Sunday 3 April, 19:00 hrs (local time)

For the first time the final match of the SEHA - Gazprom Final 4 will see Vardar and MVM Veszprem battle it out for regional glory.

The top two teams of the regular SEHA - Gazprom League could not be separated this season as they drew both of their matches in Macedonia and in Hungary.

In what is sure to be an intense and narrow encounter, there is little to separate the two handball heavyweights, although Vardar were the only team to beat the Hungarian last season.

The Macedonian side are more experienced at this level as they will play in their fourth final at the SEHA League Final 4 with two victories already (against Metalurg, Meshkov Brest) against just one loss (PPD Zagreb).

For Veszprem it is their second final in consecutive seasons after they beat Meshkov last year and they are sure to do everything to defend their title this time around.

In their overall encounters in recent years the Hungarians have a better record but as we have seen before, how good you are on paper means nothing when you are on court and in a sold-out 4,000+ Arena Varazdin it is clear that there is no favourite in this regional derby.

Quotes from the pre-match press conference:

Javier Sabate, MVM Veszprem coach:

"It was a great match yesterday for Vardar against Zagreb and the fans watching must have been thrilled to see such a clash.

"Tomorrow (Sunday 3 April) they will see a really good and certainly, tense, final for sure.

"We have to prepare the best way we can as they are a team which is rising each year so it won't be easy. I hope our fans will boost us once again and make things easier for us as they always do."

Isaias Guardiola, MVM Veszprem player:

"This final is very important for us as our goal is to go all the way in every competition we are in; we’ll do everything and fight until the end to take the crown.

"Vardar are a good team with some great players but I can say we're ready to fight tomorrow and this match is very important for us."

Raul Gonzales, Vardar coach:

"Both teams are playing very good this season, Javier is a very good coach and their team is really good too.

"We are tired of course but we have one day to prepare, so we will take some rest and go on court tomorrow and give 100% which is always necessary to beat such a team.

"We want to play a good game and see what it brings us in terms of a result."

Arpad Šterbik, MVM Veszprem goalkeeper:

"Our main goal here was to make the final and now that we're here of course we want to go all the way and win.

"It is always tough to play against Veszprem and I have to say I'm a bit sad that Veszprem did not play so good yesterday because with the roster they have it means that they will not have another bad performance to make it two in a row.

"I believe in our team but at the moment I still don't know what we can do to beat them.

"That's why we have our coach to explain this to us and helps us to do everything to take the title."

Head-to-Head

Veszprem vs. Vardar

Played:            8

Veszprem Won:   5

Vardar Won:     1

Draw:               2

Goals:              216:198

2015/16 SEHA - Gazprom League: Vardar vs. Veszprem 30:30

2015/16 SEHA - Gazprom League: Veszprem vs. Vardar 24:24

2014/15 EHF Champions League: Vardar vs. Veszprem 23:24

2014/15 EHF Champions League: Veszprem vs. Vardar 32:24

2014/15 SEHA - Gazprom League: Veszprem vs. Vardar 31:23

2014/15 SEHA - Gazprom League: Vardar vs. Veszprem 28:21

2000/01 EHF Champions League: Veszprem vs. Vardar 27:22

2001/02 EHF Champions League: Vardar vs. Veszprem 24:27