Füchse Berlin have failed again in the Champions League final. In the Lanxess Arena before more than 20,000 spectators, the team around world handball player Mathias Gidsel lost to FC Barcelona 34:37 (16:20). As FAZ reports, it was the second consecutive final the Berliners lost – they had already missed out on the title last year.
Barcelona got off to a better start and pulled ahead by three goals early on. Goalkeeper Emil Nielsen was decisive, saving six of twelve shots in the opening phase and finishing with 14 saves. Gidsel failed multiple times against Nielsen and made several passing errors. At halftime, the Catalans led 20:16.
After the break, Füchse fought back, but Barcelona did not let the win slip away. The record champions, unbeaten in 54 games, secured their 13th title in the premier competition. For Füchse, the last missing trophy in their cabinet remains out of reach.
In Saturday’s semifinal, Berlin had eliminated defending champions SC Magdeburg 40:35, avenging last year’s final defeat. “Nothing has been won yet,” managing director Bob Hanning warned before the final. “There are only 60 minutes left to play this season, but they are the most important.”
Barcelona’s Dika Mem, who will play for Berlin from the 2027/28 season, had expected a “tough duel” before the game. Füchse coach Nicolej Krickau demanded more width in attack during a timeout and “no doubts up front, just go through” – but the team only implemented this in phases.
EuroPulse reported on June 14, 2026, about Füchse Berlin’s semifinal win against Magdeburg, which paved the way to the final (https://europulse.today/fuechse-berlin-champions-league-finale-sieg-magdeburg/).
Source: www.faz.net
