Day 4 | Thrills, Surprises, and Semifinal Line-Up Set

The fourth day of the European University Handball Championship delivered excitement from start to finish, with game comebacks that shaped the decisive race for the semifinal spots. From matches starting at 9:00 a.m. and running late into the evening, there was room for everything: clear victories and tactical balance.

The morning began with the classification matches for 9th to 12th place. In the men’s competition, the University of Castilla-La Mancha came out on top against the University of Beira Interior, winning 34–27. The home team even saw one of their players sent off, in a match that reflected both their effort and their struggles. In the women’s bracket, the University of Beira Interior returned to the court, this time against the University of Valencia. The Spanish side left no chance, securing a clear 28–11 victory.

At 11:00 a.m., the Norwegian University of Science and Technology prevailed 36–31 over the University of Maia. Despite the win, the game was marked both by the expulsion of a Norwegian player and the awarding of the Fair Play white card to the Portuguese team doctor for his sportsmanlike attitude. In the women’s draw, the University of Côte d’Azur ended their participation with a hard-fought win over the University of Würzburg, in a match where both teams showed grit until the final whistle.

The afternoon arrived, bringing with it the much-anticipated quarterfinals, where emotions ran even higher.

Kicking off at 2:00 p.m., the French team from the University of Côte d’Azur secured a spot in the men’s semifinals by defeating the German Sport University Cologne 31–24, a game entirely dominated tactically by the French and marked by the expulsion of a German player. In the women’s competition, the University of León defeated the University of Zagreb 32–23, advancing confidently to the semifinals.

Two hours later, another France–Croatia showdown brought another French triumph. The University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour eliminated the Zagreb University of Applied Sciences 35–26, confirming the excellent form of the French teams. On the other court, Romania’s Polytechnic University of Bucharest beat the University of Minho 30–27 in one of the day’s most balanced matches. Despite the Portuguese team fighting until the end, they were unable to progress to the next stage.

At 6:00 p.m., the men’s team of the University of Minho entered the second half determined to turn the score around, but the effectiveness of Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava left the Portuguese side out of title contention, with a 40–35 win for the Romanians. At the same time, the University of Mainz defeated the German Sport University Cologne 30–17 to also secure their place in the next round.

The night brought even more spectacle, with Croatia’s University of Zagreb showcasing their offensive power by thrashing Gumushane University 40–19. In the women’s bracket, the Hungarian University of Sports Science had to work hard to overcome the Norwegian University of Science and Technology 32–29 in an intense and tightly contested game.

With these last two matches, the quarterfinals of the European University Handball Championship came to a close.

As night fell, athletes and volunteers took a break from the intensity of the competition to immerse themselves in local culture, visiting the Feira de São Tiago.

Between traditional food, folk music, and the warmth of the community, the moment truly reflected the spirit of this championship: competition, respect, and also cultural connection, all in one place. Special mention goes to the stand dedicated to the European University Handball Championship, where visitors could learn more about the event, take photos, and interact with members of the organizing team.