Overview

• Melsungen controlled long stretches, leading by up to four after the break and closing out a 14-12 halftime edge despite a late Benfica surge.
• Ruben Marchan, Dainis Kristopans and Olle Forsell Schefvert topped the MT scoring chart with four goals each.
• The group campaign continues against HF Karlskrona and Ferencvarosi, with six home-and-away games and a top-two finish required by December 2 to reach the Hauptrunde.
• Alexandre Cavalcanti returned from a preseason foot injury after being cleared on matchday and faced his younger brother Gabriel, who plays for Benfica.
• Next up is a Bundesliga trip to THW Kiel on Saturday evening, followed by the second European League fixture away to Karlskrona.