EHF Champions League: Matchday 12 review

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By beating Fredericia (32-38), Paris Saint-Germain Handball pulled off a great result this week in EHF Champions League Group A. Hewre's what happened in the rest of the action on Matchday 12.

Les Rouge et Bleu's two main competitors in the race for second place in Group A (which qualifies directly for the quarter-finals), Sporting and Berlin, have were both defeated. The Portuguese did not, however, give up without a fight away to Veszprém. Against the leaders, the Portuguese for a long time thought they would bring back more than a point from Hungary (45': 25-27) before finally leaving empty-handed (33-32).

The task was much more complicated for the Germans in Plock. Winners last week at Coubertin (28-31), the Poles confirmed their good form with an exceptional first half (30': 19-11). Despite a second-half surge from Berlin, it was Plock who recorded a second successive European win in 2025 (32-27). Finally, Pelister got back into the qualification race, the North Macedonians securing a precious win in the dying moments against Bucharest thanks to a briliant save from goalkeeper Nikola Mitrevski (25-24).

The Table

The Parisian victory in Fredericia (32-38), combined with the defeats of Berlin and Sporting, means that the capital club has re-taken second place in the group. But their pursuers are not far behind: the Portuguese and Germans are respectively only one and two points behind. Just behind them, Dinamo Bucharest can no longer directly for the quarter finals and are no longer certain of getting through to the play-offs either, as Plock and Pelister are lying in wait just two points behind the Romanians. At the back of the pack, the European adventure is over for the Danish team of Fredericia. Veszprém, on the other hand, are already assured of finishing top of the group.

Matchday 13 fixtures

The clash of the week will be played at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin on Thursday, with an enticing match-up between the top two that could see Les Rouge et Bleu move closer to the quarter-finals with a win. Berlin and Sporting will start as favourites in their home duels against Fredericia and Pelister, while Plock will have the opportunity to confirm their upward trajectory and position themselves well in the race for qualification. To do so, they will have to win away to Bucharest - by three goals to in order overhaul the head-to-head goal difference after the 26-28 defeat in the first leg.

(Credits: L.Valroff/PSG)