Dijon's incredible comeback crucial for the EHF European League title

FINAL

THÜRINGER HC (GER) VS JDA BOURGOGNE DIJON HANDBALL (FRA) 25:29 (15:6)

H2H: 1-0-1
Top scorers: Johanna Reichert 8/13 (Thüringer HC); Nina Dury 9/10 (JDA Bourgogne Dijon Handball)

• THC had a blistering start, building on Dijon's turnovers and setting an early 4:1 lead
• Dijon's struggles continued with new turnovers, but also due to Laura Kuske's saves — Dijon scored only two goals in 17 minutes, with a goalless stretch between minutes 6 and 17
• THC widened the gap to nine when Natsuki Aizawa scored her first in the 10th minute and they kept it until half-time
• Dijon's six goals marked the fewest goals at half-time for a team at an EHF Finals Women match, tying them with HSG Blomberg-Lippe
• the hosts came into the second half with a new-found energy, and a scoring run paired with Manuella Dos Reis' saves narrowed the gap to 16:18
• the run continued as the nerves started to kick in for THC — Nina Dury first scored to level (21:21) and Manuella Dos Reis' save in the 52nd minute turned the game around
• with five minutes to go, Dijon were leading by two and bringing the whole arena to their feet
• despite their efforts, Thüringer didn't find ways for their own comeback, although the EHF European League Women top scorer, Johanna Reichert, led with eight goals
• Nina Dury and Adriana Holejova led Dijon to the title with 14 goals combined; the Slovakian right back received the MVP award for her performance over the weekend

HISTORIC COMEBACK

Just when it looked like the final was slipping away, Dijon found a way back into the game. Trailing by nine goals and struggling to find answers against Thüringer’s defence for the first 30 minutes of the game, the hosts suddenly turned the flow in front of their fans.

With more aggression in defence and attack, Dijon started to build their incredible comeback in the second half. Minute by minute, they were closer to Thüringer, and each goal made the reigning champions more nervous as the atmosphere inside the Palais des Sports JM Geoffroy came to a boil and pushed the French side forward.

The turning point came in the 53rd minute when Manuella Dos Reis saved a penalty and opened door for Dijon's first lead in the game — Holejova took it as she scored her fifth for 22:21, a goal that was the beginning of writing history. The Slovakian international, playing her first season with Dijon, stepped up and finished as the EHF Finals Dijon métropole 2026 with 15 goals.

Photos © Foxaep