Introducing Zagreb

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On Thursday, the capital club travels to Zagreb for EHF Champions League Matchday 13. Find out all you need to know about these opponents, who are two-time winners of the competition and the most successful team in Croatian handball.

A BIT OF HISTORY

Founded in 1922, Zagreb is one of very few clubs to have such an undisputed hegemony at national level. Having established themselves as a major force as early as their first few decades of existence, the Blue and Whites took on a whole new dimension when Yugoslavia dissolved in 1992. Since then, the figures speak for themselves: 31 league titles in as many seasons and 29 domestic cups. At the same time, the Croatians won the European Holy Grail two years running by winning the Champions Clubs' Cup, the forerunner of the Champions League, in 1992 and 1993. Having lost in the final on four occasions during that decade, Zagreb have since gradually encountered more difficulties on the continental stage, having failed to reach the quarter-finals since 2016.

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NATIONAL JOY, CONTINENTAL DISAPPOINTMENT

For the twentieth season in a row, Zagreb have achieved the domestic cup and league double, and without much opposition. Nexe, the Blue and Whites' main rivals and runners-up for the last 14 seasons, were once again unable to get anything going in the league finals, where they were soundly beaten in two legs.

However, Zagreb have bitter memories of their European campaign, having failed to progress beyond the group stage for the second time in the last three seasons. Their elimination was made all the more bitter by the fact that it came on the final matchday. Beaten in Denmark by GOG, the Croatians saw Poland's Wisla Plock pass them by following the Poles' last-gasp win in Porto (27-28). During that campaign, Zagreb were in the same group as Raul Gonzalez's men, and twice fell to our players. First at Coubertin on Matchday 4 (40-31), then at home four months later (30-33).

A SQUAD NOT TO BE UNDERESTIMATED

Zagreb's secret may well lie in their blend of experienced players and a young generation of up-and-coming talent. The club's top scorer in the competition last season (79 goals), veteran Timur Dibirov is continuing his fine form and has 47 goals to his name after 12 rounds. The Russian winger, who turns 41 this summer, can also call on the experience of Yoel Cuni Morales, a former Dunkerque man who joined the Croatian rearguard last summer and has proved a real asset to the Blue and Whites, with 38 goals to his name.

The role of these two leaders of the Croatian team is to bring their skill and experience to bear, but also to coach several young players who are already proving their worth at national and international level. This is particularly true of 21-year-old Matej Mandic, who has already established himself as one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the Champions League this season, with 124 saves, the third-most of any keeper. In attack, Milos Kos (21) and Luka Lovre Klarica (22) have already established themselves as major assets for Zagreb. With 41 goals and 26 assists, nobody is as decisive as the Serbian left-back. For his part, Luka Lovre Klarica is coming off an excellent Euro campaign with Croatia, during which he finished as his country's top scorer with 28 goals.

EHF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLAYOFF BACK IN 2024?

Once again, Zagreb are making a clean sweep on the domestic scene. Winners in the first 16 rounds of the league season and through to the last 16 of the domestic cup, the Blue and Whites are well on their way to a 21st-consecutive domestic double. On the continental stage, however, the suspense is still high. Following their 25-34 win at Kolstad last week, the Croatians now hold a three-point lead over the Norwegians, who sit on the edge of the play-off zone. Although they have one foot in the last 16, Andrija Nikolic's men undoubtedly have the toughest fixture list. After hosting the capital club on Thursday, they travel to group leaders Kiel on the final matchday of the group stage.

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Une publication partagée par RK Zagreb (@rkzagreb)

(Credits: L. Valroff/Team Pics/PSG)