CSS Reims retains European title in thrilling fashion

In Manisa, Turkey, the “Pandas” of the Sports Club for the Deaf in Reims have repeated the feat achieved in Reims last year. In a thrilling match, the Reims team was taken to extra time and then to a penalty shootout by the Stuttgart team in the final of the Deaf Champion’s League. With the same score as in 2025 and nerves of steel, CSSR prevailed 4-3, lifting their 2nd European cup in 2 years.

Choosing the right words is difficult. Immense, historic, indomitable… Just like a year ago, CSS Reims clinched victory in a nail-biting penalty shootout in the final of the Deaf Champion’s League. Perhaps experience played a role against the valiant Germans from Stuttgart. It was actually the Stuttgart players who quickly took the lead, scoring in the 5th minute with a fine shot after a Reims turnover in midfield. The Pandas did not hesitate for long. Ten minutes later (14th minute), the Reims team quickly exploited a ball recovery opportunity. Swift in transition, Paul Recober perfectly placed the ball past the goalkeeper from a good cross by Omar Diaby at the far post.

Furthermore, Aurélien Manceaux’s teammates doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark thanks to the Japanese player Daisuke Nishi, who pounced on an opportunity in the German box. Like in the first half, Stuttgart found the net early in the second half. No more goals were scored until a grueling penalty shootout. Despite missing two penalties (the 3rd and 4th), the Reims team’s goalkeeper saved three from the Germans, two of which were blocked and one missed. Symbolically, captain Aurélien Manceaux scored the match-winning penalty (4-3), bringing joy to the entire deaf community in Reims and France. For the first time, a French club has won the Deaf Champion’s League twice in a row. Immense, historic…