Vardar eliminated after 26-26 draw with Melsungen
Vardar drew 26-26 at home and, under the new competition format, will continue in the European League while Roberto Garcia Parrondo's team reach the main round.
Vardar were eliminated from the EHF Champions League after a 26-26 home draw with Melsungen on 28 October 2026. Under the competition's new format the Macedonian champions will continue their European campaign in the European League, while Roberto Garcia Parrondo and his Melsungen side secured a place in the Champions League main round.
Match flow and decisive moments
Goalkeeper Valah finished with 14 saves for Vardar; Faduil scored seven goals and Vorkapic added four. Early in the game Simic collected three saves and Valah made one, but Melsungen opened the scoring and led 0-2. Jankovski recorded Vardar's first goal to make it 1-2.
By the sixth minute Ljevar had drawn the score level at 3-3. Five minutes later Melsungen stretched ahead 5-8 and kept that advantage until the 15th minute when the scoreboard read 7-10. From that point Vardar produced a 5-1 run, powered in part by Valah's stops, and Mitrovic’s goal gave the home side its first lead, 12-11, in the 25th minute. The teams went into halftime 14-12.
Melsungen started the second half stronger — a 4-1 sequence restored a 15-16 margin. After Vardar coach Ivan Cupic called a timeout, Mitrovic equalised at 16-16. The German guests managed to move two goals ahead (17-19) before Vardar fought back and led 21-20 in the 48th minute while Melsungen were temporarily a player down.
In the 52nd minute, with Vardar leading 23-22, Jankovski received his third exclusion and Melsungen levelled to 23-23. In the final ten minutes Parrondo went for a 7-on-6 attacking scheme seeking a securing victory and a direct main-round spot.
The closing minutes saw frequent mistakes on both sides. Da Silva scored to make it 25-24, but Melsungen replied immediately to make it 25-25, and Vardar were down to fewer players in the last minute. Faduil converted a seven-metre to put Vardar ahead 26-25, Parrondo called timeout, and Drosten restored parity at 26-26. The referees reviewed footage for a potential penalty for Vardar in the final play but instead awarded two minutes and a free throw to the hosts — the result stood and Vardar will move to the European League.
Photo: press material from the event
