2023–24 Women's EHF Champions League

This article is about the women's competition. For the men's competition, see 2023–24 EHF Champions League.
Women's EHF Champions League
2023–24
Tournament information
SportHandball
Dates9 September 2023–2 June 2024
Teams16
Websiteehfcl.com
Final positions
ChampionsHungary Győri Audi ETO KC
Runner-upGermany SG BBM Bietigheim
Tournament statistics
Matches played130
Goals scored7486 (57.58 per match)
Attendance387,487 (2,981 per match)
MVPNorway Stine Bredal Oftedal
Top scorer(s)Russia Anna Vyakhireva
(113 goals)

The 2023–24 Women's EHF Champions League was the 31st edition of Europe's premier club handball tournament, running from 9 September 2023 to 2 June 2024.

Vipers Kristiansand were the defending champions but were eliminated by Győri Audi ETO KC in the quarterfinals. Győri Audi ETO KC went on to win their sixth title with a finals win over SG BBM Bietigheim.[1]

Format

The tournament used the same format as the previous three seasons. The competition began with a group stage featuring sixteen teams divided into two groups. Matches were played in a double round-robin system with home-and-away fixtures, fourteen in total for each team. In Groups A and B, the top two teams automatically qualified for the quarter-finals, with teams ranked 3rd to 6th entered the playoff round.

The knockout stage included four rounds: the playoffs, quarter-finals, and a final-four tournament comprising two semifinals and the final. In the playoffs, eight teams were paired against each other in two-legged home-and-away matches (third-placed in group A plays sixth-placed group B; fourth-placed group A plays fifth-placed group B, etc.). The four aggregate winners of the playoffs advanced to the quarterfinals, joining the top-two teams of Groups A and B. The eight quarterfinalist teams were paired against each other in two-legged home-and-away matches, with the four aggregate winners qualifying to the final-four tournament.

In the final four tournament, the semifinals and the final were played as single matches at a pre-selected host venue.

Rankings

This season, the EHF decided to make separate rankings for each club competition.[2] The rankings are based on the performances from the three most recent seasons.

  • Associations 1–9 had their league champion qualify for the Group Stage and apply up to two wildcards.
  • The Association that won the past season's Women's EHF European League had their league champion and runner up qualified for the Group Stage and applied for one wildcard.
  • Associations below the top 9 had their league champion apply for a wildcard.

Teams

21 teams applied for a place, with nine having a fixed place.[4][5] For the first time ever, countries were allowed to apply two clubs for a wildcard. The final list was announced in June 20 2023, which included Hungary and Denmark having three participating teams for the first time.[6]

The fixed place for Russia was vacant since the country and its clubs were not admitted to participate in the EHF competitions due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[7]

Participating teams
Denmark Team Esbjerg (1st) Hungary Győri Audi ETO KC (1st) France Metz Handball (1st) Romania CSM București (1st)
Denmark Odense Håndbold (2nd) Hungary FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria (2nd) WC France Brest Bretagne Handball (2nd) WC Romania CS Rapid București (2nd) WC
Denmark Ikast Håndbold (3rd) WC Hungary DVSC Schaeffler (3rd) WC Slovenia RK Krim Mercator (1st) Poland MKS Zagłębie Lubin (1st) WC
Norway Vipers Kristiansand (1st) Sweden IK Sävehof (1st) WC Germany SG BBM Bietigheim (1st) Montenegro WHC Budućnost BEMAX (1st)
  • WC Accepted wildcards
Wildcard rejection
Croatia RK Lokomotiva Zagreb (1st) France Neptunes de Nantes (3rd) Norway Storhamar HE (2nd) Norway Sola HK (3rd)
Turkey Kastamonu Bld. GSK (1st)

Draw

The draw took place on 27 June 2023.[6][8]

Group stage

class=notpageimage|
Location of teams of the 2023–24 Women's EHF Champions League group stage.
Main article: 2023–24 Women's EHF Champions League group stage

The 16 teams were drawn into 2 groups of eight. In regards to Hungary and Denmark, who have three clubs in the Group Stage, a maximum of two clubs from those countries could be drawn into the same group.[9]

In the group stage, teams were ranked according to points (2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). After completion of the group stage, if two or more teams have scored the same number of points, the ranking was determined as follows:

  1. Highest number of points in matches between the teams directly involved;
  2. Superior goal difference in matches between the teams directly involved;
  3. Highest number of goals scored in matches between the teams directly involved;
  4. Superior goal difference in all matches of the group;
  5. Highest number of plus goals in all matches of the group;
  6. Drawing of Lots

This season, ten national associations were present. For the first time since the 2019–20 season, Poland had a representative, while Sweden returned after a one season absence.

