Handball: Eliminated by Veszprem, PSG will not see the quarter

Paris Saint-Germain handball has been eliminated for the second year in a row before the Champions League quarter-finals, after being ousted by Veszprem in the playoffs following a draw at home (35-35) on Thursday, April 9, a week after struggling in Hungary (32-24). Before 2025, PSG had consistently reached the Champions League quarter-finals since being acquired by Qatari investors in 2012.

Despite the support of their fans, they fell far short of a comeback. The evening got off to a rocky start with early mistakes, forced shots in attack, and defensive weaknesses. As a result, PSG found themselves down by four goals within seven minutes (6-2).

They managed to bounce back after the first quarter of the game, thanks to improved defense, spacing created by players like Luc Steins, and long-range shooting from players like Yahia Omar (9/14) and Elohim Prandi (5/9). Taking the lead for the first time in the 25th minute (15-14), PSG seemed poised for a comeback, going ahead by four goals early in the second half (22-18, 33rd minute). But the Hungarian team responded, led by Nedim Remili (7/10).

This marks the end of a disappointing European campaign, with seven losses and a draw during the group stage, despite some signs of improvement in 2026. Until the defeat in Veszprem, which exposed PSG’s collective weaknesses, lack of offensive cohesion, and defensive frailty.

Financial cutbacks in recent years have seen PSG lose its status as a top destination for top players in Europe. Now, they will focus on their domestic competitions: aiming for a 12th consecutive French league title, where they currently hold a two-point lead over Nantes (the only French team in the Champions League quarter-finals), and the French Cup, with a semi-final against Montpellier on Wednesday.