The men's handball Champions League final has been set » Barcelona and Fuchse Berlin will fight for the trophy in Koln on Sunday

In the end, Barcelona's experience and Emil Nielsen's decisive interventions made the difference, and the Catalans prevailed and will fight for the trophy against Fuchse Berlin on Sunday. In the first semi-final, the Germans eliminated the trophy holder, Magdeburg, score 40-35.

Compared to the first semi-final, the goalkeepers of the two teams stood out quickly. It is about the people who have written history in recent years in the shirt of the Danish national team, Niklas Landin (Aalborg) and the successor of Emil Nielsen (Barcelona).

Barcelona narrowly escaped an emotionless qualification

The semi-final in Koln looked for a long time headed for a relatively comfortable Barcelona success. The Catalans took control after the Danes' better start and went into the break with a four-goal advantage, 15-11.

In the second half, Carlos Ortega's line-up continued to dominate and even pulled away to within five lengths with qualifying in their pocket. One of the decisive people of the party was Emil Nielsen.

The Barcelona keeper had an impressive run of saves and repeatedly blocked Aalborg's attempts to get back into the game. However, the end of the semi-final was a crazy one. With just minutes to go, Barcelona were leading by two goals, 28-26, and seemed to have sealed qualification.

Aalborg refused to give in, however, and made a spectacular comeback, tying the score at 28-28 with less than a minute left on the scoreboard.

The drama did not stop there. In the last phase of regulation time, Barcelona sent the ball into the goal and sparked joy in the Catalan camp, but the referees canceled the success because time had expired before the throw-in. Thus, the semi-final went into overtime.

The experience of the Catalans made the difference

After the shock of the Danes' comeback, Barcelona managed to regain their lucidity in extra time. The Catalans managed the decisive moments better, took advantage of the experience gained in the many Final Fours played in recent years and qualified for the final of the competition.

Barcelona were also helped by Aalborg's errors in extra time, with the Danes failing to take advantage of the game without a goalkeeper. In the 7 vs. 6 system, the Nordics lost the ball no less than five times, and the Catalans scored each time in an empty net.

For Barcelona it is a new opportunity to add a European trophy to their record.

Gala duel for the Koln trophy

Sunday's final brings two of the most spectacular teams of the European season face to face. Barcelona is the club with the richest record in the history of the competition and starts with experience on its side. On the other hand, Fuchse Berlin is dreaming of the biggest performance in the club's history.

FINAL » Aalborg – Barcelona 32-27

Final match in Koln! Barcelona prevails 37-32 after extra time in front of Aalborg and gets the qualification in the final of the Champions League in men's handball.
The Catalans managed the decisive moments better and took advantage of the Danes' repeated errors in the game without a goalkeeper. In the last act, Barcelona will meet Fuchse Berlin, a team that passed Magdeburg in the first semi-final

Min. 66: No goalkeeper again, problems for Aalborg again! The Danes lose possession and Barcelona immediately take advantage. Luis Frade scores in an empty net and seems to have definitively closed the accounts of the qualification. 30-34
Min. 65: Aalborg repeats the same mistake just seconds away. The Danes lose the ball again in attack, even though they are playing without a goalkeeper, and Barcelona take advantage and score once again in an empty net. 30-33
Min. 64: What a huge mistake by Aalborg! The Danes inexplicably lose possession when they were playing without a goalkeeper and had numerical superiority on the field. Barcelona immediately take advantage and score in an empty net. 30-32
Min. 63: Unbelievable what is happening! The goalkeepers are again in the center of attention and manage to make spectacular interventions from one phase to another. We have an absolutely sensational match. An unmissable semifinal for any handball fan! 30-30
Min. 61: Absolutely crazy start of overtime! No less than three goals were scored in the first minute, and Aalborg is the team taking the lead. 30-29

FINAL! We have overtime: Aalborg – Barcelona 28-28
Min. 60: Incredible ending! Barcelona scores in the last phase, but the goal is not validated, because the time had expired. The semi-final goes to extra time, after a spectacular comeback by Aalborg in the last minutes. 28-28
Min. 59: What an incredible finish in Koln! Aalborg equalize with a superb throw and bring the semi-final back to a tie with less than a minute left to play. 28-28

