Final Four in Cologne, While Macedonia Won a European Championship and Learned Its World Cup Group

Final Four in Cologne: tonight Barcelona chases a 12th trophy, Berlin its first

The handball weekend of the season peaks tonight in Cologne. In the final of the EHF Champions League, Barcelona and Fuchse Berlin clash - a pairing that has never played this tournament's final before. Barcelona is chasing a 12th trophy for its collection and revenge for last year's fourth place, while Berlin has its first shot at the top. Before the main match, Magdeburg and Aalborg fight for third. With one of the finalists guaranteed to write a new page of history, the "LANXESS arena" will not have an empty seat - unlike some pricier sports.

Two semifinals to remember: Barcelona after overtime, Berlin in a thriller

The final was reached through two dramas. Barcelona beat Aalborg 37:32, but only after overtime and 70 minutes of battle in front of a record 20,122 spectators. The Danes fought to the last seconds - Arnoldsen equalised 90 seconds before the end and forced overtime - but Barcelona's experience (eighth Final Four in a row) decided it in the end. In the other semifinal, Fuchse Berlin beat Magdeburg 40:35, revenge for last year's final it lost. Goalkeeper Dejan Milosavljev and Mathias Gidsel (9 goals) pulled Berlin through in the last ten minutes. Handball, unlike football, still sells on the game, not on dynamic pricing.

Macedonia is getting a European Championship: host of the U18 EC in 2028

While Cologne was celebrating the Final Four, at the meeting of the EHF Executive Committee a decision important for us was made - Macedonia will host the European Championship for handball players under 18 in 2028. A recognition that does not come by chance: handball is the sport in which this country has for decades played above its size. A youth European Championship means matches at home, foreign squads in our halls and a generation of players who will see the big stage in front of their own fans. Now comes the serious part - three years of preparation, so the recognition does not stay just a nice sentence from a meeting in Cologne.

Lazarov has learned the World Cup group: Macedonia in Magdeburg

Macedonia's men's handball national team has learned its opponents for the 2027 World Championship in Germany (13-31 January). The squad of head coach Kiril Lazarov has been placed in Group H in Magdeburg, alongside Iceland, Bahrain and Japan. Iceland from the first pot is a tough bite - a Nordic school that always plays above expectations - but Bahrain and Japan are opponents against whom Macedonia has something to say. Lazarov says the first match will be the most important, and he is right: at tournaments like this, the start often decides whether you play for a place or just for the experience. There is time until January 2027, but the road to the second round begins with the group draw.