Another page in the history of FC Porto’s handball was written. For the first time since the debut of the current format of the EHF Cup, in season 2012/13, the blue and whites reach the quarter-finals of the competition.

As Constanta lost to Holstebro, this Saturday, none of the opponents in Group C will be able to reach the team led by Magnus Andersson, which faces Cuenca this Sunday, in Spain (11h00, Porto Canal).

On their third time in the group stage, the Dragons assured the lead in Group C, when there are two more matches to play. In the last years, the blue and whites also played in the Champions League. The EHF Cup is seen as the second most important European competition, but, in reality, it also includes team from the Champions League. And facts prove it easily: Füsche Berlim, Kiel, Saint Raphael and La Rioja, for example, are teams with experience in these competitions and come from championships that are reference in European handball.

In this historic journey, FC Porto Sofarma comes in as the most demolishing team in the group stage at the start of matchday 5. Before this round, the Dragons had the best attack, with 137 goals scored, and, despite not having the best defence, they are still one of the most cohesive teams in the back. Again, it’s easy to remind that FC Porto eliminated a team that is a usual contender to the title: Magdeburg.

It should be said that the FC Porto handball is very much alive. In Portugal or abroad, as the Dragons split the lead of the championship with Sporting and already qualified to the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup, after eliminating the Lions. The union of the group and the tactical richness brought in by Magnus Andersson, well performed by the team, may be some of the explanations for the blue and white supremacy. But they are not the only ones, or the success could be imitated by others.