Cervar’s team in Osijek
Červarova momčad u Osijeku
It has been 20 days after NEXE’s last match in Gazprom SEHA South Stream league. On Thursday (19.00 CET) 28th of February in sports hall Gradski vrt Osijek NEXE will host Metalurg from Skopje. It will be first NEXE's match in Osijek this year, and second match between Croatian and Macedonian team this season. In the fifth round in Skopje there was no winner (24:24), therefore NEXE is as always unpleasant rival for excellent team from Skopje.
Metalurg is also the big magnet for handball fans in Slavonia. Macedonian team is led by former Croatian national team coach Lino Cervar.
- It is always a big honour for my team to play and resist against the team from Champions league with great players, very famous and distinguished coach and much bigger budget than our club. Everything stated also refers to Vardar, second Macedonian team in the league against which we will play only two days after our match against Metalurg, also in Osijek, said Zdenko Kordi, NEXE's head coach.
NEXE will be handicapped against team from Macedonia. Due to injuries line player Marin Sakic and NEXE’s top scorer Igor Vujić. In the previous five meetings, Metalurg has got only one victory against Croatian team.
- We traditionally play well against Metalurg. I believe that will be another interesting match, especially for the audience and handball fans, said Perica Lelic, NEXE’s goalkepper.
Metalurg has arrived in Osijek only three days after winning the match against Barcelona in the Champions league. They have qualified for the next round in the Champions league however they are still chasing one of the first four places for SEHA GSS League’s Final Four.