Metz secured a comfortable 32-23 victory over Sturhamar in the EHF Champions League women's competition on Friday evening. The result marks the opening round for both sides in this season's tournament. By then, the French club had already established a clear advantage on the court.
Sturhamar came into the fixture with momentum from their recent fixtures. They had won all five of their previous matches, including a 26-20 triumph against Utleira on 2 September. To be fair, their scoring average in those games hovered around 30 goals per match.
Metz showed similar attacking intent in their preparation. Their last outing saw them dismantle Plan-de-Cuques Women 31-22 on 2 September. The visitors had also recorded a dominant 46-21 win over Paris 92 just days earlier. And here's the thing — Metz brought that same intensity to Norway.
The final scoreline reflected Metz's superior efficiency in attack. They scored nine more goals than their hosts while maintaining defensive stability throughout the contest. The margin of victory suggested they controlled the tempo more effectively than Sturhamar could respond.
Both teams now sit at the top of the standings with zero games, zero wins, zero draws, and zero defeats recorded. The table tells us nothing yet about positioning — this was simply the first encounter between them in the competition.
What matters now is how each side builds on this result. Sturhamar will look to close the gap on their opponents in future meetings. Metz have set a benchmark that they will need to maintain if they want to progress further in the tournament.