Free Handball Predictions

Handball

This website is your place to go if you are looking for handball predictions, fixture results, or simply wish to learn about the rules and characteristics of this sport prior to watching a match. Handball is one of the most popular European team sports, combining fast and attacking play with solid and organized defensive structures, while having its own specific rules and betting market. We offer you our usual approach to handball and to every sport we bet on – form, stats, and fair analysis are key elements for us. In this article, you will learn the basic rules and facts about handball, fixtures to check today, and tournaments that you should be aware of in order to analyze a match.

What Is Handball? Rules and Basics Explained

Handball is a rapid physical contact game where each side has seven players playing against each other (six field players and one goalkeeper). The game requires players to throw the ball to their opponents' goal so that they can score more goals than the other team, just like in football, but with the use of hands.

A game of handball has two halves, each lasting for 30 minutes, with a halftime interval. Movement of the ball occurs through passing, dribbling (keeping the ball bouncing as you move, just like in basketball), and moving with the ball while carrying it, though a player can take only three steps when holding the ball, after which the player should pass, bounce the ball, or shoot.

There is a semicircle in front of each goal on the court, which is called the goal area, and only the goalkeeper can enter. Other players should shoot or pass while in this area.

In addition, fouls, the two-minute suspension for aggressive behavior, and fast transitions from offense to defense are key components of handball’s gameplay that lead the sport to be more offensive than most other team sports.

Today's Handball Fixtures and Match Predictions

The handball schedule consists of matches that are played in the domestic leagues, continental and international tournaments over the course of the season. Given that there are changes in fixture lists every day, depending on the competition played at a certain moment of the year, the only source one should refer to to find out about today's fixtures is the official competition calendar, whether it is the EHF calendar for the European club and international fixtures or the calendar of your national federation for the domestic league fixtures.

The handball predictions made on the website Victorspredict are based on the up-to-date fixture lists, standings of the leagues and current form of teams, rather than old schedules. The same approach is recommended when comparing the predictions across various websites, as handball, unlike football, lacks a large media presence and its fixture list may be outdated.

Handball Predictions And Betting Tips For Today

Handball prediction compilation begins like any team game analysis — with the review of recent outcomes, injuries, and the context of particular matchups. However, there are some peculiarities about handball predictions that should be considered.

The thing is that handball games usually have a lot of goals scored (it is quite normal when each game ends up with 50-65 total goals). This means that in contrast to low-scoring sports, such as tennis or even basketball, a margin of victory in handball matters a lot. Thus, "being in form" for a handball team means winning with a decent margin. Another important aspect to pay attention to while analyzing the form of teams playing in handball is the form of their goalkeepers, since their performance can affect the results of a game dramatically.

There is no need to say that we advise you not to take any prediction for granted, including our prediction. There is always a certain unpredictability in any kind of sport, which can make the result of a game independent of the form of both teams.

Top Handball Leagues and Competitions Worldwide

The best handball domestic leagues are found in Europe, as it is in Europe that the game has deep roots and has many followers:

Handball-Bundesliga (HBL), which is considered the strongest domestic league in the world and is characterized by its competitive nature.

Liga ASOBAL of Spain, where clubs like FC Barcelona Handbol compete at the highest levels in European handball competitions.

LNH Division 1 of France, which includes PSG Handball among other European-caliber clubs.

Håndboldligaen of Denmark, which is a strong league and in a nation where handball has been developed at both the club and national team levels.

Handball is present in other parts of the world too, although in small numbers, with domestic leagues in countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and South America.

Key Betting Markets for Handball

However, there are several differences between the markets of both disciplines since handball scores much faster:

• Match Winner (1X2 or Moneyline) – prediction of a winning team or a draw, if possible.
• Handicap Betting – due to the high rate of scoring, handicap betting markets, where certain points are added or subtracted from a team before placing a bet, are more relevant in handball than in football.
• Total Goals (Over/Under) – prediction of whether the total goals scored will be above or below a certain number, which usually lies between 55 and 65, depending on the teams playing.
• Half Time/Full Time – prediction of the winning team in the first half and the overall game; in handball matches, these two outcomes may differ due to the constant changes in the dynamics of the game.
• Player Props – markets related to the performance of individual players, for example, their goal total, are more common in tournaments with solid statistics coverage.

How to Analyze a Handball Match Before Betting

An effective analysis of handball should usually follow several stages:

• Form and margins of victory. While results should obviously be analyzed, form is also important. Winning by the odd goal at times shows a lot about a team's ability.
• Home and away form. Handball is characterized by an especially strong home advantage, influenced mainly by the atmosphere created by the fans and players' familiarity with the court used, so home/away splits could be particularly sharp.
• Match-ups. Some teams' encounters tend to produce very predictable results due to the regularity of meeting each other in seasons when certain teams face each other repeatedly.
• Injuries and suspensions. The absence of the main goalkeeper or a playmaker makes a real difference for handball, in which players rotate far less frequently than in football.
• Fixture congestion. Teams participating in several competitions (league + European competition) may experience periods of exhaustion at certain points of the season.

None of what has been mentioned ensures success by itself — the point of doing the analysis lies in taking into account several factors.

Major International Handball Tournaments (EHF, IHF, Olympics)

The most important tournaments in handball are as follows:

• EHF Champions League: It is a tournament that represents the highest level of European club competition run by the European Handball Federation and consists of the best teams from every domestic league.
• IHF World Championship: It is an international tournament played every two years by the best teams in the world, run by the International Handball Federation.
• European Championship (EHF EURO): This is the continental championship conducted by the national teams of the respective countries.
• Handball Olympics: Handball has been included in the Olympics since 1972 for men and 1976 for women players.

Top Handball Teams and Players to Watch

On the club scene, sides such as THW Kiel, Barcelona Handbol, and Paris Saint-Germain Handball have developed a long tradition in Europe, consistently qualifying well into the knockout stages of the EHF Champions League.

On the international scene, national sides from countries such as Denmark, France, Germany, and Spain have exchanged the major trophies in World Championships and European Championships, highlighting the geographical location where the competitive strength of handball exists.

In terms of players, the sport's best players are usually big scorers and good goalkeepers who can single-handedly affect an entire season of their club or country through their performance alone — following the performance of individual players, rather than just the team, is indeed useful for any serious follower of the sport.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a handball match last?

A normal game lasts for 60 minutes, which consists of two 30-minute halves. Additional time can be played in knockout games when there is a tie in the game.

How many players are on a handball team?

There are seven players who play in the game on each side – six outfielders and one goalkeeper. Moreover, substitutes are available on the bench during the course of the game.

What size is a handball court?

A handball field is 40 meters long and 20 meters wide. It is twice the size of the basketball field, with goals at either end and a goal area marked in front of it.

Is handball an Olympic sport?

Yes, men’s handball became an Olympic sport in 1972, and women’s handball became an Olympic sport in 1976. Both of these have continued to remain Olympic sports up to now.

What's the difference between handball and team handball?

“Handball” and “team handball” are terms for the same game, that is, the Olympic and international game played with seven players on each side. “Team Handball” is the name usually used in those areas where confusion may arise regarding this term from another game.

Conclusion

Handball is a speedy, high-scoring sport with its own rhythm and rules as well as bets. This is not like football or any of those popular sports; Handball has its own particularities when it comes to betting. Regardless of whether you are a beginner or someone who follows certain leagues, knowing the basics of this sport, like scoring, which leagues have the deepest competition, and what actually determines the form and the results, makes following the matches much easier. At Victorspredict, we follow this rule in all sports we analyze: knowledge instead of guesses.