Holstebro TTX and Benfica met in the EHF Cup on Tuesday evening, with the hosts securing a narrow 32:31 victory in a match that decided on fine margins. The result puts the Danish side top of their group with two points from one game, while Benfica remain on zero after their draw elsewhere.
It was a contest where neither side pulled away, and the scoreline tells you everything about how evenly matched they were. To be fair, you could split the game into two halves and neither side would have been complaining about their performance separately. The difference came in those moments that matter most.
Holstebro TTX arrived with mixed recent form — they had beaten Karviná 33:23 and Koling 37:31, but also lost to Fredericia 20:33 and Skjern 27:29. By then, they knew inconsistency was part of their identity this season. What they showed against Benfica was enough to keep them at the summit.
Benfica's campaign had started differently. They had beaten Santu-Tirsu 38:21 and Braga 39:34, but also lost to Torrelavega 24:31 and Sporting 27:32. There is unrest in the dressing room when results look like this, but against Holstebro they refused to go away. Coming close in a one-goal defeat is better than losing by more.
The table now shows a clear picture for the opening round. Holstebro TTX leads on goal difference and points, while Benfica's draw elsewhere keeps them third. It is early days, but the gap between first and third could widen quickly if either side struggles in their next fixture.
