The battle for the Raiffeisen Bank EHF FINAL4 Women 2026 is reaching its absolute climax. After months of elite competition, eight teams have been narrowed down to the final few who will fight for the ultimate trophy in Hungary this June.
With the quarter-final return legs taking place this weekend, the pressure is palpable—for most of these teams, the margin for error has completely vanished.
While the draw for the final weekend is set for Monday, 27 April, the focus right now is entirely on the court. Except for one lopsided result in the first leg, the road to the FINAL4 is paved with razor-thin margins and high-stakes drama.
Györ’s dominance and Hagman’s warning
The reigning titleholders, Györi Audi ETO KC, appear to have one foot in the semi-finals already. Following a commanding 36-28 victory against Odense Håndbold in the first leg, the Hungarian giants return home with a massive cushion. Dione Housheer was the star of the show in Denmark, netting 10 goals to silence the home crowd.
However, Swedish wing star Nathalie Hagman is refusing to let complacency creep into the Györ locker room. In an interview with the EHF website, she remained wary of her Nordic opponents despite the eight-goal lead.
– It will still be a tough game, Nathalie Hagman told EHF.
– Odense have a very, very good team and they’re not giving up. Of course, eight goals is a lot, but if you break it down, it’s only two goals every 15 minutes. They will do everything to try to change this game.
For Györ, a successful weekend would mean their 10th consecutive trip to the FINAL4—a staggering record of consistency.
The one-goal thrillers
While Györ has some breathing room, the other three ties are standing on a knife-edge. In the Match of the Week, CSM Bucuresti hosts Team Esbjerg in what promises to be a physical battle. The Danish side holds a slim 26-25 lead, thanks to the ever-reliable Henny Reistad, who continues to lead the competition’s scoring charts with 125 goals.
For CSM’s Swedish goalkeeper Evelina Eriksson, the home advantage is everything. Speaking to the EHF website, Eriksson highlighted that their defensive wall will be the deciding factor in overturning the one-goal deficit.
– We are more than ready and excited to play the second leg at home. Our strong defense will continue to be the key for us. I believe in every single player in my team, Eriksson said to EHF.
The drama is equally high in France, where Metz Handball welcomes FTC-Rail Cargo Hungaria. Their first encounter ended in a 31-31 draw, meaning the slate is wiped clean for the return leg.
Metz is currently on a six-match unbeaten run, but they will have to find a way past FTC’s Blanka Böde-Bíró, who put on a goalkeeping clinic in the first leg with a 42% save rate. FTC head coach Jesper Jensen noted to the EHF that controlling Metz’s transition game will be the ultimate “keystone” to victory.
Brest’s firepower vs. the underdogs
Finally, Brest Bretagne Handball looks to capitalize on their narrow 36-35 away win against Gloria Bistrita. Brest currently boasts the most efficient attack in the Champions League, averaging over 34 goals per game.
While they hold the advantage, the Romanian newcomers have already made history by reaching this stage and have shown they can go toe-to-toe with the best in Europe.
Brest’s Clarisse Mairot told the EHF website that she is approaching the match with a “winner-takes-all” mentality, stating that the team is treating this as a single, decisive match rather than defending a lead. For Bistrita, the mission is simple: Paula Arcos made it clear to EHF that it is time to leave everything on the court and fight for the upset of the season.
By Sunday evening, the dust will have settled, and the four teams heading to Budapest will be confirmed. For the players involved, it is the most important 60 minutes of the season so far.