Odense HB and Team Esbjerg won four games each during the face-offs of last season. In the first duel of 2025/26, Odense´s offensive option and better goalkeeping became decisive, 33–30.
Denmark was very much present in the Suepr Cup weekend, one week before the league premiere in the Nordic country.
Thale Rushfeldt Deila opened the score sheet with a quick shot and continued in a very productive fashion.
Esbjerg got back using fast breaks but wasn’t quite as accurate in the last sequence.
Ingvild Bakkerud charged on and Elma Halilcevic made way for some wing goals, 12–8 after the first 15 minutes.
Esbjerg left Henny Reistad out of action and Nora Mørk is still in return phase with limited minutes after the childbearing and becoming a parent.
Still, it was all even as Esbjerg set the pace in an equal good attack mode. Odense was back in command with fewer mistakes to account for.
Mørk appeared for a proper comeback after 20 minutes and laid the ground for Esbjerg closing some of the gap. Two suspensions hit Odense hard but the champion team was still in control, 17–16.
Anna Kristensens´s save percentage was part of Esbjerg´s rise in capacity, but Odense also improved between the posts when Yara ten Holte started second half.
Odense had several successful attacking options and led 23–18 with 20 minutes to go. Esbjerg stressed the opponents with fast breaks but were still two-three goals up.
Ingvild Bakkerud had the calm needed and a mind to provide solutions in the final minutes. Halilcevic on the left wing had no faults in the right position and Odense kept their head high with a good enough margin.
Odense HB–Team Esbjerg 33–30 (17–16)