OTP Bank-Pick Szeged delivered a commanding performance Wednesday, defeating Eurofarm Pelister 35-20 in round 8 of the EHF Champions League Group Stage. The victory comes after a narrow defeat last week and marks a crucial rebound for the Hungarian side amidst a challenging stretch in the competition[[1]]. The match also included a pre-game moment of silence honoring recently deceased technical director Dobozi Iván, adding an emotional layer to Szeged’s decisive win.
HANDBALL
MEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, GROUP STAGE
ROUND 8
GROUP B
OTP Bank-Pick Szeged–Eurofarm Pelister (North Macedonia) 35–20 (14–9)
Pick Szeged responded emphatically to last week’s defeat, securing a dominant 35-20 victory over Eurofarm Pelister at the Pick Arena. The Hungarian side was looking to rebound after a narrow 25-24 loss on the road against their North Macedonian rivals. Despite missing key players Janus Smaras and Magnus Röd, and with captain Bánhidi Bence also unavailable, Szeged integrated young talents Fazekas Máté, Járó Kristóf, and Radvánszki Attila into the matchday squad.
A moment of silence was observed before the match to honor Dobozi Iván, Szeged’s technical director who passed away during a recent match against Veszprém. Once play began, Szeged quickly established control, a stark contrast to their previous encounter. Goalkeeper Roland Mikler delivered a stellar performance, while Sebastian Frimmel and Lazar Kukics consistently outmaneuvered Said Hejdarirad, who proved troublesome in the first leg (7–3).
The first half saw the 19-year-old Fazekas Máté showcase his potential, eventually scoring his first Champions League goal, as Mikler maintained a 55% save percentage. Szeged entered the break with a 14-9 lead. The second half continued the trend, with Mikler’s strong goalkeeping and a less imposing Pelister defense – playing away from their home crowd of 3000 fans – allowing Szeged to extend their advantage.
Kukics orchestrated the Szeged attack with precision, and Frimmel’s continued creativity pushed the lead to eight goals. A successful finish from Jérémy Toto, who had initially missed a couple of clear chances, prompted the home crowd to begin calculating the final margin of victory in the 44th minute.
In the closing stages, Szeged’s attack proved relentless, and Michael Apelgren provided valuable playing time for the younger players. The final score reflected Szeged’s dominance, 35–20. Szeged will next host RK Zagreb, another Balkan team, on Thursday of next week. This win solidifies Szeged’s position in a competitive Champions League group.
| A OTHER MATCHES |
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In Group A, Dinamo Bucuresti upset Nantes with a 29–28 victory on their home court, led by Calin Dedu and Haniel Vinicius, both with six goals. Miklós Rosta did not feature in the match. Meanwhile, Wisla Plock defeated GOG on their own turf, with Gergő Fazekas scoring six goals and Zoran Ilic and Zoltán Szita adding one goal apiece. (M. B.) |