Group A

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification GYO ODE BRE BUC DEB BIE BUD SÄV
1 Hungary Győri Audi ETO KC 14 11 1 2 432 356 +76 23 Quarterfinals — 32–29 32–32 24–26 35–23 31–29 37–19 39–20
2 Denmark Odense Håndbold 14 10 1 3 461 359 +102 21 30–31 — 29–29 29–25 33–30 42–29 39–24 40–22
3 France Brest Bretagne Handball 14 7 3 4 399 367 +32 17[a] Playoffs 23–24 25–26 — 24–21 38–28 37–30 20–20 28–23
4 Romania CSM București 14 8 1 5 414 366 +48 17[a] 23–27 28–24 28–30 — 29–29 31–28 44–26 35–26
5 Hungary DVSC Schaeffler 14 7 1 6 394 414 −20 15 29–28 22–35 31–24 23–30 — 26–36 27–22 32–29
6 Germany SG BBM Bietigheim 14 7 0 7 414 402 +12 14 26–34 25–28 34–30 26–24 27–31 — 34–16 30–21
7 Montenegro WHC Budućnost BEMAX 14 2 1 11 311 433 −122 5 21–29 17–33 21–34 24–29 21–27 22–27 — 31–30
8 Sweden IK Sävehof 14 0 0 14 342 470 −128 0 26–29 20–22 20–25 26–41 27–36 29–33 23–27 —
Source: EHF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Brest 54–49 București

Group B

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification MET ESB IKA VIP KRI FER BUC LUB
1 France Metz Handball 14 11 0 3 470 402 +68 22[a] Quarterfinals — 36–31 36–39 31–29 40–31 25–24 33–22 42–26
2 Denmark Team Esbjerg 14 11 0 3 449 412 +37 22[a] 29–27 — 37–34 32–37 29–21 27–23 30–28 32–26
3 Denmark Ikast Håndbold 14 10 1 3 476 435 +41 21 Playoffs 35–34 34–35 — 30–26 33–32 28–28 30–29 41–29
4 Norway Vipers Kristiansand 14 7 1 6 445 403 +42 15 34–36 37–38 31–32 — 29–23 37–26 35–30 28–24
5 Slovenia RK Krim Mercator 14 6 1 7 389 384 +5 13 22–28 33–27 28–34 24–24 — 32–26 25–24 32–19
6 Hungary FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 14 4 2 8 387 408 −21 10 25–38 28–33 37–36 27–35 26–28 — 24–24 35–22
7 Romania CS Rapid București 14 4 1 9 366 399 −33 9 31–34 24–33 27–35 30–29 27–22 20–23 — 26–25
8 Poland MKS Zagłębie Lubin 14 0 0 14 327 466 −139 0 24–30 24–36 26–35 20–34 18–36 23–35 21–24 —
Source: EHF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Metz 63–60 Esbjerg

Knockout stage

Main article: 2023–24 Women's EHF Champions League knockout stage

Playoffs

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria Hungary 59–56 France Brest Bretagne Handball 28–30 31–26
SG BBM Bietigheim Germany 60–58 Denmark Ikast Håndbold 29–27 31–31
RK Krim Mercator Slovenia 48–60 Romania CSM București 24–30 24–30
DVSC Schaeffler Hungary 55–56 Norway Vipers Kristiansand 28–29 27–27

Quarterfinals

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Vipers Kristiansand Norway 49–54 Hungary Győri Audi ETO KC 23–30 26–24
CSM București Romania 47–56 France Metz Handball 24–27 23–29
SG BBM Bietigheim Germany 60–58 Denmark Odense Håndbold 30–26 30–32
FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria Hungary 49–55 Denmark Team Esbjerg 25–26 24–29

Final four

The final four was held at the MVM Dome in Budapest, Hungary on 1 and 2 June 2024.

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
1 June
 
 
Denmark Team Esbjerg23
 
2 June
 
Hungary Győri Audi ETO KC24
 
Hungary Győri Audi ETO KC30
 
1 June
 
Germany SG BBM Bietigheim24
 
France Metz Handball29
 
 
Germany SG BBM Bietigheim36
 
Third place
 
 
2 June
 
 
Denmark Team Esbjerg37
 
 
France Metz Handball33

Final

2 June 2024
18:00 		Győri Audi ETO KC Hungary 30–24 Germany SG BBM Bietigheim MVM Dome, Budapest
Attendance: 18,500
Referees: Lovin, Stancu (ROU)
Brattset Dale, Gros 6 (17–12) Hvenfelt 5
2×Yellow card 5×number 2 in light blue rounded square Report 2×Yellow card 2×number 2 in light blue rounded square

Top goalscorers

Rank Player Club Goals[10]
1 Russia Anna Vyakhireva Norway Vipers Kristiansand 113
2 Norway Nora Mørk Denmark Team Esbjerg 110
3 France Sarah Bouktit France Metz Handball 107
Norway Henny Reistad Denmark Team Esbjerg
5 Romania Cristina Neagu Romania CSM București 103
6 Russia Valeriia Maslova France Brest Bretagne Handball 101
7 Czech Republic Markéta Jeřábková Denmark Ikast Håndbold 100
Denmark Kristina Jørgensen France Metz Handball
Hungary Katrin Klujber Hungary FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria
10 France Chloé Valentini France Metz Handball 97

See also

References

  1. ^ "Györ seal sixth title in emphatic fashion". eurohandball.com. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  2. ^ "EHF improves club competitions ranking system". eurohandball.com. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  3. ^ https://www.eurohandball.com/media/dq1axkil/new_placedistribution_final_women_23_24.pdf
  4. ^ "21 clubs registered for EHF Champions League 2023/24". eurohandball.com. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  5. ^ "European Handball Federation Announced: 21 Clubs Registered for the Champions League Women 2023/24". handball-world.news. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Teams set for EHF Champions League season 2023/24". eurohandball.com. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  7. ^ "EHF Court of Handball rejects Russia appeal against ban". insidethegames.biz. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Fascinating ties thrown-up by EHF CL Women group phase draw". eurohandball.com. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Draw procedure for the EHF Champions League Women 2023/24 announced". eurohandball.com. 23 June 2023.
  10. ^ Goalscorers