Metz Handball Stuns Györ to Claim Historic First EHF Champions League Title

In a landmark moment for European women's handball, Metz Handball captured their first-ever EHF Champions League title on Sunday, defeating defending champions Györi Audi ETO KC 31-29. The thrilling final, played before a capacity crowd of over 20,000 at the MVM Dome in Budapest, marked the culmination of the Raiffeisen Bank EHF FINAL4 2026. For Metz, the victory was not just a club milestone but a national triumph, as they became the first French team in history to lift the premier trophy in women's club handball.[1][3]

The matchup pitted a hungry challenger against the ultimate tournament heavyweight. Györ entered the weekend seeking their eighth Champions League crown and aiming for a historic hat-trick of consecutive titles. Playing in their home country, the Hungarian powerhouse had cultivated an aura of invincibility in Budapest, having not lost a match at the MVM Dome since 2023. Metz, conversely, had reached the Final Four on four previous occasions only to fall short in the semi-finals each time.[1][4]

The opening stages of the final followed a familiar script for the partisan Hungarian crowd. Györ established an early rhythm, utilizing the playmaking of former Metz star Bruna de Paula to build a three-goal advantage. The defending champions dictated the tempo for the first 20 minutes, threatening to run away with the match as Metz struggled to find defensive solutions against Györ's fluid attacking sequences.[1][2]

However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the closing minutes of the first half. Metz's defense tightened, holding Györ scoreless from the 25th minute until the halftime buzzer. Anchored by the relentless interior play of line player Sarah Bouktit, the French side erased the deficit. Bouktit's last-gasp goal just before the break gave Metz an 18-17 lead, completely altering the psychological complexion of the locker rooms.[1][3]

When play resumed, Metz delivered a tactical masterclass that ultimately decided the championship. Head coach Emmanuel Mayonnade's squad suffocated Györ's offensive sets, forcing turnovers and capitalizing in transition. Metz orchestrated a devastating run that kept the Hungarian champions off the scoreboard for nearly eight minutes. By the 46th minute, the French side had opened up a commanding 28-22 lead, stunning the previously raucous MVM Dome.[1][2]

The foundation of Metz's second-half surge was the spectacular performance of goalkeeper Johanna Bundsen. The Swedish veteran produced a string of crucial saves, denying Györ's sharpshooters from point-blank range and finishing the weekend with a staggering 39.5 percent save efficiency. On the offensive end, Bouktit proved unguardable, scoring nine goals on 12 attempts and earning the MVP honors for the Final Four tournament.[1][4]

Refusing to surrender their crown quietly, Györ mounted a furious late comeback. Driven by the urgency of the ticking clock, the Hungarian side increased their defensive pressure and capitalized on a string of Metz exclusions. The deficit shrank to just two goals in the final minutes, testing the nerves of a Metz squad that had never before navigated the closing moments of a European final.[1][2]

Yet, when the pressure peaked, Metz's supporting cast delivered. Crucial late interventions, including a vital goal from Lylou Borg and composed finishing from left wing Chloe Valentini, kept Györ at bay. As the final seconds ticked away, the Metz bench erupted onto the court, celebrating a 31-29 victory that rewrote the history books of French handball.[2][3]

In the aftermath, Györ head coach Per Johansson was gracious in defeat, acknowledging that Metz had been the superior team throughout the season and had earned their long-awaited title. Mayonnade, meanwhile, praised his players for maintaining their composure during Györ's late surge, noting that their ability to sustain the flow and mood from the end of the first half was the key to unlocking the Hungarian defense.[1][4]

The 2026 Final Four will be remembered as a definitive changing of the guard. While CSM Bucuresti claimed third place with a 32-26 victory over Brest Bretagne Handball earlier in the day, the weekend belonged entirely to Metz. By storming the fortress of Budapest and dethroning the reigning queens of Europe, Metz Handball has established a new era of dominance at the pinnacle of the sport.[1][5][6]