PPD Zagreb has managed to open the season with a solid performance and another victory over their biggest rivals in Croatia - NEXE from Našice. In the end it was 28:22 (12:9) for multiple Croatian champions.

Hosts have opened the match in a much better way, mainly in defense which NEXE's players were struggling to find a way to get through. Mandalinic was on the other side in a good mood with 3 goals in the opening part of the match and it looked as if it was going to be nothing more than a training match for Zagreb which was 5 goals up with more than 20 left to play in the first half. However, NEXE has in the second part of the first half found a way to make things work, especially in defense. Lorger came up with some crucial saves and PPD Zagreb' coach Vujovic was forced to call a TO with 5 minutes left to play in the first because NEXE was only one goal away from scoring an equalizer. They have even had a chance to catch it but Nuic missed the shot and in the end Zagreb sailed to 12:9 after first 30.

In the second half hosts were able to keep the lead mostly due to some great individual attacking solutions and the fact that NEXE was not able to keep the tempo up all they way through 60 minutes. In the end +6 for Zagreb with Horvat and Vori leading the scorelist scoring 5 both. Mandalinic added 4 and goalkeepers combined for 10 saves. Speaking of NEXE Zrnić scored 5, Vegar added 4 and goalkeepers were on 10 saves as well.

In the next round PPD Zagreb will travel to Skopje to meet Vardar and NEXE will face-off against Gorenje in Slovenia.

Veselin Vujovic, PPD Zagreb' coach:

NEXE looks stronger than ever and on the other side I feel like this is our easiest win in last few seasons. I'm sure NEXE will once again play an important role in SEHA League and I expect that from them despite of the fact they are not in the best form right now but we are not either and that's perfectly normal.

Igor Vori, PPD Zagreb' player:

This match did not come in the best moment for us, after the tournament in Paris and two losses and we were not aware of the form we're in ahead of SEHA opener. We've opened the match well but we have to work on keeping the focus and tempo running through all 60 minutes. We can and we'll have to do better against rivals like Vardar and Veszprem.

Zdenko Kordi, NEXE' coach:

Today we did not play good enough to play a competitive match against zagreb. It is clear we're still buliding our game and we still have to work on it. Congrats to Zagreb.

Marin Vegar, NEXE' player:

Better team won today. We've had some good periods but that's not enough in matches against rivals as good as Zagreb. We still have a lot to work on.