Denmark end Norway's 19-game winning run

Norway had never lost in the Women's EHF EURO Cup: they had won all 19 matches and both trophies so far. In the final in Bucharest, Denmark brought them down 34:30 - in their first season in the competition, with eight wins from eight games. Goalkeeper Anna Kristensen was key again with 15 saves, just as in the semi-final against Romania, and Trine Jensen Østergaard scored eight goals from nine attempts. Henny Reistad scored 10 and finished as the tournament's top scorer with 56 goals, but it wasn't enough. For the Danes this is sweet revenge after losing the EHF EURO 2022 and 2024 finals and the Paris Olympics semi-final, all against the same opponent. Is this a preview of EHF EURO 2026, where the two Scandinavian powers could meet again?

Neighbours' derby for bronze: Romania edge Hungary

Hosts Romania took bronze with a 33:30 win over Hungary, in a match where neither side wanted to lose to the neighbours. Hungary led 12:9 thanks to 10 saves from Zsófi Szemerey, and Katrin Klujber finished with 11 goals. Romania clawed back to 16:16 before half-time, opened the second half with a 5:1 run, and turned four Hungarian turnovers into four goals for 29:25. In the closing stages, goalkeeper Bianca Curmenț shut the door. Two disappointed semi-finalists, and yet a match with the passion of a final.

Tomovski makes 16 saves against the German champions

Macedonia's national team goalkeeper Martin Tomovski spared Bietigheim an even heavier defeat away at Magdeburg. The German champions won 33:24, but Tomovski made 16 saves, a 33% save rate, including one-on-ones and double stops. He is currently second in the Bundesliga's goalkeeping rankings, in a league many consider the strongest in the world. Bietigheim's problem isn't between the posts. How long will a keeper with numbers like these stay at a team that keeps losing?

Vardar unbeaten ahead of the derby with Ohrid

Champions Vardar 1961 won 35:27 against Tikveš in Kavadarci, but not without a struggle. The visitors led 18:12 and it was 18:14 at half-time, but Kavadarci fought back in the second half to within a single goal, 19:20 and 20:21. Then Vardar raised the tempo again and a three-goal run settled the matter. Mateo Faduil scored seven, Leon Ljevar six, and goalkeeper Valach made 11 saves. For Tikveš, Toše Ončev scored six. With four wins from four rounds, Vardar head into the derby with Ohrid, and Alkaloid have the same record.

Pelister ready for their first European night against La Rioja

Eurofarm Pelister open their EHF European League season on Wednesday, 30 September, at home to Spain's La Rioja in the "Boro Čurlevski" hall, at 20:45. Almost three hours earlier, the Municipality of Bitola and the club will open the "Eighth Player" fan zone on the plaza in front of the hall, to mark 41 years of the "Čkembari" supporters' group. Music, club merchandise and a joint countdown before entering are on the programme. "There are seven on the court, and the eighth is in the stands," say the organisers. The fan zone is a nice gesture, but the night will be defined by the result the seven on the court write.