Traditional SEHA - Gazprom League Final 4 participant Meshkov Brest is a big favorite in the first Quarter-Final game versus Eurofarm Pelister which will be played on Saturday (20.15 CET) in Bitola. Macedonian vice-champions are, on the other hand, still dreaming of their premier F4 appearance. They are aware this will be a great challenge for them but believe it is not ‘mission impossible’.

Hosts managed to sign several experienced players who will surely prove to be a huge reinforcement for them. New goalkeepers are Hungarian Marton Szekely and young Marko Kizic, right winger from Croatia Josip Bozic Pavletic and Serbian left back Nemanja Obradovic. Team has been waiting 17 seasons for a domestic title and this season might turn out to be the one they were patiently waiting for so long.

Belarussians are however also hungry for the first SEHA title. They signed Baptiste Bonnefond and Stanislav Kasparek bringing new coach, Spaniard Daniel Gordo, in as well. The team is growing from season to season and their appetites are seemingly increasing which makes them favorites in this duel.

Pre-season full of ups and downs is behind both teams. Eurofarm first managed to reach Macedonian Super Cup defeating Vardar 1961 only to fall short against the same team in the final of Struga tournament. Meshkov on the other side finished first in the end at Belgazprombank Cup in Brest despite losing to Motor Zaporozhye earlier in the competition.

Following a 20-hour long trip coach Daniel Gordo arrived in Bitola with 15 players and without goalkeeper Ivan Pesic who is dealing with back problems as well as Pawel Paczkowski and Yahor Budzeika whoo both got injured in a friendly tournament last weekend. Artsiom Selviasiuk is still recovering from last season’s injury.

Zeljko Babic, Eurofarm Pelister coach:

Meshkov Brest is a very good rival, last season’s EHF CL quarterfinalists. They’ve managed to improve significantly lately defeating European strongholds making them one of the strongest teams to arrive in Bitola lately. This will be a great challenge and a great match in general for all of us. We are ready, eager to compete and I believe we can reach a positive result in the end. Winning Macedonian Super Cup proved to be a real self-confidence booster for us – we’re happy, satisfied and proud. Past however doesn’t mean a thing. Our form is not great yet, we’re still in the preparation period working on both physical and tactical aspect of our game. Despite of everything I believe in my guys and the hard work we’ve put in and I am convinced we’ll have a great season no matter the outcome against Meshkov.

Bojan Madzovski, Eurofarm Pelister player:

We’re not underestimating them but simply believe in our victory in the end. We are satisfied with the last few weeks in which we’ve delivered some great performances despite of the loss in the Struga final. We are slowly getting everything to work the right way, atmosphere is growing and that’s great. I think we’ll be ready for this one. I don’t want to highlight anyone from their roster individually because Skube is a great player, their wingers are extremely dangerous and goalies are really good as well. I feel like they have a really great team.

Stas Skube, Meshkov Brest player:

The fact that we lost some players will surely be visible, especially because some of them were important figures of our game but I believe new ones will find a way to replace them. Eurofarm is surely a tough team to play against and, as we all know, surprises can always happen. They also had a busy transfer window but from what we’ve seen they have a really good team. They know what they are doing and we’re surely not talking about the same Eurofarm like from two or three seasons ago. I feel like chances are 50:50.

Vladimir Vranjes, Meshkov Brest player:

The problem is our rotation is quite small because some important players are injured. Team spirit is definitely our biggest strength, we have to deliver on the defensive side of the court, score as many easy goals as possible otherwise the match will be really tough because their defense is also functioning really good. Two tough matches are ahead of us and after that we’ll sit, analyze matches and see whether we’ve managed to reach our goal and qualify for SEHA F4 in Zadar.

Daniel Gordo, Meshkov Brest coach:

Our target for this week is to win in Macedonia. It is necessary to prepare as well as possible for the game with Eurofarm Pelister. We already have information about the opponent. We have handball players who will not be there to help us due to injuries, but there are no excuses - we have to play one hundred percent. The team from Bitola shows very good handball. Brest fans know very well their coach - Željko Babić - an excellent specialist who practices the Spanish style of play. There are strong players there - centre back, pivot, guys with a powerful shot from the back line... And also a solid goalkeeper who came from Porto. Meshkov Brest must be prepared for a tough match. We want to win, and then go to the Final Four.