Croatia’s RK Nexe defeated Germany’s THW Kiel, dubbed the “giant” of European handball, at home and reached an advantageous position to advance to the semifinals of the European League.
NEXE caused an upset that beat THW Kill 33-30 (16-13) in the first leg of the 2025/26 EHF Men’s European League quarterfinals at OS Kralja Tomislava Stadium in Nasiche, Croatia, on April 28 (local time).
From the beginning of the game, NEXE drove the kill with a high attack efficiency of more than 80%. The 23-year-old young goalkeeper, Marcel Jastrze ̨bski, had a 50% ERA at one point in the first half and made nine saves to neutralize Kill’s offense. Nexse did not let go of the lead, allowing only two ties throughout the first half, and finished the first half with a three-point lead.
사진 확대 Photo by 2025/26 EHF Men’s European League match between NEXE and Kiel, photo source = European Handball Federation
Kill’s counterattack was strong in the second half. Kill tried to bring the flow by succeeding in the first turnaround of 18-17 around the 9th minute of the second half. Since then, a fierce battle has continued, with the tie repeated seven times. However, with 7 minutes left before the end of the game, Nexe’s concentration shone. Left-back Tin Lucčin scored his ninth goal three minutes before the game ended, widening the gap to 30–27, eventually sealing a valuable three-point victory.
Although NEXE won the first game, there is a difficult journey to the semifinals. In Kill, main gun Bence Imre was absent due to illness, and there was a large injury gap for key players such as Emil Madsen and Elias Ellefsen a Skipagötu.
Above all, Kill is a very strong team at home. Two years ago, he overturned a nine-point loss in the first round against Montpellier in the quarterfinals of the Champions League and won by 10 points. NEXE is seeking to advance to the EHF Finals for the second time in the team’s history by holding a three-point lead in the second game in Germany next week.
Handball fans are paying attention to whether Nexe, who reached the semifinals in the 2021/22 season when the German team was the only team in the club’s history to win, will be able to use another miracle beyond the German giants this time.
[Kim Yongpil, MK Sports Reporter]