The 2024/25 season of the Women’s EHF Champions League has reached its most exciting phase – the quarterfinals are behind us, and the race for the trophy is intensifying. There are no easy opponents at this point, and each matchup brought its own story filled with skillful plays and dramatic comebacks. Some teams saw their title hopes vanish, while others moved one step closer to European glory. Notably, the total goal difference across all return legs was just five goals – the smallest margin in the competition’s history – illustrating how evenly matched these battles were. Fans tracking the tournament, including those checking odds and live scores through Merkur XTip, had every reason to stay on edge.
French Clash: Metz Dominates Once Again
The French quarterfinal duel between Brest Bretagne and Metz saw Metz claim two victories, continuing their dominance over their domestic rival with a seventh consecutive win. Metz came from behind in Brest’s first leg to win 29–26. Brest had led 14–9 thanks to goalkeeper Katharina Filter, but Metz rallied with Petra Vámos (7 goals) and Sara Bukvic (6) leading the charge.
The return leg in Metz ended 33–32 in favor of the hosts. A 4–0 run midway through the second half gave Metz a five-goal cushion that sealed the win. Anna Mette Hansen (7 goals) and Laura Flippes (6) were crucial, while Onaysa Ondono scored 8 for Brest. Brest coach Raphaëlle Tervel admitted Metz were simply superior. With 15 wins and 1 draw, Metz remain the only undefeated team in the competition and secured their fourth Final Four appearance, backed by consistency and psychological strength.
Győr Cruises into Another Semifinal
Defending champions Győri Audi ETO KC faced German side Ludwigsburg in a rematch of last year’s final. The first leg in Germany ended in dramatic fashion with Győr winning 25–24 thanks to a last-second penalty scored by Kristine Jørgensen. Ludwigsburg’s goalkeeper Sandra Toft stood out with nearly 50% save efficiency.
Győr controlled the game in the second leg and won convincingly, 29–22. Key performers included goalkeeper Hatadou Sako with 14 saves and, once agai,n Jørgensen, who scored nine goals. Győr’s defense, the best in this year’s competition, conceded only 46 goals across two matches – a statistic that surprised even seasoned bettors. This marks their ninth straight and tenth overall Final Four appearance in the past eleven seasons. Despite a less impressive offense, Győr’s defensive resilience and championship mentality, supported by solid contributions from Anna Lagerquist and Linn Blohm, ensured their advancement.
Historic Win for Odense
The duel between Odense and FTC resulted in a historic milestone for the Danish side and an emotional farewell for Andrea Lekić. The first leg in Denmark ended 27–27. Odense led for most of the match, but FTC equalized in the final minutes with five goals from Valeriia Maslova. Helena Elver Hagesø was Odense’s top scorer with 8 goals.
In Hungary, Odense shocked FTC with a 25–24 win, reaching their first-ever Final Four. Tale Reuschfelt Deila (7 goals, including 5 in the first 10 minutes) and goalkeeper Althea Reinhardt (12 saves) were key to the upset. It was also Andrea Lekić’s final European match, ending a storied Champions League career. Despite being favorites after the away draw, FTC fell short again on home soil – their seventh straight home quarterfinal without a win. Coach Ole Gustav Gjekstad, set to leave Odense, guided the team to one of their greatest victories with an excellent defensive performance.
Esbjerg Ends Bucharest’s Dream, Neagu Says Goodbye
The clash between CSM Bucharest and Esbjerg marked the end of Cristina Neagu’s Champions League career and another elimination for the Romanian team at the hands of the Danes. In the first leg, held in Bucharest, CSM won 30–29 with Neagu (7 goals) and Crina Pintea (10 goals) leading the charge. Esbjerg’s Henny Reistad scored 12 goals, but CSM’s 10–3 run in the second half secured the win.
In the return leg, Esbjerg won 26–22 and advanced to their fourth straight Final Four with a 55–52 aggregate. Henny Reistad added 6 goals, while Mikala Møller contributed 5. For CSM, Pintea scored 6, and Neagu ended her Champions League career with 4 goals, retiring as the tournament’s all-time top scorer with 1,232 goals. Esbjerg’s strong defense, which allowed just 22 goals in the second leg, and a tactical shift to a 5-1 formation in the final minutes were decisive. This marks the third time Esbjerg has knocked out CSM in the quarterfinals in four years.