sporting are only in their seventh season in the top flight, but they have quickly proved they are a force to be reckoned with — likewise seeing their 2024/25 and 2025/26 campaigns end in the quarter-finals.

The two clubs have had a similar start to the competition, showing strong defensive lines. Across the two rounds played so far, Sporting have let only 62 shots reach their net, while Szeged have conceded 67 goals — making them the best defences among all 24 participants in the group phase.

The balance between the two is also highlighted by the number of shots blocked by their goalkeepers. Sporting’s pair, Mohamed Aly and Andrè Kristensen, have made 21 saves combined, while Szeged’s Roland Mikler and Nikola Portner have matched their tally with 21 saves of their own.

With both defences holding strong and boasting talented goalkeeper duos, the question is who can maintain the consistency in the next clash?

Photos © OTP Bank - PICK Szeged, Sporting Clube de Portugal