Handball Champions League Guide: New Format, Favorites, and German Teams’ Path to Glory

Expanded 24-Team Format and the Road to Cologne

The revised tournament structure divides the 24 participating clubs into six preliminary groups of four teams each, according to the European Handball Federation. The top two finishers in each group advance directly to the main round, which features two groups of six. From there, the top four teams in each main round group qualify for the two-legged knockout quarterfinals. The remaining four victorious clubs will then battle for the title at the TruckScout24 EHF Final4 in Cologne on June 12 and 13, 2027.

SC Magdeburg Opens Title Defense Against Kielce

SC Magdeburg enters the competition as one of the definitive favorites, carrying a championship pedigree that includes back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2025 alongside four consecutive appearances at the Cologne final weekend. Managed by head coach Bennet Wiegert, the German champions open their Group F campaign at home on Wednesday against Polish powerhouse Industria Kielce. Magdeburg’s group schedule also features Norway’s Kolstad Håndball and Swiss champions HC Kriens-Luzern, a side coached by former Bundesliga standout Andy Schmid.

Füchse Berlin Target Glory in Group A

Füchse Berlin enter the elite European competition carrying the weight of two consecutive European League runner-up finishes and a determined ambition to claim their first-ever Champions League trophy. Paced by star backcourt player and reigning World Player of the Year Mathias Gidsel, the German cup winners land in Group A. Their group itinerary pits them against Hungarian powerhouse One Veszprém HC, Portuguese runners-up FC Porto, and Serbian champions Partizan Belgrad, with Berlin opening their schedule away against Partizan on Thursday.

MT Melsungen Makes Debut in Group B

MT Melsungen complete the German trio as they make their maiden appearance in Europe’s premier club competition following their European League triumph. Drawn into Group B, the North Hessian side faces a tough baptism of fire against French runners-up HBC Nantes, Polish runners-up Wisla Plock, and North Macedonian champions Vardar Skopje. Melsungen opens its group schedule on Thursday against Vardar Skopje, a familiar opponent after the two sides split European matches last season.

Continental Heavyweights and Contenders

Outside of the German challenge, the tournament features traditional powerhouses led by defending champions and record titleholders FC Barcelona. The Catalan club, which has locked down the Spanish domestic title for 15 years, secured their 13th Champions League crown in June by defeating Füchse Berlin in the final. Other major threats include Veszprém—bolstered by the addition of Danish star goalkeeper Emil Nielsen—and Danish champions Aalborg Håndbold, featuring German international back Juri Knorr.

Broadcast and Streaming Rights

Fans wishing to follow the action can tune in through exclusive digital coverage provided by streaming service Dyn, which holds the rights for all Champions League matches featuring German Bundesliga clubs. Beginning with the quarterfinal stage, Dyn’s coverage expands to broadcast every match across the tournament, including fixtures without German participants. Selected matches and supplementary shoulder programming are scheduled to air on the free-to-air channel Dyn Sport Mix.