Barça and Györ Top EHF Champions League Power Rankings as 2026-27 Season Throws Off

The 2026-27 EHF Champions League season has officially thrown off, bringing a radically expanded 24-team format for the men and a heavily reshuffled deck of contenders for the women. But as Europe's premier handball competition returns to the court this week, the pre-season power rankings reveal a familiar hierarchy at the top. Defending men's champions Barça and Hungarian women's powerhouse Györi Audi ETO KC lead the official form guides, setting the pace for what promises to be a grueling nine-month road to the finals.[1][3]

For Barça, the view from the summit comes despite a turbulent summer transfer window. The Catalan giants lifted the trophy in Cologne last June, but entered the off-season facing significant roster turnover. They lost the 2025-26 EHF Champions League MVP, goalkeeper Emil Nielsen, to Hungarian rivals One Veszprém HC, while playmaker Domen Makuc departed for THW Kiel.[4]

Yet, the official EHF power rankings, compiled by journalist Björn Pazen, still place Barça at number one. The Spanish side retained a terrifying core of veterans who have mastered head coach Carlos Ortega's system, including Ludovic Fabregas, Blaž Janc, Aleix Gómez, and Dika Mem. To fill the gaps, they brought in Sergey Hernández between the posts and Icelander Janus Daði Smárason to run the offense.

"Experience and consistency are key when chasing the trophy in elite competitions, as teams that suffer minor changes among their regular players are regarded as having better chances to go all the way," Pazen noted in his September 3 analysis. "The Spanish side has lost two key players over the summer... but they still boast enough strength in their squad to aim for their 13th trophy in the top flight."

Breathing down Barça's neck in the men's rankings are SC Magdeburg and Aalborg Håndbold, sitting at second and third respectively. Magdeburg remains the only team to have interrupted Barça's recent monopoly on the trophy, and they open their campaign with a massive target on their backs in Group F.

The most intriguing men's contender, however, is fourth-ranked One Veszprém HC. The Hungarian club has suffered four consecutive quarter-final exits, a curse they are desperate to break. By poaching Nielsen directly from Barça, Veszprém executed the biggest transfer of the year, hoping the MVP goalkeeper is the final piece needed to secure a ticket to the LANXESS arena.

Noticeably slipping in the men's form guide are last season's finalists, Füchse Berlin. The German side dropped out of the top three after failing to fully compensate for the departure of Lasse Andersson. While they remain a lethal attacking unit, the expanded 24-team format—which now requires eventual finalists to survive an 18-match gauntlet—will test their depth severely.[5]

On the women's side, the power rankings tell a story of vengeance and aggressive roster building. Györi Audi ETO KC sits comfortably at number one, driven by the memory of their narrow 31-29 finals loss to Metz Handball last season. The Hungarian club retained the core of a roster that has reached three consecutive finals, while executing a ruthless transfer strategy to weaken their direct rivals.[1][2]

Györ's front office poached All-Star line player Sarah Bouktit directly from defending champions Metz, while also securing left back Thale Rushfeldt Deila from Odense Håndbold. It is a massive statement of intent for a club that refuses to settle for silver medals.[1][2]

Conversely, defending champions Metz Handball face a steep climb to retain their crown. After securing their maiden Champions League title, the French side suffered a massive talent exodus. Alongside Bouktit, they lost starting goalkeeper Johanna Bundsen and left back Xenia Smits. While Metz retooled by bringing back Kristina Jørgensen and signing Gabriela Moreschi, the power rankings reflect the turbulence of a rebuilt squad finding its chemistry.[1][2]

The biggest threat to the Györ-Metz duopoly might actually be fifth-ranked Odense Håndbold. The Danish side not only capitalized on Metz's exodus by signing both Bundsen and Smits, but they also pulled off the blockbuster transfer of the summer. Odense secured Anna Vyakhireva, the MVP of both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, from Brest Bretagne.[1][2]

Not to be overlooked is Team Esbjerg, who remain a perennial threat thanks to the sheer scoring gravity of Henny Reistad. Reistad led the entire competition last season with a staggering 131 goals. With the off-season addition of veteran Norwegian goalkeeper Silje Solberg-Østhassel, Esbjerg possesses the top-end firepower to challenge anyone in Group A.[1][2]

The stakes for the 2026-27 campaign are historically high. The men's tournament expansion to six groups of four introduces a new tactical layer, where only the top two teams in each group advance to the main round. For the women, the 16-team format remains an unforgiving sprint to the May 2027 EHF FINAL4 in Budapest. As the opening whistles echo across Europe, the form guides are set, but the real tests are just beginning.[3][5]