Why not to miss Melsungen vs Vardar in round 1

When the opening buzzer for their match sounds at the Rothenbachhalle in Kassel on Thursday at 20:45 CEST, it marks the start of a very special season for both MT Melsungen and HC Vardar 1961.

Coming fresh off their EHF European League triumph, Melsungen appear in Europe's top-flight competition for the first time in the German club's history.

And two-time champions Vardar return to the EHF Champions League more than five years after the Macedonian side's last appearance, in the 2020/21 play-offs, and seven years after claiming their second title.
 

"Huge source of motivation"

"By winning the European League title, the team has earned a spot in the Champions League. Now we will compete against the best teams in Europe. That is a huge source of motivation," says Melsungen coach Roberto Garcia Parrondo prior to the highlight match of round 1.

For Garcia Parrondo, the opening match of the 2026/27 season is extra spicy, since he was the head coach of Vardar when they won the EHF Champions League in 2019.

"Something special" are also the words Melsungen team captain Johannes Golla uses.

"Everyone is eagerly looking forward to the match against Vardar. And, of course, we want to secure two points right from the start. Personally, I am really excited to be playing in this competition again," says the line player, who returned to Melsungen over the summer after seven seasons at SG Flensburg-Handewitt.

The excitement at the other side of the court for Thursday's match is just as big.

"We will travel to Germany determined to show that we are ready for this competition," says Vardar head coach Ivan Cupic, who is in his second season on the bench of the club where he spent five successful years as a right wing — including the 2019 top-flight title under Garcia Parrondo.

Cupic's team hold the advantage in the head-to-head comparison after they met four times in the past, with three wins for Vardar against one for Melsungen.

Interestingly, their last duels took place as recent as half a year ago — in the EHF European League 2025/26 main round, when Vardar won both at home and away against the eventual champions.
 

"Our team has great potential"

According to Cupic, those results don't count for much when it comes to Thursday's game.

"We expect a completely different match from the ones we played against Melsungen last season. This is now the opening of the EHF Champions League, and our opponents have a full squad available and enter the match as favourites," Cupic says.

Vardar team captain Vasil Gogov agrees with his coach.

"We expect a difficult match against a strong opponent with a deep squad, capable of posing a threat from both nine and six metres," the goalkeeper says. "Our team has great potential, but we must continue working hard and every one of us must give their maximum. I believe we can deliver a strong performance at the start of our European campaign.”
 

Live on EHFTV

MT Melsungen vs HC Vardar 1961 begins Thursday at 20:45 CEST. The other two teams in group B are HBC Nantes and Orlen Wisla Plock, who meet in France on Wednesday at 20:45 CEST.

All matches of the EHF Champions League Men 2026/27 are streamed live on EHFTV (geo-restrictions apply) and are available through various TV broadcasters.

photos © HC Vardar 1961 (main); MT Melsungen (in-text)