ZAGREB – MAGDEBURG 22:18 (11:7)
Zagreb: Grbavac, Mandić 22; Kos 2, Walczak, Klarica 7, Gojun 1, Molc, Kraljević, Svržnjak, Celegin, Dibirov 3, Bialiauski 4, Kavčič 1, Glavaš 4, Trivković, Radojković. Coach Velimir Petković.
Magdeburg: Hernandez, Portner; Persson 1, Musche 3, Zehnder 3, Zechel, Kristjansson 3, Pettersson 1, Magnusson 1, Serradilla, Lagergren 1, Mertens 1, Saugstrup 2, O’Sullivan, Damgaard 2, Bergendahl. Coach Bennett Wiegert.
In the match of the eighth round of the Machineseeker EHF Champions League, in front of slightly more than 6,000 spectators in the Zagreb Arena, the Zagreb handball players celebrated against the current champions of Germany Magdeburg 22:18. Matej Mandić had an incredible night, making 22 saves, while Luka Klarica added seven goals.
Zagreb was in the lead from the beginning, primarily thanks to the incredible Matej Mandić in goal, who already made 15 saves by halftime! Luka Klarica (4) and Ihar Bialiauski (3) should be singled out in attack. In contrast, the others had many problems with the German team’s solid defense and the cheerful Sergey Hernandez in goal. By the middle of the first half, the ‘Lions’ had escaped to +5, and in the second half of the first half they successfully ‘maintained their distance’ to go to the break with 11:7.
At the beginning of the second half, the team from Zagreb lost a bit of pace, Hernandez made several saves at the Magdeburg goal, and the guests from Germany were only -2. However, in the middle of the second half, Zagreb gets back into the right rhythm again – Mandić is unstoppable in goal. At the same time, in the attack, Bialiauski and Kos break through the Magdeburg block with several great connected goals. Zagreb is +6 (19:13). The supply they created until the last ten minutes of the match turned out to be more than enough, and the ‘Lions’ ended up winning against the German champions 22:18. Matej Mandić was incredible in goal tonight with 22 saves, while Luka Klarica was precise seven times. Filip Glavaš and Ihar Bialiauski each scored four goals. Sergey Hernandez made 14 saves for the guests.
In two days, Zagreb will be followed by a visit to Trogir as part of the new Paket24 Premier League round. The Croatian champions will take to the Machineseeker EHF Champions League field again in a week when the French Nantes arrive in Zagreb. The duel between the Croatian champion and the current vice-champions of France is scheduled for Wednesday, November 27, starting at 8:45 p.m. in the Zagreb Arena. RK Zagreb sponsors have provided free entry for all our fans, and you can pick up tickets at the locations and times listed in this link.
My players can tell you how much I believed in what we were capable of. We knew that we were going into battle, and that any side could always come out victorious. We were real in defense led by Walczak and Gojun, while in attack we managed to spread them out behind Bialiauski and Klarica. We were excellent in transition, I said that whoever manages to score more of those easy goals will come out as the winner and that’s how it was. The goal is for this victory to be the basis of further success, to attract fans and move forward together with them – Velimir Petković, RK Zagreb Head Coach
Amazing match, real approach from all from the first minute. I must emphasize the great performance of Matej Mandić, who with his defenses helped us to capitalize on a generally very good defensive effort and quickly take control of the game. We were disciplined and in the end we achieved a great and important victory – Miloš Kos, RK Zagreb player
SOURCE: RK Zagreb
