Vardar lost in Kassel 33:31, but were not taken apart - and that is the difference

Macedonian champions Vardar 1961 began the Champions League with a defeat to debutants Melsungen in Germany, 33:31. Coach Ivan Cupic could not call on all his options, and his assessment after the match came without excuses: "We had a few moments, our own chances, when we could have levelled and even gone ahead. The atmosphere was excellent and it helped the home team win deservedly." The Spaniard on the Melsungen bench, Roberto Garcia Parrondo, was less generous to himself: "A quality performance by my team against a tough opponent. This is the Champions League and winning is never easy." Two goals in Germany, against a team making its elite debut with a budget from another planet - Vardar have not been among the favourites for a long time, but this was an evening when they were not extras either.

Fuchse Berlin hit Partizan 44:33 - the biggest win in their Champions League history

The second evening round produced numbers that look like basketball. Fuchse Berlin beat Partizan 44:33 - the most convincing and highest-scoring win in the Berlin club's entire Champions League history. Mathias Gidsel scored nine goals, Tobias Grondahl eight, Leo Prantner seven - three players, 24 goals. Partizan return to the elite after a 14-year break and new coach Raul Gonzalez tried various options, but the match was settled by half-time, when Berlin had 23 goals. In the same round Pick Szeged scored over 40 goals for the first time in 25 Champions League seasons (42:31 against Kristianstad), and Sporting beat GOG 43:33. Defence as a concept took the week off.

Barcelona began their title defence, Paris rescued themselves in the last second

The first round of the group stage produced seven matches and one constant: away teams barely took any points. Defending champions Barcelona outplayed debutants SAH Aarhus 39:28, while Magdeburg left Kolstad no chance - 37:22, with seven goals from Omar Ingi Magnusson. Even Paris managed to come away with a point, levelling in the final second in Aalborg for 33:33, with ten goals from Ferran Sole. Nantes beat Plock 26:25, also at the last moment. The top scorer was Aljus Anzic of Celje with 11 goals, but that did not save his team from a 29:31 defeat in Zagreb. Veszprem and Kielce also won at home. Home advantage in handball is once again worth more than its reputation.

Mihail Ivanoski is round MVP in Slovenia

Macedonian international Mihail Ivanoski has been named best player of the second round in Slovenia's top division. The right back put in an excellent performance against Ajdovscina, a match his team won 34:27, and he was the top scorer with seven goals. Also shortlisted were Aljus Anzic of Celje, Klemen Ferlin of Slovan Ljubljana, Lovro Viscek of Trimo, Ales Zemljic of Ormoz and Matevz Zagar of Krka - competition not to be underestimated. Fans voted, and Ivanoski received the most votes. Macedonian handball is getting most of its good news this year from abroad rather than from home. It is worth noting who is carrying the country on their back while the domestic league tries to get back on its feet.

HC Ohrid defend their European title - and the competition has never been bigger

The EHF European Cup began its new season with a record: 38 teams from 21 countries enter as early as the first round, more than ever in the competition's history - the previous record was 30 teams in the 2021/22 season. A total of 83 teams registered for this season, and the 19 winners from the first round in October will join the remaining 45 teams in the second round. That is exactly where the defending champions come in - HC Ohrid. Ohrid start their defence in the second round, spared the earliest crush. A Macedonian club defending a European trophy is not a sentence we write often, so it is worth repeating slowly. The question is whether the domestic system will know how to use it, or let it pass as an anecdote.