Vardar and Metalurg will once again, after a year-long break face-off in SEHA Gazprom League. Metalurg’ ‘Boris Trajkovski’ sports hall will host their first duel of the season on Tuesday 20.30 CET (live on MRT). 

In the past duels between these two teams were much like a handball holiday for fans filled with motivation and pressure on both sides - true handball ‘El Clasico’. In their seven matches so far in SEHA Gazprom League Vardar has managed to take three victories and Metalurg only one less. However, recent past shows us that things have quite changed since the beginning of the league. From September 7th 2014 teams have met 8 times with Vardar celebrating in all encounters which includes securing the double crown in Macedonia in last two seasons. 

Both teams have some injury issues. Stojance Stoilov will not play for Vardar due to last minute red card suspension from season opener against Meshkov (34:34) a week ago and Jorge Maqueda is also uncertain due to muscle problems. Stefan Drogriski and Nemanja Obradovic will on the other side miss the derby as well due to injuries.

 

Lino Cervar, Metalurg’ coach:

Metalurg is once again part of SEHA Gazprom company and we’ll open the season with a Macedonian derby against Vardar. League is important for us, for our youngsters to gain experience in both SEHA and Champions League in order to prepare them to wear Macedonian national team jersey in the future. Vardar is clear favorite in this match and we wish them all the best. Our goal is to play a good, competitive match. Our players won’t lack motivation, after all this is still city derby. We are aware of our abilities, of the fact that we still have to put in a lot of work to get the maximum from young players. I’d like to invite our fans to come tomorrow and support us. We will not have full roster on disposal with Drogriski and Obradovic out due to injuries but our goal remains the same - to prove we can battle against bigger clubs with much bigger budgets.

Filip Talevski, Metalurg’ player:

After one-year break, we are back in SEHA Gazprom League. For us, young players this is a big motivation, because we will compete against teams like Vardar, Vesprem and Celje - big teams… This first duel against Vardar is no ordinary, it’s a derby and the hustle will decide it. We will give our maximum hoping that we will fulfill our fans’ expectations.

 

Raul Gonzalez, Vardar’ coach:
I expect my team to play well tomorrow. Whenever you play against Metalurg there are a lot of fans in the stands. They have many young players that will want to prove themselves. I think we are a better team, but we have to go step by step, because we want to improve our game. Tomorrow we have to play well, because if you want to play on F4 you have to win every night. Stoilov has a red card suspension but Rogerio and Maqueda are also uncertain for the match due to some minor injuries so we'll decide who is going to play right before the match.

Igor Karacic, Vardar’ player:
Games between Vardar and Metalurg are always special, regardless of both team's rosters. I'm happy that I was able to feel this atmosphere which was present until 2-3 years ago.Perhaps Vardar has a slight advantage, but a few players in our team have participated in the Olympics missing preparations with the rest of the team. These matches are important in order to warm-up for CL. We've also seen that we must not underestimate anyone with Meshkov surprising us a bit a week ago and taking a point in the end. IN SEHA league you always have to give your best. With Neloski in their team Metalug plays much better and with coach Cervar in control they have recognisable playing style. We are ready to play and we have to do our best. We have to enter this game like Champions League final to win it because only this way we can get what we want.