Champions League Handball Final4: SC Magdeburg and Füchse Berlin open semifinal weekend in Cologne

Both teams meet on Saturday in the first semifinal at the Cologne Arena in a rematch of last year's final (3:00 p.m./Dyn/DAZN). In the second semifinal, German national player Juri Knorr and his Danish club Aalborg Handbold then take on record Champions League winners FC Barcelona in the evening (6:00 p.m.). The final takes place with German participation on Sunday (6:00 p.m.).

Hanning's assessment: "48 hours" decide

Bob Hanning, managing director of Füchse Berlin, classifies the tournament as a competition that is decided not over an entire season, but over a few days. "Die Champions League gewinnt nicht das beste Team. Es gewinnt das Team, das in 48 Stunden den besten Handball spielen kann," said Hanning. Asked about the favorite, he answered briefly: "Es ist total offen" – and added in conversation with the Sport Information Service: "Wir wollen das Turnier gewinnen".

On the opposing side, Christian O'Sullivan looks at the weekend with great composure. The 34-year-old Norwegian has worn the SC Magdeburg jersey for ten years, is a two-time vice world champion, and could win his already eleventh trophy in SCM colors with another title. "Alle vier Mannschaften können den Titel gewinnen. Deswegen machte es auch so viel Spaß, weil es so spannend ist," said O'Sullivan. And further: "Ich weiß um unsere Fähigkeiten. Wir können absolut die Champions League gewinnen".

O'Sullivan and the dream of the town hall balcony

Speaking to SPORT IM OSTEN, O'Sullivan also raved about the quality of the current squad: "Die aktuelle Mannschaft ist vielleicht die beste, in der ich je gespielt habe." O'Sullivan, a passionate golfer, was seen on the course at Magdeburg's Herrenkrug before the tournament – a touch of normality ahead of the intense days in Cologne.

The fact that the semifinal is precisely a rematch of last year's final adds extra spice to the match. Last year, the Elbe city team triumphed in the final against the Füchse and thus won their third title in the premier competition. The result of 32:26 was clear in the end, but Hanning warns against drawing conclusions for the renewed encounter. For SCM, it is already the fourth consecutive Final4 appearance in Cologne, evidence of the consistency of recent years.

Heated rematch of last year's final

For O'Sullivan, the weekend is tied not only to sporting but also to emotional wishes. He hopes for another appearance on the Magdeburg town hall balcony after the Final4 – just as the club had presented the championship trophy to fans there on 8 June 2026. Such a scene, the 34-year-old says, is the reward for an entire season.

With Füchse Berlin and defending champions SC Magdeburg, two German teams are reaching for Europe's handball crown at the Champions League Final Four. SCM celebrated the German championship, Füchse won the DHB-Pokal. Thus, the national season record of the two semifinalists is already impressive – and the winner of Saturday's duel enters the final against the winner of Aalborg vs. Barcelona as the favorite.

Which of the two German teams will feature in Sunday's final will be decided on Saturday afternoon. One thing is already clear: with the German representative in the final, the domestic handball industry leader remains partly among itself – a circumstance that underscores the strength of the Bundesliga in this competition.