It was a clash between two giants when Montpellier welcomed Kiel in the first group match of the EHF Europa League. The German side managed to come out on top, 28–30, thanks to a brilliant start to the game.
It was a match of two completely different halves. In the first, Kiel came out firing, dominating both offensively and defensively. Montpellier looked stunned as Kiel jumped out to an early 1–6 lead.
The Germans kept their foot on the gas for the rest of the half. Going into halftime, Kiel had conceded only nine goals while scoring sixteen themselves. The game looked all but over, but the second half told a completely different story.
Montpellier came out as a new team after the break. They went on a six-goal run, cutting the lead from eight to two in just a matter of minutes. It felt like the home team could come all the way back.
The game got within a single goal with just minutes remaining, but Kiel showed resilience and managed to hold on for a two-goal win — a big victory for the German side to kick-start their European campaign.