OTP Bank-Pick Szeged delivered a dominant performance Wednesday, defeating Eurofarm Peliszter 35-20 in a Group B matchup of the EHF Men’s Champions League.The Hungarian squad, still mourning the recent passing of long-time technical director Iván Dobozi, overcame a challenging injury report too secure a decisive victory and improve their Champions League record to four wins against four losses. Goalkeeper Roland Mikler proved pivotal for Szeged with 19 saves, leading a team that quickly asserted control and never looked back.
Szeged suffered a surprising 25–24 loss on the road to Bitola on Wednesday, dropping their record below .500 in the Champions League. The Hungarian side was without Magnus Röd, Janus Dadi Smárason, and Bánhidi Bence due to injury for this crucial Group B matchup. Before the start of play, both teams paused to remember Iván Dobozi, Szeged’s long-time technical director, who tragically passed away during last week’s match against Veszprém.
Last week, Szeged didn’t score their first goal until the 11th minute, trailing 5-0 early. This time, however, they came out strong, taking a 4-3 lead after the first 11 minutes. Goalkeeper Roland Mikler was outstanding, racking up save after save as his team built a 10–4 advantage, fueled by goals from Lazar Kukic and Sebastian Frimmel. Bitola responded with a 4–1 run to close the gap, but Szeged finished the half strong, extending their lead to 14–9 at the break.
The second half saw no change in momentum, as Mikler continued his stellar performance in goal. The Hungarian Cup champions quickly pulled away with a 3–0 run, effectively sealing the victory (20–11), and eventually extending their lead to ten goals for the first time in the 43rd minute. Máté Fazekas, recently signed in October, scored his first-ever Champions League goal, while Kristóf Járó and Attila Radvánszki also saw playing time (35–20).
Lazar Kukic and Sebastian Frimmel each scored seven goals, Jérémy Toto added five, and Roland Mikler contributed 19 saves to the win. Attila Radvánszki added three saves. For Bitola, three players scored three goals apiece, while Szaid Heidarirad recorded eight saves.
This victory marked the third Champions League win for Szeged in four matches against Eurofarm Peliszter.
Szeged, now with four wins and four losses, will look to rebound next Thursday when they host PPD Zagreb. Meanwhile, Veszprém, currently boasting five wins and three losses, will travel to Germany to face defending champions Füchse Berlin on the same day.
Men’s Handball Champions League, Group B, Round 8
- OTP Bank-Pick Szeged–Eurofarm Peliszter (North Macedonian) 35–20 (14–9)
- Shots/Goals: 52/35, versus 48/20
- Penalty Goals: 7/5, versus 4/3
- Exclusions: 4, versus 8 minutes
Played on Wednesday
Group A:
One Veszprém HC–Kolstad HB (Norwegian) 42–34 (20–18)
(Featured image: Benjámin Szilágyi, Szeged (r) player during the OTP Bank – Pick Szeged – Eurofarm Peliszter men’s handball Champions League group stage match at the Pick Arena in Szeged on November 20, 2025. MTI/Róbert Hegedüs)
