On Tuesday evening, the European Men's Handball League began with two French teams, Chambéry and Saint-Raphael, facing setbacks. Chambéry, a team from the French Alps, lost 34-33 to Izvidac, the reigning champion from Bosnia and Herzegovina, in a tightly contested match. The game was marked by a dramatic finish: Chambéry trailed by five goals at the end of the first period (15-10, 22') but managed to tie the score with just 1 minute and 4 seconds left in the game, thanks to a goal by Achilleas Toskas (33-33). However, Izvidac's Danijel Stijovic scored 14 seconds before the final buzzer to secure the win. Chambéry struggled with missed shots and inconsistent goalkeeping during its first appearance in European competition. Saint-Raphael, another French team, also suffered a defeat, losing 33-26 to Nexe, a team that had finished third in the Croatian league last season. Saint-Raphael started strong, leading 12-11 after 26 minutes, but allowed Nexe to take control before halftime (17-13). Despite a late effort to close the gap (20-18, 39'), they were unable to overcome the deficit. Nexe's goalkeeper, Marcel Jastrzebski, who saved 35% of the shots he faced, played a key role in the victory. This loss marks Saint-Raphael's third defeat in their last four league matches. Limoges will be the third French team to compete in the European Men's Handball League. The team is set to make its debut on Wednesday evening at the Beaublanc arena, where it will host the Portuguese team Maritimo. This match is crucial for Limoges, as it aims to maintain the French record for the first day of competition by securing a win. The match will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, as it represents a significant moment for French handball in European competition.