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- Barcelona (+150) is looking to win its third EHF Handball Championship in the past four years
- SC Magdeburg (+350) defeated Kielce 30-29 in June to capture its first title in over 20 seasons
- The 2023–24 EHF Champions League season runs from Sept.13th, 2023 to June, 9th 2024
The EHF Champions League opens its 64th season on September 13th with reigning champions SC Magdeburg taking on Telekom Veszprém.
FC Barcelona Handbol begins the year as the favorite, having won the prestigious club handball tournament a record 11 times and most recently in 2021 and 2022. Before we examine the odds for 2024, check out all the Sports & Competitions to bet on in 2023. Here’s also where you can see the latest Sports Betting Odds & Picks.
2023-24 EHF Champions League
| Team |  |  |  |
| Barcelona | +150 | +150 | +150 |
| SC Magdeburg | +350 | +350 | +350 |
| Veszprem | +600 | +600 | +600 |
| KS Vive Tauron Kielce | +700 | +700 | +700 |
| Aalborg DH | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
| PSG Handball | +1200 | +1200 | +1200 |
| THW Kiel | +1500 | +1500 | +1500 |
| GOG Handbold | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
| MOL-Pick Szeged | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Kolstad | +5000 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Montpellier | +20000 | +20000 | +20000 |
| Orlen Wisla Piock | +25000 | +25000 | +25000 |
| FC Porto | +100000 | +100000 | +100000 |
| PPD Zagreb | +150000 | +150000 | +150000 |
| Celje | +250000 | +250000 | +250000 |
| Eurofarm Rabotnik | +250000 | +250000 | +250000 |
Barcelona seeking greatness
Barcelona (+150) is favored to win its record 12th Champions League title after bowing out in the semifinals last season. Barça coach Carlos Ortega is looking to capture his eighth title as a player and coach. It would move him one past his legendary former teammate Andrei Xepkin, who claimed seven trophies as a player.
FC Barcelona Handbol stars Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas and Aitor Ariño can also both take home their fifth EHF Champions League trophy this year. However, it’s fair to wonder how the team will rebound from its agonizing 40-39 penalty shootout loss to Magdeburg in last year’s semis.
We wish you a speedy recovery, Domen 🙏
Unfortunately, the winner of the EHF Excellence Awards for the best young player will miss the whole season due to a tough injury. #ehfcl @FCBhandbol pic.twitter.com/f8b44hmuxO
— EHF Champions League (@ehfcl) August 18, 2023
Can the champs repeat?
After ending Barcelona’s three-peat bid in the semifinals in June, SC Magdeburg (+350) beat Kielce 30-29 in extra time to claim the championship. With two victories by a combined two points, it’s probably unlikely that the German club takes the prize again this year.
Since the EHF Champions League went to a final-four tournament structure in 2009-10, Barcelona has been the only repeat winner.
League format
In the EHF Champions League, every team plays a home and road match against the other seven in their group. After 14 rounds, the top two clubs in the four groups qualify for the quarter-finals while the third through sixth-place finishers go head to head in the playoffs.
Other title contenders
Veszprem (+650) has yet to win the EHF Champions League. The Hungarian club has lost in the final on four separate occasions. They also may take a step back this season after losing Egyptian star Yahia Omar to Paris Saint-Germain in the offseason. The team recently announced Rasmus Lauge as their new captain.
Vive Kielce (+700) dropped last year’s championship game in heartbreaking fashion. The Polish squad last claimed the title in 2016, but has reached the final four of the Champions League five separate times.
Yahia Omar ➡️ PSG in 2024!
📸: Telekom Veszprém#handball pic.twitter.com/sZzHXS9KfN— Handballtransfers (@Hballtransfers) August 21, 2023
Aalborg DH (+1000) reached the final in of the EHF Champions League back in 2021 before losing to Barcelona. Like the Danish club, PSG Handball (+1200) has never won a title, finishing runners-up in 2017.
THW Kiel (+1500) has won three European championships since 2010, including a fairly recent victory for the German team back in 2020.
Best Bet
While it’s hard to go against a dynasty like Barcelona, we’ll pick Kielce (+700) to avenge last year’s finals loss.
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