NFH Women — HSG Blomberg-Lippe Women: 31:26, EHF Champions League Women

NFH secured their opening victory in the EHF Champions League with a 31:26 win over HSG Blomberg-Lippe on Saturday. The result shifts the early standings in the group, with the hosts moving off the bottom while the visitors drop to 7th place. By then, both sides had played two matches, though their points tallies told very different stories. NFH claimed 2 points, while HSG Blomberg-Lippe's two draws meant they sat on zero.

The scoreline suggests NFH found their rhythm after a difficult start to the competition. Their previous results had been mixed — a 27:27 draw with Odense, a 29:31 loss to Esbjerg, and a 33:30 win against Rinköbing Handball. This victory gives them something to build on, though they'll want to tighten things up defensively. HSG Blomberg-Lippe had shown promise with a 40:28 rout of Metzingen and a 31:20 win over Sachsen Zwickau, but this performance didn't match those earlier displays.

What stands out is the contrast in form. HSG Blomberg-Lippe had been unbeaten in their opening fixtures, drawing both matches, but this loss breaks that streak. NFH, meanwhile, had only managed one draw in their previous two games before this win. The margin of five goals indicates a shift in momentum that could prove important as the group stage progresses.

For now, NFH hold the tie in their own hands after claiming three points from three matches. HSG Blomberg-Lippe face a setback, having lost their unbeaten record. The group remains wide open, but this result suggests NFH fancy their chances going forward.