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
Tournament statistics
Matches played88
Goals scored5142 (58.43 per match)
Attendance219,088 (2,490 per match)
Top scorer(s)Czech Republic Jana Knedlíková
Denmark Kristina Jørgensen
(68 goals)
← 2022–23
2024–25 →

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

Format

The tournament will run using the same format as the previous three seasons. The competition begins with a group stage featuring sixteen teams divided into two groups. Matches are 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 qualify for the quarter-finals, with teams ranked 3rd to 6th entering the playoff round.

The knockout stage includes four rounds: the playoffs, quarter-finals, and a final-four tournament comprising two semifinals and the final. In the playoffs, eight teams are 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 advance to the quarterfinals, joining the top-two teams of Groups A and B. The eight quarterfinalist teams are 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 are played as single matches at a pre-selected host venue.

Rankings

This season, the EHF decided to make separate rankings for each club competition.[1]

  • Associations 1–9 can have 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 can have their league champion and runner up qualify for the Group Stage and apply for one wildcard.
  • Associations below the top 9 can have their league champion apply for a Wildcard.

Teams

21 teams applied for a place, with nine having a fixed place.[3][4] 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.[5]

The fixed place for Russia is vacant since the country and its clubs are currently not admitted to participate in the EHF competitions due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[6]

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.[5][7]

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 2 clubs from those countries can be drawn into the same group.[8]

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 will be 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 are present. For the first time since the 2019–20 season, Poland has a representative, while Sweden returns after a one season absence.

Group A

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification GYO ODE BUC BRE BIE DEB BUD SÄV
1 Hungary Győri Audi ETO KC (Q) 11 11 0 0 348 269 +79 22 Quarterfinals — 32–29 3 Feb 17 Feb 31–29 35–23 37–19 39–20
2 Denmark Odense Håndbold (T) 11 8 0 3 370 288 +82 16 30–31 — 18 Feb 3 Feb 42–29 33–30 39–24 40–22
3 Romania CSM București (T) 11 6 1 4 332 285 +47 13 Playoffs 23–27 28–24 — 28–30 11 Feb 29–29 44–26 35–26
4 France Brest Bretagne Handball (T) 11 6 1 4 310 283 +27 13 23–24 25–26 24–21 — 37–30 38–28 20–20 11 Feb
5 Germany SG BBM Bietigheim (T) 11 6 0 5 325 324 +1 12 26–34 25–28 26–24 34–30 — 4 Feb 17 Feb 30–21
6 Hungary DVSC Schaeffler (Q) 11 4 1 6 298 332 −34 9 10 Feb 22–35 23–30 31–24 26–36 — 27–22 32–29
7 Montenegro WHC Budućnost BEMAX (E) 11 1 1 9 251 343 −92 3 21–29 10 Feb 24–29 21–34 22–27 21–27 — 31–30
8 Sweden IK Sävehof (E) 11 0 0 11 269 379 −110 0 26–29 20–22 26–41 20–25 29–33 18 Feb 3 Feb —
Updated to match(es) played on 21 January 2024. Source: EHF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (T) Qualified, but not yet for the particular phase indicated

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 (T) 11 9 0 2 375 312 +63 18 Quarterfinals — 4 Feb 36–39 31–29 40–31 17 Feb 33–22 42–26
2 Denmark Team Esbjerg (T) 11 9 0 2 350 337 +13 18 29–27 — 37–34 32–37 10 Feb 27–23 30–28 32–26
3 Denmark Ikast Håndbold (T) 11 7 1 3 375 342 +33 15 Playoffs 11 Feb 34–35 — 30–26 33–32 28–28 30–29 41–29
4 Norway Vipers Kristiansand 11 5 1 5 351 320 +31 11 34–36 37–38 17 Feb — 29–23 37–26 35–30 3 Feb
5 Slovenia RK Krim Mercator 11 5 1 5 308 302 +6 11 22–28 33–27 3 Feb 24–24 — 32–26 25–24 17 Feb
6 Hungary FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 11 3 2 6 313 328 −15 8 25–38 28–33 37–36 10 Feb 26–28 — 24–24 35–22
7 Romania CS Rapid București 11 3 1 7 298 322 −24 7 31–34 18 Feb 27–35 30–29 27–22 4 Feb — 26–25
8 Poland MKS Zagłębie Lubin (E) 11 0 0 11 269 376 −107 0 24–30 24–36 26–35 20–34 18–36 23–35 10 Feb —
Updated to match(es) played on 21 January 2024. Source: EHF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated; (T) Qualified, but not yet for the particular phase indicated

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
B6 M1 A3 16–17 Mar 23–24 Mar
A6 M2 B3 16–17 Mar 23–24 Mar
B5 M3 A4 16–17 Mar 23–24 Mar
A5 M4 B4 16–17 Mar 23–24 Mar

Quarterfinals

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
M4 – Hungary Győri Audi ETO KC 27–28 Apr 4–5 May
M3 – B1 27–28 Apr 4–5 May
M2 – A2 27–28 Apr 4–5 May
M1 – B2 27–28 Apr 4–5 May

Final four

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

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
1 June
 
 
 
 
2 June
 
 
 
 
 
1 June
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third place
 
 
2 June
 
 
 
 
 
 

Final

2 June 2024 WSF1 v WSF2 MVM Dome, Budapest

Top goalscorers

As of 21 January 2024
Rank Player Club Goals[9]
1 Denmark Kristina Jørgensen France Metz Handball 68
Czech Republic Jana Knedlíková Norway Vipers Kristiansand
3 France Sarah Bouktit France Metz Handball 67
4 Norway Kristine Breistøl Denmark Team Esbjerg 65
Czech Republic Markéta Jeřábková Denmark Ikast Håndbold
6 Russia Valeriia Maslova France Brest Bretagne Handball 64
7 France Chloé Valentini France Metz Handball 63
8 Russia Anna Vyakhireva Norway Vipers Kristiansand 62
9 Serbia Andrea Lekić Hungary FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria 61
Norway Nora Mørk Denmark Team Esbjerg

See also

References

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

External links