Starting whistle on European League Men 2025/26 main round

In the spotlight as the main round begins are a mighty German derby featuring the defending title holders SG Flensburg-Handewitt and 2024/25 semi-finalists THW Kiel, and a clash in an already tight group IV between Fredericia Håndboldklub and Kadetten Schaffhausen.

HIGHLIGHT MATCHES

GROUP I

SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) vs THW Kiel (GER)

Tuesday 17 February, 18:45 CET, live on EHFTV

• both teams start the main round on four points, making this a top-of-the-table clash to open group I
• both also have perfect records of victories behind them and topped their group matches tables, although Flensburg had a few closer results compared to Kiel; THW won all games in the first stage except one by at least eight goals
• Flensburg’s top scorer in the European League this season is back Marko Grgić (37 goals), who was key in Germany’s silver medal at the Men’s EHF EURO 2026
• Kiel are led by wing Bence Imre, on 31 goals; Imre also had a big EURO, finishing as seventh top scorer of the competition with 46 goals and recording an impressive accuracy of 80.7 per cent
• there is a long tradition between the sides, who have met close to 100 times before across all competitions; while Kiel have the upper hand in the historic record, they have not beaten Flensburg since 2021 and the title holders won in a Bundesliga clash this season

GROUP IV

Fredericia Håndboldklub (DEN) vs Kadetten Schaffhausen (SUI)

Tuesday 17 February, 18:45 CET, live on EHFTV

• the opening match of one of two main round groups with all teams level on two points; Fredericia are ranked first but the group is extremely tight to begin, with the goal difference that decides the positions ranging only from +1 to -1
• Kadetten made it to the main round on the last day of group matches, clinching group H’s second ticket behind Nexe thanks to a big win over Partizan; Fredericia also had a close contest to reach the main round but booked their place in round 5 of the group matches, following Hannover as the second-ranked group G side
• Fredericia are playing only their second international season, after debuting in the EHF Champions League 2024/25; this is their first participation in the EHF European League main round
• Kadetten are a seasoned European cup club, and have reached the knockout stage of the EHF European League in three out of four appearances in the competition — but they now return to the main round after missing it last season
• Kadetten wing Óðinn Ríkharðsson, who was part of the Iceland line-up that made a long-awaited return to the EHF EURO semi-finals in January, has netted 40 goals in the EHF European League to rank among the top 15 scorers

IN OTHER MATCHES

GROUP I

Montpellier Handball (FRA) vs IRUDEK Bidasoa Irun (ESP)
Tuesday 17 February, 20:45 CET, live on EHFTV

GROUP II

Elverum Håndball (NOR) vs Fraikin BM. Granollers (ESP)
Tuesday 17 February, 18:45 CET, live on EHFTV

FC Porto (POR) vs SAH - Aarhus (DEN)
Tuesday 17 February, 20:45 CET, live on EHFTV

GROUP III

Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR) vs HC Vardar 1961 (MKD)
Tuesday 17 February, 18:45 CET, live on EHFTV

MT Melsungen (GER) vs IFK Kristianstad (SWE)
Tuesday 17 February, 20:45 CET, live on EHFTV

GROUP IV

Recken - TSV Hannover-Burgdorf (GER) vs RK Nexe (CRO)
Tuesday 17 February, 20:45 CET, live on EHFTV

photos © Ingrid Anderson-Jensen (main); Niklas Lau Petersen (first in-text); Laura Etienne (last in-text)