Introducing Szeged

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With Paris Saint-Germain Handball set to conclude the EHF Champions League group stage against Szeged on Wednesday, we take a look at the Hungarian giants.

A LITTLE HISTORY

Until recently playing in the shadow of their great rivals Veszprรฉm, Szeged are gradually establishing themselves as more than just outsiders for the title. Champions on three occasions between 2018 and 2022, the Pick Arena residents are in their golden age. A period that began in 2014, with a victory over Montpellier in the EHF Cup, the forerunner of the Europa League. With five league titles and seven domestic cups, Szeged are still a long way from their red rivals, who have won 57 domestic titles, including 27 league titles.

While they have managed to become a benchmark on the domestic stage, Szeged tend to have more difficulty when it comes to the continental scene. The Hungarians are still in search of their first Final4 qualification, having failed to reach the quarter-finals on five occasions. In 2017, Les Rouge et Bleu ended Szeged's hopes of reaching this stage of the competition.

A YEAR OF REGRETS

Despite their status as two-time defending league champions, Szeged were less successful last season and have plenty to regret. Leaders at the end of the regular season with a record of 25 wins and just one defeat, Mario Sostaric's team crashed out in three sets in the championship final against Veszprรฉm. The same fate befell Szeged in the domestic cup, where the Red and Whites emerged victorious for the third year running.

On the continental stage, Szeged had a serious campaign, qualifying for the play-offs in a tough group that included Barcelona, Kielce, Kiel, Aalborg and Nantes. However, it was against their biggest rivals that the Pick Arena residents saw their hopes dashed. Ludovic Fabregas and Co made short work of Szeged (56-74).

AN EXPERIENCED SQUAD

Once again this season, Szeged have given themselves the means to achieve their ambitions of making a name for themselves on the national and continental stage. The leader of the squad, Mario Sostaric has continued to score goals this season. With 78 goals to his name, the right winger is the third-highest scorer in the EHF Champions League, and gave Les Rouge et Bleu plenty of problems in the first leg (9 goals). However, the Croatian international is not the only threat in a squad packed with talent - there sis also the indefatigable Dean Bombac, whose standards remain unchanged season after season. With 35 goals and 44 assists, the Slovenian centre-half is not only one of the Hungarian side's top scorers, but also its assists leader.

A HOPEFUL END TO THE SEASON

Krisztian Karparti's side got off to the best possible start to the season, but have since fallen off the pace, jeopardising their bid for another league title. Veszprรฉm are simply unstoppable in the league this season, with a perfect record after 17 rounds. Four points adrift of their rivals, Szeged seem condemned to fight it out for the title in the final, this time without home advantage.

On the continental stage, the trend was rather the opposite, with two early defeats -to Raul Gonzalez's men (29-31) and Kiel (35-32). However, the Hungarians then went from strength to strength, notching up landmark victories over Aalborg (34-27) and Kielce (26-25). As the final day of the group phase approaches, Szeged have secured their place in the play-off round.

(Credits: J. Azouze/PSG)