In a tightly contested match at Beaublanc, Limoges claimed a narrow 31-30 victory over Madère in their first game of the European League. The match was a back-and-forth battle, with Madère, a team of younger players competing in Europe for the first time, showing strong determination. Early on, Madère quickly matched Limoges' pace, tying the score at 3-3 by the 5th minute. However, Limoges, led by coach Alberto Entrerríos, gradually took control with more experienced play and fewer mistakes, building a 11-5 lead by the 16th minute. Madère's frequent player rotations disrupted Limoges' rhythm, and Luciano Costa, a former player from Nîmes, helped the visitors close the gap to 14-12 by the 27th minute. Despite this, Limoges managed to extend their lead to five points before halftime, with Jenilson Varela playing a key role. Varela was perfect from the field, hitting all four of his shots, which helped secure the halftime advantage. In the second half, Madère continued to adjust to the challenges of European competition. A red card shown to Victor Sandoval for a foul on Noé Thuillier forced Madère to change their defensive strategy, allowing Limoges to maintain their lead at 25-19 by the 41st minute. However, Limoges struggled with turnovers, recording 14 by the 52nd minute, which gave Madère the opportunity to narrow the gap to 26-24 by the 47th minute. With Gauthier Ivah making 13 saves, the game turned in the final minutes when Carlos Oliveira, who had been quiet in the Portuguese goal, made three crucial saves in a row. This allowed Madère to regain momentum and bring the score to 30-30 by the 57th minute. After more than three minutes without scoring, Limoges finally broke the deadlock with a play involving Jules Lignières and Ewan Kervadec. With just two seconds left on the clock, Diogo Silva, an ex-Aixois player, had a chance to equalize from six meters, but his shot hit the post. Limoges held on for the 31-30 win, ending the match with Madère showing resilience and determination in their European debut.