Semi-finals: titleholders Barça take on Kiel; Veszprém play Kielce

Since the completion of the quarter-finals last week, the draw has been eagerly awaited by the clubs and fans alike. This draw result will only add to their excitement:

• THW Kiel vs Barça
• Telekom Veszprém vs Lomza Vive Kielce

The semi-finals will not necessarily be played in the order they were drawn from the pot. The exact playing schedule for Saturday 18 June will be confirmed in due time.

The two losing teams will contest the 3/4 placement match at LANXESS arena on Sunday 19 June, followed by the two winning teams playing the big final for the most coveted trophy in men’s club handball.

The draw at the EHF office in Vienna was conducted by EHF President Michael Wiederer and EHF Chief Sports Officer Markus Glaser in a ceremony moderated by Markus Floth.

Both pairings they have drawn were EHF Champions League finals in the past: Kiel and Barça met in the finals in 2000 (over two legs), 2010 and 2020; Veszprém and Kielce did so in 2016.

“This is a big happening, this is what you train for the whole season”

Kiel are looking forward to another mouth-watering clash with Barça, in a repeat of the 2020 final when the German side last lifted the trophy – their fourth overall.

“This is a big happening, this is what you train for the whole season,” Kiel left back Sander Sagosen said. “It is such an amazing weekend. Hopefully we can bring back the trophy to Kiel but it is quite hard.”

Barça narrowly lead the head-to-head comparison after 28 previous duels with Kiel, after 14 wins, two draws, and 12 defeats.

While Barça have not demonstrated the same dominance like last season, when they racked up a record 20 wins from 20 matches, the Spanish titleholders are of course strong contenders to defend their trophy.

“We have been struggling during the first half of the season. Now we are in the best shape again, but I don’t think we are the favourites,” Barça goalkeeper Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas said.

If Barça were to win the trophy again, it would not only be their record-extending 10th title, but they would also become the first team to win the EHF FINAL4 two years in a row, since the format was first introduced in the 2009/10 season.

“That is our challenge,” Pérez de Vargas said with a smile.

“I can not name one favourite but we are confident that we can beat everyone”

In the other semi-final, Veszprém are targeting their fifth EHF Champions League final and, ultimately, their first title.

On the first day in Cologne, they have to lock horns with Kielce, who won the title in 2016... in a final against Veszprém.

“It is a tough EHF FINAL4, very even,” Veszprém centre back Rasmus Lauge said. “I can not name one favourite but we are confident that we can beat everyone.”

Veszprém beat both Kielce and Barça on home court in Hungary in the group phase earlier this season.

“The team that wins, has to be on the top, top, top level in both games,” Lauge said about the EHF FINAL4.

Veszprém are holding a clear advantage in the head-to-head comparison, beating Kielce 11 times in their previous 16 meetings, with one draw and four wins for the Polish side.

Kielce are enjoying an impressive season, winning their group ahead of Barça, Paris Saint-Germain Handball and Veszprém, before comfortably beating Montpellier HB in the quarter-finals.

What makes the Polish champions so strong ahead of their semi-final against Veszprém?

“No secrets, just hard work,” Kielce right back Alex Dujshebaev said. “All the team has been playing amazing this season, I hope we can keep it going at the EHF FINAL4.”

Following their excellent performances so far this season, Kielce believe this is the year they can add a second EHF Champions League trophy.

Alex Dujshebaev has done it before – with Vardar in 2017 – and his father and coach, Talant, even did it multiple times as player and coach in the past.

On Sunday 19 June, they might be holding the trophy for the first time together.

“That would be amazing,” Alex Dujshebaev said. “Also with my brother, Dani.”