Three French Clubs Embark on New Champions League Journey
Paris, September 9, 2026 – Three prominent French handball clubs, Paris-Saint Germain, HBC Nantes, and Montpellier Handball, are poised to begin their campaigns in the revamped EHF Champions League this week. The competition introduces a new, more demanding format, placing immediate pressure on all participating teams.
The European Handball Federation (EHF) has revised its Champions League structure for the 2026 season. The tournament has expanded from 16 to 24 teams, now featuring six groups of four. Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the main round, eliminating any room for early-stage complacency. This new equation presents a fresh challenge for the sport’s powerhouses, the 17 French expatriate players involved, and the three French clubs aiming to make their mark.
Early European Matches Take Center Stage
The altered format means that European matches will be a priority from the outset of the season. Stefan Madsen, the Danish coach of Paris-Saint Germain, acknowledged this shift: “This year, it won’t be possible to drop points here and there. We’ve slightly adjusted our preparation so that physically, we reach our peak a bit earlier.” PSG will open their campaign away against Aalborg on Wednesday at 6:45 PM. Aalborg, Madsen’s former team, is considered, along with Paris, a favorite to qualify from Group C.
For HBC Nantes, facing Plock at home on Wednesday at 8:45 PM, and Montpellier, returning to the European stage after a two-year absence and challenging Dinamo Bucharest in Romania on Thursday at 6:45 PM, these initial European encounters are already crucial. Both teams will face direct competitors for qualification in their respective groups.
Grégory Cojean, Nantes’ coach, emphasized the importance of their opening match: “Plock at home is going to be a decisive match for what comes next. Finishing in the top two in a very dense and strong group (with Melsungen and Vardar Skopje) will be complicated.”
Montpellier, placed in the same group as reigning champions FC Barcelona, will aim to finish above the Romanian side and Aarhus. MHB coach Érick Mathé commented: “It’s good to have a big team like Barcelona and two other relatively balanced teams where everyone has a chance.”
French Handball Aims to Assert Dominance
With three representatives for the first time since 2019, French handball is keen to demonstrate its strength. BeIN Sports has returned as the broadcaster for the Champions League (alongside Handball TV), six years after ceding it to Eurosport. François-Xavier Houlet, a consultant for beIN Sports, expressed his enthusiasm: “We are very happy to be back in the Champions League. This new format is quite exciting because there’s a sense that you can’t do less, especially at the beginning. What’s reassuring is that the three French clubs have shown they are in good shape after the first day of the StarLigue.”
Team Prospects and Ambitions
Paris-Saint Germain, despite its domestic dominance, has experienced two disappointing continental campaigns, being eliminated in the Round of 16 in the last two seasons (against Szeged and Veszprém) and not reaching the Final Four since 2023. Luka Karabatic, PSG’s pivot and captain, stated: “Returning to Cologne is clearly the objective.” The team has made minimal changes to its squad, with the notable return of Spanish goalkeeper Rodrigo Corrales.
For Nantes, who finished third in the competition in 2025 and were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Barcelona in May, Europe holds a strong appeal. Despite significant squad changes during the offseason, including the departure of Aymeric Minne to Flensburg, the team’s collective automatisms appear to be gelling quickly. Houlet noted: “I found them already well-advanced in terms of collective play, and in goal, Christoffer Bonde is reassuring.” Nicolas Tournat, Nantes’ new captain, believes this extensive renewal “brings new momentum and enjoyment to training.”
Montpellier, the only French club to have won the Champions League (in 2003 and 2018), is not yet dreaming of a season as extraordinary as 2017-2018, which saw these same three French clubs at the pinnacle of European handball (Montpellier, Nantes, and Paris in that order). However, with a largely retained squad this summer, MHB hopes to quickly find its rhythm. Houlet commented: “Montpellier is very stable. From what I’ve seen, it’s really good.” Veteran player Valentin Porte, 36, is eager for the challenge: “It’s a pleasure to relive big matches, big evenings.”
The full schedule and results for the Champions League can be followed on beIN Sports and Handball TV.
Source: https://fr.news.yahoo.com/paris-nantes-montpellier-ligne-043513532.html
