The main round of the EHF European League Men 2023/24 draws to a close with round 4 on Tuesday night, marking the pivotal moment when the lineup for the knockout phase will be determined. The race for the direct quarter-final spots from group II remains wide open.
Following the conclusion of the main round, the number of contenders vying for the coveted spots in the EHF Finals Men 2024, scheduled for 25/26 May in Hamburg, will shrink from 16 to 12 teams. Four teams will advance directly to the quarter-finals, while eight others will battle it out in the playoffs.
In group II, the competition is intense, with three teams—Nexe, Skjern, and Sävehof—all vying for the top spot and a direct route to the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, RK Gorenje Velenje has already accepted their fate, finishing fourth and unable to progress to the knockout phase.
RK Nexe, Skjern Håndbold, and IK Sävehof will leave no stone unturned in their final main round match, each striving for a chance to secure a direct place in the quarter-finals.
Possible scenarios:
RK Nexe:
Will finish first if:
they win or draw against Sävehof.
they lose against Sävehof by 1 goal AND Skjern lose against Gorenje.
they lose against Sävehof by 7 goals or less AND Skjern draw against Gorenje.
Will finish second if:
they lose against Sävehof by 1 goal AND Skjern win against Gorenje.
they lose against Sävehof by 2 goals or more AND Skjern lose against Gorenje.
they lose against Sävehof by 8 goals or more but 21 goals or less AND Skjern draw against Gorenje.
they lose against Sävehof by 22 goals, while scoring 23 goals or more themselves AND Skjern draw against Gorenje.
Will finish third if:
they lose against Sävehof by 2 goals or more AND Skjern win against Gorenje.
they lose against Sävehof by 22 goals, while scoring 22 goals or less themselves AND Skjern draw against Gorenje.
they lose against Sävehof by 23 goals or more AND Skjern draw against Gorenje.
Skjern Håndbold:
Will finish first if:
they win against Gorenje AND Nexe lose against Sävehof.
Will finish second if:
Nexe win or draw against Sävehof.
they draw against Gorenje AND Nexe lose against Sävehof by 22 goals or more, with Nexe scoring 22 goals or less.
Will finish third if:
they draw against Gorenje AND Nexe lose against Sävehof by 21 goals or less.
they draw against Gorenje AND Nexe lose against Sävehof by 22 goals, with Nexe scoring 23 goals or more.
IK Sävehof:
Will finish first if:
they win against Nexe with 2 goals or more AND Skjern lose against Gorenje.
they win against Nexe with 8 goals or more AND Skjern draw against Gorenje.
Will finish second if:
they win against Nexe with 1 goal AND Skjern draw or lose against Gorenje.
they win against Nexe with 2 goals or more AND Skjern win against Gorenje.
Will finish third if:
they draw or lose against Nexe.
EHF European League:
(18.45) IK Sävehof–RK Nexe
(18.45) RK Gorenje Velenje–Skjern Håndbold
Source: EHF