In their last match of the Champions League group stage, Team Esbjerg faced a dominant performance from French Metz, leading to a significant 40-26 defeat. While Metz was competing for a top position in the group, Esbjerg already secured third place prior to the match, making the encounter less critical for them. The loss highlighted the disparity between the two teams, especially in the first half, where Metz established a six-goal lead early on.

Despite the match lacking competitive importance for Esbjerg, the team brought their top players, including Henny Reistad and Nora Mørk, to France. Unfortunately, they did not perform at their usual level, which contributed to the team's difficulties during the game. This match served as a formality in terms of standings but also provided a chance for Esbjerg to gauge their team against high-level opposition ahead of their playoff match against Croatian HC Podravka in March.

As the group stage concluded, Metz secured second place in the group, while Esbjerg's loss was expected given they were already locked into their third-place finish. The upcoming playoffs will be crucial for Esbjerg as they seek to advance to the quarterfinals, and the experience gained from this defeat could help them better prepare for the tougher challenges ahead. The match illustrated both the resilience of Metz aiming for group leadership and the reality facing Esbjerg in upcoming eliminations.