Denmark end Norway's run: 34:30 in the EHF EURO Cup final

One of the longest streaks in women's handball fell in Bucharest. Norway, two-time winners of the EHF EURO Cup, lost the final to Denmark 30:34 after 19 consecutive wins in the competition. Coach Helle Thomsen's Danes led almost from start to finish, and goalkeeper Anna Kristensen was the hero again with 15 saves, just as in the semi-final against hosts Romania. Henny Reistad scored 10 in the final and is the tournament's top scorer with 56 in total, but it wasn't enough. Denmark lost the EHF EURO 2022 and 2024 finals to none other than Norway. Is Bucharest a sign that the order is changing ahead of EHF EURO 2026?

EHF European League: Pelister open with a heavy defeat, Nexe and Izviđač celebrate

The new men's EHF European League kicked off with 16 matches, and Macedonia's representative Eurofarm Pelister had a rough start - 24:31 at home to Spain's Logroño, after trailing 8:16 at half-time. The rest of the region had a better day: Croatia's Nexe beat France's Saint-Raphaël 33:26, Izviđač of Bosnia and Herzegovina edged Chambéry 34:33, and Slovenia's Slovan won away at Tatabánya. Croatia's Sesvete lost 27:34 to Sävehof. Eight goals down at the break says it all - Pelister lost the game before they even found their rhythm. In a group with six rounds, a start like this leaves little room for mistakes.

Women's Champions League: Budućnost without a point, Krim nearing a milestone

After the international break, the women's EHF Champions League resumes with round four, and the Balkan clubs are at the bottom. Budućnost of Podgorica still have no points, have the weakest attack in the competition (68 goals in three games) and, under new coach Maja Savić, face unbeaten Esbjerg, led by top scorer Henny Reistad with 30 goals. Slovenia's Krim, also without a win, host Brest, who have three wins from three - but Krim will play their 350th Champions League match, only the second club after Budućnost to reach that number. The match of the round is the Hungarian-Romanian clash Ferencváros - CSM Bucharest. The two clubs with the most appearances in the competition's history, and neither has a win - are the Balkans losing pace with the Scandinavian and French competition?

Vardar: two Champions League defeats, Wisła Płock arrive on 8 October

Macedonian champions Vardar are pointless after two rounds of the Champions League: a defeat away to Melsungen and at home to Nantes in the Jane Sandanski arena. Their third attempt comes against Poland's Wisła Płock on 8 October at 20:45 in Skopje. Tickets are on sale for 400 to 600 denars, online and at the fan shop in the arena, and the club is asking fans to arrive by 20:30 to avoid crowds at the entrance. Ivan Čupić's side must get their first win before the group runs away from them. In a group like this, every home game is a final.

Super League: Vardar - Ohrid derby with referees from Bitola

Round five of the Macedonian Super League brings a derby: Vardar v Ohrid, on Saturday (3 October) at 18:30 in the Jane Sandanski arena. The whistle goes to the Bitola pair Dimitar Mitrevski and Blagojče Todorovski. The round opens with Butel Skopje - Eurofarm Pelister today at 14:00, and on Saturday Alkaloid - Tikveš, Prilep - Struga, Multi Essence - Mladost Bogdanci and Eurofarm Pelister 2 - Kumanovo are also played. For Ohrid this is a test of how well they can really stand up to the champions. For Vardar, still looking for a win in Europe, it's a chance to restore at least some calm at home.