CSM Bucharest's opponent in the Final Four of the League will lose the title due to a 4-year abolished rule in Europe
Article by Adrian Jitea – Published on Sunday, 03 May 2026, 20:56 / Updated on Sunday, 03 May 2026 21:00
Metz handball players beat Brest on Sunday, score 32-28, but they will most likely lose the title in France. The tiebreaker criteria that have not been updated to the standards of European competitions are to blame.
France has two teams qualified for the Champions League Final Four. Metz will face CSM Bucharest in the semifinalsBrest will run into Gyor. The two are also fighting the internal battle for the title.
Brest, with one hand on the French title
Today, in round number 21 of the championship, Metz won with a score of 32-28. The formation prepared by Emmanuel Mayonnade was in front during the entire game, led including 5 goals, but could not break away.
The direct game in the championship round also ended with a difference of 4 goals, 27-23 in favor of Brest. This is where the calculations for the title come in:
- There are 5 stages left to play. Brest and Metz are tied at the top of the table with 20 wins and one loss each;
- The main tying criterion in the case of equal points is that of head-to-head matches;
- Brest and Metz have one victory each with the same difference, 4 goals;
- Next comes the controversial criterion, criticized by the French press. The team that scored more goals in the direct match played away is advantaged. In our case, Brest (28, compared to 23).
Brest still have Plan de Cuques (home), Chambray Touraine (away), Paris 92 (home), Nice (away) and Sambre-Avesnois (home). Only through disaster could they get involved in any of these matches. The gap between the top two finishers and the rest of the peloton is huge.
11 goalsis the average difference in victories achieved by Brest in this championship
“With 5 legs to play, the suspense evaporated. Brest would celebrate the title at home on May 31 against Sambre-Avesnois.
The two rivals are tied at the top, but the number of away goals is decisive. A slight anachronism in the rules of the French Federation. In European competitions, this rule was abolished 4 years ago”, noted the journalists from L'Equipe.
PHOTO: Flashscore
For Brest, it would be only the third title in the club's history, after those in 2012 and 2021.
They can meet in the Final Four in Budapest
For Metz it is not a lost season. On May 23, they will play the final of the French Cup. The opponent will be Dijon.
The big goal remains the Champions League. On June 6, from 16:00, Metz will face CSM Bucharest in the semifinals of the competition. The other two qualified teams are Brest and Gyor.
