Five main round tickets still on the line as round 5 begins
The EHF Champions League Men 2026/27 group phase continues to deliver top action in round 5, as all games played this week still carry significant weight for all teams involved.
I feel that every victory matters to our fans, but a match against Berlin is one that everyone wants to attend. People in the city and beyond really look forward to these games, and as players, these are the matches we play handball for. I expect a very intense encounter. We know Berlin are an extremely strong team, but we have managed to beat them twice so far. It would be great to win a third time, and we will do everything we can to make that happen and win the group.
We’re almost like old friends now; we’ve played each other so many times over the last six months. That means this will be a match where the finer details will make all the difference. With Nils Lichtlein back in the squad compared to the first match and the IHF Club World Championship, we have more options to create an even better flow in attack. We’re looking forward to travelling to Veszprém, even though the heavy fixture list recently has left little time for tactical variation.
Our next game against Porto is like a small final for us. We’re improving day by day, and I believe we’re playing better with every game. We’ll fight hard to get the win. A few days ago, we played an excellent game in the Serbian league. We were focused both in attack and defence, and our goalkeeper had a fantastic night. That’s the kind of performance I want us to repeat. With the same approach, we can certainly secure our first Champions League win and move up to third place in the group.
We know we will be facing a team that has been improving game after game in the Champions League. We want to compete and win, and we will do everything we can to secure victory in a venue that will certainly be packed, with an atmosphere that will push us to give our very best.
We know we have a big Champions League match ahead of us, the kind we love, against a strong Vardar team that will never give up. It’s up to us to give everything we’ve got, with the support of our fans, to secure the two points. We don’t want to depend on other teams; we want to forge our own path and earn our place in the next round. Nothing is guaranteed, so we’ll have to go out there and fight for it.
We want to win and remain competitive, as we have been so far. We know that it is very difficult to win in Nantes. I do not want us to think that simply producing a good performance and leaving a positive impression will be enough. In Nantes, we must fight and show the right attitude and mentality, as we have always done. That must never be missing from our game.
These are difficult moments for us. We had high expectations and hoped to progress from the group stage. Nevertheless, we want to send a message for the future that we are still alive and competitive, and that
this team is continuing to develop. Every Champions League match is like a final for us. We must represent ourselves properly, and we want to learn from every game.
This is an all-or-nothing game. We have to win. We’re going to go all out. That’s why we need our fans and an electric atmosphere in the Rothenbach-Halle. I love games like this.
We expect another very evenly matched game against a strong opponent. We know how important the points are at this stage of the competition. We are very focused.
We came very close to earning points in Paris and Aalborg, but we were missing that little something. Both teams know each other well, and I believe the more determined side will come out on top. I hope our fans will fill the Arena on Wednesday for our final home Champions League match of the year. PSG are a strong and attractive opponent, and we need our supporters to be our eighth player.
We already faced Zagreb at home earlier this season and managed to get a good result, but we know it will be a different challenge playing them away. They are always a tough opponent, especially with the atmosphere in their arena, and we expect a strong reaction from them. We’ll need to be focused from the start, stay solid defensively and be efficient in attack. Even though we’ve already qualified, our ambition remains the same: to go there and fight for the two points.”
As a first time player in the EHF Champions League, it’s so far been a thrilling experience to play against the biggest teams on the biggest stage, where I hope to continue the good run against Celje in our home arena.
Aalborg is an exceptionally high-quality team, and playing against them is an excellent opportunity for our young squad to gain valuable international experience. Compared to the first match in Celje, we primarily need to eliminate certain defensive mistakes and improve our efficiency in attack. Although we won't be under pressure regarding the result in this match, we are not travelling to Denmark just to go through the motions — our desire is to put on the best performance possible, respond decisively to their style of play, stand up admirably to such a strong opponent and maybe also surprise them.
We have entered the decisive stage of the group phase, and there is a huge battle for the two qualification spots. We have an incredibly important match against GOG. They are a great team, but we are fighting for the win. The good news is that our squad has grown stronger, with Lazar Kukić and Lukas Sandell both returning, giving us more options. Our fans always give us tremendous support, and with them behind us, I am confident we can achieve our goal.
We are looking forward to a tough away game in Szeged. These are two teams that know each other inside out, and we will try to challenge them using our strengths.
Although we have already secured our qualification for the main round, we naturally want to achieve a victory in front of our own fans. We are facing a team that has improved with every match, so we must be prepared for the best version of Kristianstad and find a way to win.
This is a team that is in very good form. It’s going to be a very difficult match, especially after their recent performances, including the game against Montpellier. They have a very good seven-against-six attack and they execute it extremely well. So, to win a match like this, we need to perform well for the full 60 minutes. We must not forget that we’re going to give everything we have to secure the victory and the two points, because we’re still in the race. We’re going to give it our all.
We are expecting a really passionate home crowd, with the kind of atmosphere you normally associate with football: Loud chanting, huge banners and plenty of noise. It should be a great atmosphere for a Champions League game in Bucharest.
Of course Montpellier is a special rival for me, but we know Montpellier at their best can beat any team. Actually, we saw how good they are last month in France. It will be important to be in control of the match since the first minute and to grind in defence, as we have been doing lately.
For us, this is one of the easiest matches to approach mentally, as we are travelling to face the reigning champions. Mathematically, we are not yet eliminated from the Champions League, although our fate is no longer entirely in our own hands. If Aarhus win in Bucharest, we will be eliminated. Nevertheless, we will try to give everything until the very end and, beyond the Champions League, build on the positive signs we showed in our match against Limoges.
The performance of my team last week against Kolstad deserves praise and has got me excited. We practically executed everything we set out to do. Now comes the showdown against Industria Kielce on Wednesday. We have respect for this big name in European handball and will need the perfect game against the Poles to win by at least two goals. The sold-out Pilatus Arena and our fantastic crowd will hopefully help us to make the last group game in the EHF Champions League a success.
We have to show what we’re capable of and prove that we deserve our place in the Champions League. HC Kriens-Luzern have found their rhythm and have quality players with Bundesliga experience. They’ll want to make the most of playing at home.
We have to take away their biggest weapon: their seven-against-six game. It’s nothing new in handball. The idea is to create opportunities for shots from the six-metre line, and we have to do everything we can to force them into shooting from tight angles or from nine metres out
To play against the world’s best team is an incredible experience. It’s a chance to challenge yourself, test your skills, and learn from the best. Every moment on the court is an opportunity to grow, fight together as a team, and prove that anything is possible.
The fact that this game does not have any bearing on our qualification shows how well we have performed so far. Nevertheless, the match still matters. We are a team that wants to win every game, and that’s no different against Kolstad.
