From the archives: EHF Champions League group stage final matchdays
Be there six, ten or fourteen matchdays, the last game of an EHF Champions League group stage is typically a crucial one - and this 2024-2025 edition is no exception to the rule. As we approach this last trip to Pelister, we invite you to delve into the archives of previous seasons.
Where will Paris Saint-Germain finish in the group stage of this EHF Champions League campaign? As is often the case, there is total suspense heading into the final matchday. Last season, the match against Szeged was a high-stakes affair, although less important than Thursday's trip to North Macedonia. Led by a ruthless Kamil Syprzak, who scored ten goals, Paris overcame a solid Hungarian team (37-33). This success allowed Les Rouge et Bleu to take third place at the expense of Kielce, who were held at the same time by Aalborg (35-35).
Record wins
Two years earlier, the Parisians put on a show to conclude a well-managed group stage. Against Elverum, Raul Gonzalez's men delivered a show of force and clinched their biggest European win of the season (44-29) to take second place. Once again, it was Kielce who paid the price, dropping to third place following their defeat in Flensburg (28-31).
Speaking of big wins, it's impossible not to dwell on the one against Kiel in 2017 (42-24). Driven by a dazzling performance from the trio of Uwe Gensheimer (seven goals), Nikola Karabatic (seven goals) and Mikkel Hansen (six goals), Paris gave the German giants a real lesson - while at the same time recording their biggest-ever Champions League win. Although it had no impact on the final standings, with Les Rouge et Bleu already assured of finishing second, that victory remains to this day one of the most memorable in the European history of the capital club.
Finally, the 2015-2016 campaign also had its share of pleasant surprises for Paris Saint-Germain Handball fans. Although it began with a setback in Flensburg (39-32), the group stage for Zvonimir Serdarusic's men turned out to be one of the most successful in the club's history. On the final matchday, our Rouge et Bleu took their revenge against the German team (35-32) and finished top of the group for the first time.
The final matchday of the EHF Champions League group stage is often an important one and can prove to be one of the turning points of a season. Over the years, this final clash before the knockout phase has regularly favoured Paris, with nine wins, one draw and two defeats in the previous twelve campaigns in the club's history. A good omen for Raul Gonzalez's men's trip to Pelister? We'll find out on Thursday evening.
(Credits: Team Pics/PSG)