Norway vs Denmark 26:39 (10:18)
Denmark’s victory over Norway was never in doubt, as they were quick to establish the lead and did not slow their pace — even without some of their most crucial assets, including the back-to-back IHF World Player of the Year Mathias Gidsel.
Although the EHF EURO 2024 finalists Denmark did not bring their full force to the match in Stavanger, it proved to be an easy-going win for the visitors. Backed by another great performance from Emil Nielsen, who recorded a save rate of 40 per cent until late in the first half, Denmark raced ahead to lead 7:2 after 11 minutes and 16:8 — and they kept that eight-goal distance at the break and had no trouble going on to increase it.
With Denmark’s perennial top scorer Gidsel absent, others took their chance to lead the attack. The top scorer of the EHF Champions League 2022/23, Emil Madsen, led the visitors with seven goals, while Magnus Rød scored the same for Norway. Norway goalkeeper Torbjørn Bergerud recorded a solid 10 saves, but facing a furious number of shots from Denmark, his rate was low and ultimately could not alter the course of the match as the world champions steamrolled to the buzzer. Norway saw themselves defeated for the fifth time in five EHF EURO Cup matches — and much more clearly than in the reverse leg, when Denmark won by five.