The Ljubljana-based club, preparing for its 31st consecutive season among Europe’s elite, will compete in Group B, where it faces a challenging lineup: HB Ludwigsburg (GER), Odense Handbold (DEN), CSM Bucuresti (ROM), Brest Bretagne (FRA), FTC Rail-Cargo Hungaria (HUN), Podravka Vegeta (CRO), and Ikast Handbold (DEN).
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Following the draw, head coach Žiga Novak acknowledged the strength of the group: “Most of these teams are well known to us from past seasons. It’s no secret that we are entering this year with a slightly thinner squad, so an easy draw wasn’t really on the table. In fact, five of our group opponents reached the quarter-finals last season and have since become even stronger. Still, our goals remain unchanged – we take it one match at a time, one training at a time, and we’ll fight every step of the way.”
Žiga Novak: Our goals remain unchanged – we take it one match at a time, one training at a time, and we’ll fight every step of the way.
The competition format remains the same as in previous years: sixteen teams are split into two groups of eight. The top two from each group advance directly to the quarter-finals, while those finishing third to sixth will battle it out in two-legged play-off matches for a place among the top eight.
The group stage kicks off on the weekend of 6–7 September 2025.
Match schedule: EHF Champions League 2025/26
✈️ Brest (FRA) : Krim Mercator | 6./7. 9. 2025
🏠 Krim Mercator : Podravka (HRV) | 13./14. 9. 2025
✈️ Ikast (DAN) : Krim Mercator | 27./28. 9. 2025
🏠 Krim Mercator : FTC (MAD) | 4./5. 10. 2025
🏠 Krim Mercator : CSM Bucuresti (ROM) | 25./26. 10. 2025
✈️ Ludwigsburg (NEM) : Krim Mercator | 1./2. 11. 2025
🏠 Krim Mercator : Odense (DAN) | 8./9. 11. 2025
✈️ Odense (DAN) : Krim Mercator | 15./16. 11. 2025
🏠 Krim Mercator : Ludwigsburg (NEM) | 10./11. 1. 2026
✈️ CSM Bucuresti (ROM) : Krim Mercator | 17./18. 1. 2026
✈️ FTC (MAD) : Krim Mercator | 24./25. 1. 2026
🏠 Krim Mercator : Ikast (DAN) | 7./8. 2. 2026
✈️ Podravka (HRV) : Krim Mercator | 14./15. 2. 2026
🏠 Krim Mercator : Brest (FRA) | 21./22. 2. 2026
* Final dates (day, time, venue) to be announced.