Partizan concluded its return season in the EHF Champions League by falling 40-33 to Füchse Berlin at the Max Schmeling Hall in Germany after controlling the scoreboard through a brilliant first half.
The Belgrade club walked off the European floor with its head held high despite the final score in the sixth and final round of Group A. Competing in the continent’s elite tier after 13 years, Partizan finished the group stage in fourth place with a single point earned from a previous draw against Porto.
First-Half Mastery and the 18-17 Lead in Berlin
The visiting side caught the European powerhouse entirely off guard during the opening thirty minutes. Playing with precise execution that resembled a Swiss watch, the black-and-whites minimized technical errors and kept the German defense guessing.
Right wing Lazar Anđelković converted all five of his shots in the first half, while backcourt contributors Vladislav Kuleš, Miloš Kos, and Nikola Crnoglavac picked apart the host defense alongside pivot Tobijas Vagner. The visitors claimed the lead midway through the half and carried an unexpected 18-17 advantage into the locker room, stunning a crowd of 5,621 spectators.
Refereeing duties in the German capital were managed by the Austrian pair of Bolić and Hurič. As the match progressed, head coach Raul Gonzales rotated his squad while missing Sergey Ivanov and Aljoša Damjanović, with the latter staying in Belgrade as he awaited the birth of his child. The squad also travelled without young pivot Petar Ivanić, while Bekir Čordalija remained on the bench as Luka Krivokapić and Andrej Trnavac shared goalkeeper duties.
Gidsel and Freihöfer Lead Füchse Berlin to Victory
The momentum shifted decisively after the interval as the German vice-champions tightened their defensive schemes and exploited transition opportunities. Füchse Berlin seized control with a critical three-goal run that broke a 23-23 tie and widened the gap to 27-23.
World-class star Mathias Gidsel proved unstoppable in the second half, finishing the match with 12 goals from 15 attempts. Left wing Tim Freihöfer matched the offensive onslaught by converting all 11 of his shots, including seven successful penalties from seven attempts. Returning German veteran Fabian Wiede made his comeback to the Champions League after an absence of nearly a year, contributing three goals alongside Tobias Grøndahl and Matthes Langhof, while goalkeeper Lasse Ludwig collected 10 saves to thwart the visitors.
Partizan’s shooting accuracy dropped from 75 percent down to 62 percent, while six second-half turnovers allowed the home side to pull away and build a commanding seven-goal cushion late in the contest. A red card issued to captain Ivan Mićić during a critical stretch further hampered the black-and-whites as Berlin turned rapid transitions into easy goals.
For us, this match is an opportunity to continue growing as a team. We must give our all for 60 minutes if we want to fight for a win. Raul
Transition to the European League Playoffs in February
Despite the disappointment in Germany, the campaign continues on the international stage. Raul Gonzales’ squad secured a spot in the EHF European League playoff round, where they will compete on February 9 and March 2 to fight for a place in the knockout phase.
| Team | Points | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Veszprém | 12 | Advancing to Champions League Top 12 |
| Füchse Berlin | 8 | Advancing to Champions League Top 12 |
| Porto | 3 | Advancing to European League Playoffs |
| Partizan | 1 | Advancing to European League Playoffs |
The team is the Serbian champion, giving the coaching staff foundational confidence to build upon when European competition resumes in the winter.