The result completed a successful double over the Slovenian side, following Zagreb's 31–29 win in their opening group-stage encounter at Arena Zagreb. Despite missing out on progression to the Champions League knockout rounds, Hrvoje Horvat's players finished third in a difficult group featuring Paris Saint-Germain and Aalborg Håndbold, collecting six points from six matches. Their European campaign will now continue in the EHF European League, where both Zagreb and Celje will compete in the next phase.
Zagreb's victory was built on a combination of attacking efficiency, disciplined defending and strong goalkeeping. Tskhovrebadze produced one of his finest performances in a Zagreb shirt, while Kastelic repeatedly frustrated his former club with important saves. The Croatian champions also demonstrated impressive physical preparation, maintaining their intensity throughout the second half and gradually overwhelming opponents who had remained competitive during the opening 30 minutes.
Competitive First Half Ends Level
The match began with both goalkeepers making an immediate impact. Zagreb's Urh Kastelic and Celje's Gal Gaberšek produced several early saves, preventing either side from establishing a comfortable advantage. The visitors initially looked slightly more organised in attack, with Davor Gavrić continuing the excellent form he had shown during Zagreb's dramatic victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
Gavrić was particularly effective during the opening exchanges, scoring four of Zagreb's first eight goals and helping the Croatian side maintain a narrow advantage. His movement and finishing from the right side created persistent problems for Celje's defence, while Kastelic provided security at the opposite end of the court. The goalkeeper appeared especially motivated by his return to Zlatorog Arena, where he had previously played during his time with the Slovenian club.
Celje responded through Aljuš Anžić, whose attacking quality and movement repeatedly tested Zagreb's defensive organisation. The talented Slovenian kept his team competitive, scoring important goals whenever the visitors threatened to establish a larger lead. Despite Zagreb enjoying periods of control, neither side managed to move more than two goals ahead during the opening half.
The home team eventually moved into the lead in the 21st minute, first equalising at 11–11 before taking a 12–11 advantage. The remainder of the half featured several changes in momentum, with both teams demonstrating attacking quality but struggling to establish defensive consistency. Zagreb continued to respond to Celje's goals, ensuring that the Slovenian champions could not build a significant advantage.
One of the most spectacular moments came shortly before the interval when Tskhovrebadze and captain Filip Glavaš combined for an outstanding aerial goal. The Georgian initially passed the ball towards the wing, where Glavaš returned it into the air for Tskhovrebadze to finish in impressive fashion. The move highlighted Zagreb's technical quality and attacking creativity, providing a memorable moment in an otherwise closely balanced first half.
After another exchange of goals, the teams entered the dressing rooms level at 16–16, leaving the outcome uncertain despite the match having no effect on which clubs would advance from the group.
Tskhovrebadze Takes Control as Zagreb Dominate
Zagreb emerged from the interval with greater aggression and immediately transformed the contest. Horvat's team opened the second half with three unanswered goals, establishing a 19–16 advantage and forcing Celje into a more demanding position. The Croatian champions increased their defensive intensity, while their attacking players found greater success against the Slovenian side's attempts to contain them.
Petar Topić became particularly influential from the pivot position, converting his opportunities with remarkable efficiency. The Croatian line player scored five goals from five attempts, providing Zagreb with a reliable attacking option whenever Celje attempted to close down the backcourt. His finishing helped maintain the visitors' advantage during a period when the home team continued to threaten.
Anžić remained Celje's most dangerous player, producing several impressive individual actions to keep the Slovenian champions within reach. The hosts twice reduced their deficit to a single goal, first at 23–24 and later at 25–26, creating the possibility of another dramatic finish between the long-standing rivals.
However, Zagreb responded with greater composure and attacking quality. Tskhovrebadze took control of the contest, repeatedly finding gaps in Celje's defence and scoring from difficult positions. Supported by Glavaš and Topić, the Georgian international led a decisive period in which Zagreb extended their advantage to five goals at 31–26.
