Vardar 1961 loses 33-32 to Nantes in Champions League thriller

Vardar 1961 suffered a narrow 33-32 defeat against French side Nantes in their first EHF Champions League home match at the Jane Sandanski arena following a five-year absence from the competition.

Despite an energetic start where Vardar led 3-0 and later held a 29-27 advantage in the second half, the match ended in high drama. Nantes secured the victory in the final seconds through a penalty converted by Noam Leopold, who finished the game with 13 goals. Vardar's Mohab Abdelhak led his team with 10 goals, while Jaka Maluš struggled in the closing moments, failing to convert two critical scoring opportunities as the Nantes goalkeeper, Christopher Boude, made decisive saves.

Vardar coach Ivan Cupić noted that while the team played well, Nantes benefited from greater experience and luck in the final moments. The defeat marks Vardar's second loss in the group stage, following a previous match against Meursingen. Vardar is scheduled to face Wisla Plock on October 8.