The closely contested encounter brought together two historic rivals with a long tradition in European handball. Although Zagreb controlled much of the match, the visitors fought back repeatedly, ensuring an exciting finish. Ultimately, the Croatian champions held their nerve, with Ihar Bialiauski emerging as the decisive figure in the second half.
Zagreb Establish Early Control
Zagreb started confidently, demonstrating strong defensive organisation and determination from the opening minutes. The defensive partnership of Gleb Kalarash and Marko Mamić proved particularly effective, limiting Celje's attacking opportunities and providing a solid foundation for the hosts. In attack, experienced Croatian winger Manuel Štrlek led the way during the first half, scoring four goals. Jovica Nikolić also contributed three goals, helping Zagreb maintain a narrow but consistent advantage.
Goalkeeper Urh Kastelic, returning to Zagreb, made six important saves before the interval. Despite some missed opportunities in attack, Zagreb maintained control for much of the first half and entered the break with a 14–12 lead.
Celje Fight Back Before Bialiauski Takes Over
The second half began with renewed intensity from the Slovenian visitors. Led by Aljuš Anžić and Uroš Miličević, Celje gradually reduced Zagreb's advantage and levelled the score at 17–17 less than seven minutes after the restart. However, Zagreb responded strongly. Belarusian international Ihar Bialiauski took control of the Croatian side's attacking play, scoring crucial goals and helping the hosts re-establish their advantage.
By the middle of the second half, Zagreb had extended their lead to four goals at 25–21. Celje refused to give up, putting the Croatian champions under pressure during the closing stages, but Zagreb successfully protected their advantage to secure a 31–29 victory. Bialiauski finished as Zagreb's leading scorer with nine goals, while Kastelic completed the match with 11 saves. For Celje, Anžić delivered an exceptional individual performance, scoring 11 times, while Miličević added four goals.
Horvat Praises Team's Determination
Following the victory, Zagreb head coach Hrvoje Horvat praised his players for their fighting spirit and commitment. The Croatian coach acknowledged the importance of starting the Champions League campaign with a victory but admitted that his team still had considerable room for improvement. Horvat highlighted Zagreb's defensive performance as a positive aspect of the match while expressing concern about missed attacking opportunities. The coach noted that his players had been unable to extend their lead beyond four goals, preventing them from taking complete control of the encounter. Despite those shortcomings, he congratulated his squad on securing two important points.
Kastelic Highlights Defensive Strength
Goalkeeper Urh Kastelic also expressed satisfaction with the result, describing the opening Champions League fixture as a difficult but important test. The Slovenian goalkeeper, who previously represented Celje, emphasised that Zagreb's organised defence provided a strong foundation for the victory. His 11 saves were especially important during moments when Celje threatened to overturn the result. For Zagreb, Kastelic's performance was another encouraging sign as the team began its European campaign. Meanwhile, Celje head coach Klemen Luzar acknowledged that his side had made tactical mistakes and missed opportunities, which Zagreb's experienced players successfully exploited.
Emotional Tribute Before Kick-Off
Before the match, players and spectators observed a minute's silence in memory of Dražen Pinević, one of Croatia's most respected handball journalists. Pinević spent more than four decades covering the sport, following Croatian handball through numerous international competitions, including six Olympic Games. The tribute provided an emotional opening to the evening, honouring a journalist whose work made a lasting contribution to Croatian handball.
Important Victory Sets the Tone for European Campaign
The victory represented an encouraging beginning to Zagreb's Champions League season and demonstrated the team's ability to manage pressure against experienced European opposition. With Bialiauski in excellent scoring form, Kastelic providing security in goal and several experienced players contributing across the court, Zagreb showed promising signs in both attack and defence. However, the match also revealed areas requiring improvement, particularly converting scoring opportunities and maintaining consistency when holding a lead. At the time, Zagreb's next European challenge was scheduled for September 16, when they would travel to France to face Paris Saint-Germain.
For Zagreb, the victory over Celje was more than a successful opening result. It provided an important confidence boost and highlighted the qualities that could help the Croatian champions compete on the European stage.
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