That scoring run effectively settled the encounter. Celje were increasingly unable to match Zagreb's pace and attacking intensity, while the Croatian champions continued to benefit from Kastelic's outstanding goalkeeping. The home side's problems were compounded when Anžić, their most influential attacking player, experienced muscular discomfort and was forced to leave the court.
With their strongest attacking threat unavailable, Celje struggled to reduce the deficit during the closing stages. Zagreb maintained control, avoiding the mistakes that had occasionally undermined their previous European performances, and eventually secured a convincing six-goal victory.
Tskhovrebadze finished with a personal-best 11 goals in the match, while Kastelic recorded 12 saves. Their performances were central to Zagreb's success, although the victory also reflected the collective quality of a team that has demonstrated significant improvement during the final stages of its Champions League campaign.
Zagreb Finish Third and Turn Attention to European League
The victory was Zagreb's third in six Champions League group-stage matches, completing a campaign that included memorable performances against several of Europe's strongest teams. Although the Croatian champions were unable to progress to the next stage, their results demonstrated an ability to compete with elite opposition, particularly during the second half of the competition.
Among the highlights was Zagreb's dramatic 29–28 home victory over Paris Saint-Germain, when Davor Gavrić scored the winning goal in the closing seconds. That success was followed by another impressive performance against Celje, providing further evidence that Horvat's squad are developing greater attacking consistency and confidence under pressure.
The final Group C standings confirmed Paris Saint-Germain as group winners following their 32–25 victory over Aalborg. Both teams finished with nine points and advanced in the Champions League, while Zagreb secured third place with six points. Celje finished fourth after losing all six group matches, despite producing several competitive performances.
For Zagreb, the disappointment of leaving the Champions League is softened by the opportunity to continue competing internationally. The Croatian champions will enter the EHF European League in February, with their opponents to be determined after the conclusion of the relevant competition phase in December.
The extended European break gives Horvat and his coaching staff time to assess the team's performances, address tactical weaknesses and prepare for the challenges ahead. Zagreb's recent victories suggest that the squad are moving in a positive direction, particularly in attack, where players such as Tskhovrebadze, Gavrić, Glavaš and Topić have increasingly demonstrated their ability to deliver decisive contributions.
Domestic Challenges Await Croatian Champions
Before returning to European action, Zagreb must focus on domestic competitions and the upcoming international break. Their next scheduled match is against Bjelovar in the Croatian Paket24 Premier League, followed by a demanding encounter with Nexe Našice in November.
Several Zagreb players will also join the Croatian national team for its European Championship qualifying fixtures against Lithuania and Finland. Filip Glavaš, Marko Mamić and Zlatko Raužan have been selected by national team head coach Dagur Sigurðsson, meaning Horvat will have to manage preparations while some of his key players are away on international duty.
The forthcoming period will therefore be important for maintaining the momentum established during Zagreb's final Champions League matches. While the Croatian champions have demonstrated attacking quality and improved physical conditioning, maintaining that level across domestic and European competitions will require continued discipline and effective squad management.
The victory in Celje also carried emotional significance because of the long-standing rivalry between the two clubs. Zagreb and Celje have faced each other regularly in European competition for more than three decades, including during Zagreb's successful continental campaigns in the early 1990s. Their meetings have frequently produced intense, competitive handball, and the latest encounter provided another memorable chapter in that history.
For Celje, the defeat completed a difficult Champions League campaign without a point. Nevertheless, the Slovenian club will also continue in the European League, offering an opportunity to rebuild confidence and compete against a different group of continental opponents.
Zagreb's 38–32 victory over Celje was an encouraging conclusion to their Champions League campaign. Led by Tskhovrebadze's outstanding scoring performance and Kastelic's excellent goalkeeping, the Croatian champions demonstrated attacking quality, resilience and improved consistency. Although their journey in Europe's elite competition has ended, the performance in Slovenia provides a strong foundation for the challenges awaiting them in the EHF European League.
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