28:28 😱😳🥵#ehffinal4 #ehfcl #clm #handball pic.twitter.com/IvZ4fyJmCB

— EHF Champions League (@ehfcl) June 13, 2026

Min. 56: Barcelona strike at a crucial moment in the semi-final! The Catalans score and break away again with a two goal difference, putting pressure on Aalborg with just a few minutes to go. 26-28
Min. 50: Nielsen is unbeatable at these times! The Barcelona goalkeeper makes another save and continues the excellent performance that keeps the Catalans in the lead. 23-25
Min. 47: Aalborg makes a spectacular comeback in the match! The Danes score and reduce the gap to just one goal after being five lengths behind Barcelona a few minutes ago. The Catalans dispute the phase and demand explanations from the referees, and in the end also request a time-out. 22-23
Min. 43: Barcelona break away again at four goals difference and seem to control the semi-final. Immediately after that, Aalborg wastes a huge opportunity to reduce the gap, and the Catalan goalkeeper intervenes providentially and takes into account another spectacular parade. 18-22
Min. 38: N'Guessan shows his class! Barcelona's Frenchman sends a real “missile” under the bar, with no chance for the goalkeeper. 16-20
Min. 32: Luis Frade has an excellent foray into the semi-circle and finishes without emotion. 12-16
Halftime in Koln: Barcelona enters the locker room with an advantage, 15-11
Min. 30: What an execution by Juri Knorr in the last phase of the first half! The German sent the ball into the net with a spectacular free-kick, but Barcelona immediately protested. Ortega and the Catalan players claimed that Knorr moved his supporting leg before the throw-in, and the referees decided to disallow the goal.
Min. 28: The Danes manage a spectacular throw and, with two minutes left in the first half, they are only two goals away from Barcelona. 10-12
Min. 25: Nielsen continues the recital between the goals of Barcelona! The Catalan goalkeeper manages a sensational parry, based on reflex and intuition, on Marinus Munk's throw. Barcelona thus maintains its three-goal advantage
Min. 20: Nielsen makes an excellent match between Barcelona's goals! The Catalans' goalkeeper continues his streak of saves and keeps his side's advantage on the table as Aalborg try to get back into the game.
Min. 15: Blonz scores spectacularly from the wing, and Aalborg takes advantage of the numerical superiority and comes within three goals of Barcelona.
Min. 8: Barcelona goes through a good period of the match and manages to turn the score. The Catalans have taken the initiative and are now leading in the KoMin semi-final.
Min. 3: Spectacular start to the game! Both goalkeepers have excellent interventions in the opening minutes, but Aalborg are the team in the lead with a minimal advantage on the table.
Game start!

Fuchse Berlin prevailed in the German duel with Magdeburg

Magdeburg and Fuchse Berlin are the teams that have dominated German handball in recent years. They shared their previous two titles and were finalists of the last edition of the Champions League.

The matchups between them are always stellar. Today, we add the perfect setting, the home of European men's handball, the Lanxess Arena in Cologne. And the result is the match that makes you fall in love with handball.

An offensive recital where the goalkeepers were just spectators. The average of one goal per minute was shattered again “foxes” were leading at halftime with 19-17. For Magdeburg, another problem arose. Mathias Gidsel, the best player on the planet, came to life in the second half.

Masterclass from Mathias Gidsel today? 😱🔥#ehffinal4 #ehfcl #clm #handball pic.twitter.com/lUtigD8dxF

— EHF Champions League (@ehfcl) June 13, 2026

Three consecutive exceptional races and the gap remained constant in favor of last year's silver medalist. The 44th minute brought the equalizer, from 8 meters, a perfect throw by Omar Igni Magnússon. An improbable 29-29 by the total number of successes.

Another 5 minutes followed in which the goal did not help Fuche and Magdeburg continued to score at every action. The inevitable proposed itself and prevailed. Just that Dejan Milosavljev it came out on the ramp exactly when it was supposed to.

Two extraordinary parades overturned the calculations of the semi-final once again. The same Milosavljev calmed the end. He put his face to the fight, defended and took out a two-minute elimination in the opposing camp.

Immediately, the band from Berlin scored 4 goals. There were 3 minutes left, not enough time for miracles. Another blocked ball, Gidsel empty in a lane seen only by geniuses. And it was clear, we will have a new winner of the Champions League!

FINAL » SC Magdeburg – Fuchse Berlin 35-40

Min. 60: Final match in Koln! Fuchse Berlin prevails in the German semi-final with Magdeburg, score 40-35, and obtains qualification for the Champions League final
Min. 57: Taking advantage of the numerical superiority, Fuchse Berlin breaks away with a four-goal difference and is getting closer to qualifying for the Champions League final. With only four minutes left in the game, Magdeburg's mission becomes extremely difficult.
Min. 54: Spectacular successful throw by Andersson! Fuchse Berlin breaks away again with a two goal difference and enters the final six minutes of the semi-final with an important advantage.
Min. 48: Teigum scores from the wing and the semi-final continues to be extremely balanced. The fight for a place in the final remains wide open.
Min. 43: Recital of goals and in the second half! No less than four goals were scored in the last minute, and Freihofer manages a spectacular execution for Fuchse Berlin.
Min. 41: Very nice action from Magdeburg, completed by Saugstrup
Min. 40: Fuchse Berlin is two goals behind again after Magdeburg managed to get back on the table
Min. 31: Nils Lichtlein increases the gap for Fuchse Berlin, score 20-17

Break: Fuchse Berlin takes the advantage in the cabins, score 19-17
Min. 24: Tim Freihofer restores the two-goal gap in favor of Fuchse Berlin, score 15-13
Min 18: Mathias Gidsel makes it 13-10 in favor of Fuchse Berlin
Min 12: Nils Lichtlein makes it 6-5 in favor of Fuchse Berlin
Min. 6: Madgeburg restores the tie at 2 through Omar Ingi Magnusson