Vardar Lost in Kassel 33:31, but Showed It Has Business in the Champions League

Vardar lost in Kassel 33:31 - but returned where it belongs

After a long absence, two-time European champion Vardar 1961 played in the Champions League again, and immediately drew the hardest possible start - away to Melsungen in Kassel. It finished 33:31 to the hosts, with both halves settled by a single goal: 16:15 and 17:16. The Macedonian champions were not tourists. Vukašin Vorkapić scored 9 goals, six of them before the break, and when Vasil Gogov came into goal in the second half, Vardar closed to 27:28 and the many travelling fans in Kassel came out of their seats. The Germans only saved themselves when Johannes Golla made it 32:29 in the 58th minute. Vardar coach Ivan Čupić admitted there had been moments to equalise or lead, but that Melsungen's win was deserved. In the next round the "red and blacks" host Nantes at the Jane Sandanski arena. A defeat, but not one of the kind you hide.

Ivanoski is round MVP in Slovenia - seven goals and the most votes

Macedonian international Mihail Ivanoski has been named best player of the second round in Slovenia's first league. The right back led his team in a 34:27 win over Ajdovščina, with seven goals. Also shortlisted were Aljuš Anžič of Celje, Klemen Ferlin of Slovan Ljubljana, Lovro Višček of Trimo, Aleš Zemljič of Ormož and Matevž Zagar of Krka - competition that is no accident in a league with a solid European reputation. The fans voted, and Ivanoski got the most. Macedonian handball has long exported players, and they quietly build reputations in other countries' leagues, usually without a single line in the domestic news. This time the line is written.

Barcelona began its title defence, Paris rescued a point on the buzzer

The 2026/27 Champions League season officially opened on Wednesday with seven matches in one evening. Defending champions Barcelona needed time to warm up, then went past newcomers Aarhus 39:28, with Ferran Solé scoring 10 goals, including a penalty in the last second. Magdeburg, champions in 2023 and 2025, gave Kolstad no chance - 37:22, with seven goals each from Omar Ingi Magnússon. The most dramatic scene was in Aalborg, where Paris levelled at 33:33 on the buzzer and were the only visitors to take a point. The other French side, Nantes, waited until the final second to edge Płock 26:25. The evening's top scorer was Aljuš Anžič of Celje with 11 goals, though his team still lost in Zagreb 29:31. Kielce, Zagreb and Veszprém took their first points at home.

Füchse Berlin handed Partizan a historic defeat - 44:33

The second half of the opening round produced numbers rarely seen. Füchse Berlin scored 44 goals in Belgrade against Partizan and won 44:33 - their most convincing victory and highest goal tally in their Champions League history. The Serbs returned to the competition after 14 years away and failed to unsettle the Germans for even a moment: after only 12 minutes the gap was five goals, and by the break it was already 23:15. Mathias Gidsel scored 9, Tobias Grøndahl 8, Leo Prantner 7 - 24 goals between the three of them. Partizan's new coach Raúl González admitted it openly: "In the first half we lost a lot of balls in attack, and this is a fast team with many quality players. We have to improve a great deal to compete more." The same evening Szeged swept past Kristianstad 42:31, and Sporting beat GOG 43:33.

The new Champions League format - 24 teams on the road to Cologne

What ties all these results together is the new system. This season 24 teams set off on the "Road to Cologne", in a group stage arranged differently from previous years. For Vardar that matters directly: in group B, the Macedonian champions share a group with Melsungen, winners of the EHF European League last season. Melsungen played their first match in the elite carrying extra weight, because their coach Roberto García Parrondo was facing a former club of his own. In this arrangement one home win is worth more than it used to be. Which is why the meeting with Nantes at Jane Sandanski is not just another round.