Flensburg and Montpellier keep perfect runs, first defeat for Melsungen

FROM THE TOP 5 MATCHES

GROUP B
Montpellier Handball (FRA) vs Fraikin BM. Granollers (ESP) 34:25 (15:17)

Montpellier Handball completed a flawless group phase with their sixth victory in as many matches, securing the maximum of four points to carry into the main round. Like in their previous meeting in Spain (28:24), Granollers matched Montpellier for the first 30 minutes, even leading at half-time. However, the second half belonged to Montpellier, driven by an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Rémi Desbonnet. His heroics, including 20 saves, powered a decisive 10:2 run early in the second half. With the score at 25:19 and later 27:20, the hosts firmly took control and maintained a comfortable margin until the final whistle. In addition to Desbonnet's brilliance, Yanis Lenne stood out as a key player for Montpellier, contributing nine goals. Granollers, meanwhile, will carry no points to the main round, where both teams will face GOG and Kriens-Luzern, who each start with two points.

GROUP D
Bidasoa Irun (ESP) vs Ystads IF HF (SWE) 35:32 (17:16)

Despite one defeat and one draw, Bidasoa Irun carry the maximum of four points into the main round, having defeated second-placed Ystad for the second time after their 29:23 away win in the reverse fixture. The match was closely contested for 55 minutes, with the score tied at 29:29. However, the Spanish side pulled ahead with a crucial 3:0 run, taking a 32:29 lead. Ystad’s last lead came at 23:22 in the 47th minute, but from then on, the score was either leveled or Irun were in control. Asier Nieto Marcos was the top scorer for Bidasoa Irun with eight goals, while former Champions League winner Niklas Ekberg scored six times for Ystad, who enter the main round with zero points.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

• Flensburg-Handewitt finished with the group matches with the optimum of 12 points, beating HCB Karvina 36:33; top scorer of the group G winners was team captain Johannes Golla with eight goals.
• After conceding their first group matches defeat last week against Sävehof, FENIX Toulouse finished the group matches on a winning note with a 29:25 victory at Hafnarfjördur; like group H winners Gummersbach, Toulouse start the main round with two points.
• In their last international match of this season, Gorenje Velenje took their first victory in the group matches: Teo Jezernik with six goals and Urban Pipp (five) were the top scorers for the Slovenian side in the 28:25 victory.
• FC Porto turned a 17:19 deficit at the break into a clear 37:28 victory against Valur; despite this win, the former Portuguese champions start the next stage with zero points.
• In this group F, HC Vardar was the first team to beat group winners Melsungen 32:30, despite ten goals of MT top scorer Ian Barrufet – Vardar had been eliminated before, Melsungen will take four points to the main round.
• Nexe and Torrelavega finish the group matches without an any victory – like in the their first duel (32:32), the match at Croatia ended with a draw, this time 27:27.
• With his seventh and last goal, Dmytro Ilchinko secured Gornik Zabrze a farewell draw (25:25) against also eliminated Danish side Bjerringbro-Silkeborg; both teams did not score any goal in the last five minutes.

Main photo © Ingrid Anderson Jensen