TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4

It came down to one shot that could have seen the story go either way, providing a thrilling end to the EHF Champions League Men 2023/24, as Barça celebrated their 11th trophy with a 31:30 victory in the final against Aalborg Håndbold.

A winner of all national team titles, Mikkel Hansen ended his club career having never won the Champions League, after hitting the crossbar on the attempt that could have sent the match into overtime.

Aalborg had been Barça’s opponents in the final once before, in 2020/21, with a clear result, 36:23, for the Spanish side. The performance of the Danish club over the final weekend in 2024 reflected their enormous growth, helped by the arrival of Denmark stalwarts like Hansen and Niklas Landin, and the revelations of young players like Thomas Arnoldsen and Mads Hoxer. But, despite being a tough opponent for Barça, Aalborg could not upset the Spanish team’s dominance in the competition, which has now seen them win three of the last four titles.

Barça’s Melvyn Richardson was named MVP of the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4 2024, after netting 13 goals in the two matches.

Barça romped into the final with a 30:18 win against THW Kiel, while Aalborg ended SC Magdeburg’s crusade to defend the title with a 28:26 victory in their semi-final. Kiel clinched third place thanks mainly to a powerful first half after which they led 23:14, ultimately taking a 32:28 win over Magdeburg.

All four semi-finalists had made it to the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4 2024 after topping their group phase tables, thereby securing direct passage to the quarter-finals. Magdeburg had the best group record of the four, with only two losses in that part of the season.