Eight years after Montpellier, winner in 2018 after a first coronation 15 years earlier, will a second French club win the Champions of Hand League? Answer on June 16, 2026 after an always captivating Four Four.
Until then, sixteen teams are starting from this Wednesday on the starting line. Among them: two French women, PSG and Nantes, which target participation in the Final Four.
From ten countries, the sixteen clubs are divided into two groups. In A, we find Nantes, Aalborg (dan.), Veszprem (Hon.), Berlin (All.), Bucharest (Rou.), Sporting Portugal (Port), Kielce (Pol), and Kolstad (Nor.). PSG is found in B, with Barcelona (esp.), Magdeburg (All.), The title holder where he moves this Wednesday (8:45 p.m.), Szeged (Hon.), Zagreb (Cro), Pelister (Mac.), Plock (Pol), and Gudme (Dan.).
Who will prevent Germany from triumphing?
At the end of a first phase in the form of a championship until mid-March, the two teams classified in the first two places will go directly to the quarterfinals. Those classified between the third and the sixth will go through an additional round, a dam (the equivalent of an 8th finals) in the round trip against an opponent from the other group. The two clubs in the last two places will be eliminated. The four training courses qualified at the end of the quarterfinals will play the Final Four in Cologne in the form of a half and a final over two days.
Since 2019, the trophy has been shared between German clubs (Kiel, Magdeburg) and FC Barcelona. Taking the title and champion in 2023, Magdeburg still appears from favorite, ahead of Barcelona of the French captain Dika Mem and that of the French team Ludovic Fabregas, back in Catalonia.
Berlin, European vice-champion, the Hungarians of Veszprem from Nedim Remili, Hugo Descat and Yanis Lenne like the Polish of Kielce with his Tricolores like Dylan Nahi or Plock with Melvyn Richardson are also serious pretenders.
“Do not relive this kind of feeling that we hate”
For PSG, this campaign is that of redemption. The Paris club was eliminated in the round of 16 last spring. His worst result in twelve participations since QSI has become the owner. “It is important to keep it in mind to avoid reproducing it, and to reuse it positively so as not to relive this kind of feeling that we hate,” insists Elohim Prandi.
The objective is to return to Cologne where Paris has not gone since 2023. “I am sure that we can show that we are still part of the highest international level,” considers the new coach Stefan Madsen.
The problem is that PSG falls into a complicated hen with Magdeburg, Barça, Plock and Szeged, its spring of spring. Going directly to the quarterfinals will already be a great performance.
Paris will play her first game at home against the Macedonians of Pelister on September 18. Note already the arrival of Barça on Wednesday, November 19.
“The most raised group” for Nantes
Regarding Nantes which went up on the podium of the Final Four last June by finishing third thanks to a victory against a disillusioned Barça, the task promises to be as complicated. With a “very very difficult” hen, made up of Kielce, Berlin and Veszprem.
“For me, this is the most raised group. We will therefore already try to qualify for the dam, “continues coach Grégory Cojean, whose team is also measured by a sacred customer, with the reception of Berlin, vice-champion of Europe, this Thursday (8:45 pm).
All matches of French clubs will be broadcast live on Eurosport 2.
