Viborg and Boden reach qualification round 3, Ramnicu Valcea dominate

EHF / Filip Mishov

04 October 2026, 21:08

The new campaign in the EHF European League Women began with last season's bronze medallists, Viborg HK progressing to qualification round 3 after a dominant win on aggregate (72:41) against AEK in the double-header played in Denmark, while Boden Handboll IF eliminated (61:54) the reigning EHF European Cup champions, Club Balonmán Atlético Guardes in the second double-header played over the weekend.

In the other matches, the French pair, St Amand HB-Porte du Hainaut and OGC Nice Cote d Azur Handball stole the show by recording victories against Vác and Larvik, respectively, while Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Chambray Touraine Handball, VfL Oldenburg and CSM Corona Brasov were among the teams who recorded big wins and moved ever closer to reaching the next round.

QUALIFICATION ROUND 2, FIRST LEGS

HIGHLIGHT MATCHES

SCM RAMNICU VALCEA (ROU) vs TUSSIES METZINGEN (GER) 39:24 (19:11)

The Bundesliga club took Ramnicu Valcea by surprise at the beginning with Johanna Farkas & co. rushing into an early three-goal lead (0:3) inside the opening minutes, but the hosts replied by going on a goalscoring run without reply and completely overturning the result (4:3) in the 11^th minute. Up until the 21^st minute, Metzingen was within touching distance from Florentin Pera's squad, but the goalkeeper, June Krogh (15 saves, 40 per cent of save efficiency) allowed only one goal until half-time from that point with SCM building a formidable advantage (19:11). With the Romanian club up and running in the second half and the goals well spread within their roster (12 different goalscorers), Metzingen suffered a double-digit defeat with only six players getting on the scoresheet, but with Johanna Farkas ending the match as the top scorer (nine goals).

HC GJORCHE PETROV-WHC AD SKOPJE (MKD) vs DHK BANIK MOST (CZE) 22:18 (10:10)

In a close first half, Banik Most were in control of the result with Matej Šustácek's squad even holding a three-goal lead (7:4) in the 19^th minute, but Gjorche Petrov did not give up and remained determined to narrow the deficit. Subsequently, Mile Bochkarovski's squad scored six goals in comparison to the Czech club's three until the break and nothing could separate the sides. The drama continued in the second half with the Skopje-based club taking a two-goal lead (12:10) in the 35^th minute, but come the 45^th minute, the scoreline was still level (14:14). The Lionesses took a huge step towards securing victory in the 53^rd minute with Emilijana Rizoska opening a four-goal lead (19:15), which proved crucial in the end, and Andjela Guberinic finished as the match's top scorer (seven goals from seven attempts).

IN OTHER MATCHES

Boden Handboll IF (SWE) vs Club Balonmán Atlético Guardes (ESP) 30:28 (17:15)

Club Balonmán Atlético Guardes (ESP) vs Boden Handboll IF (SWE) 26:31 (13:18)

Boden progress on aggregate (61:54)

Viborg HK (DEN) vs AEK (GRE) 42:24 (19:11)

AEK (GRE) vs Viborg HK (DEN) 17:30 (6:16)

Viborg progress on aggregate (72:41)

Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR) vs ZRK Zrinski Cakovec (CRO) 31:16 (18:6)

ZRK Naisa Nis (SRB) vs Bursa Büyüksehir BSK (TUR) 29:28 (13:11)

Molde Elite (NOR) vs A.C. PAOK (GRE) 27:24 (12:11)

Hypo Niederösterreich (AUT) vs IK Sävehof (SWE) 27:31 (14:16)

ZRK Bjelovar (CRO) vs Chambray Touraine Handball (FRA) 25:37 (14:21)