Friendly match for Final 4 significance in Varazdin
Varazdin will once again help PPD Zagreb host a SEHA - Gazprom League match. Tatran will this time come to visit after celebrating with five-goal difference at home in their first clash of the season. Zagreb are currently fourth with 19 points, Tatran are three points behind but might with a victory in Varazdin overtake PPD Zagreb’ position and once again seriously step into the F4 race.
We must also add that five-goal difference from Presov is also important because in case two clubs end the season with the same amount of points it will be decisive. Zagreb will play without Zarko Markovic who left after the match in Nasice after the agreement he made with the club and Tatran will on the other side have to figure it out without Dominik Krok who is dealing with an injury.
We must also mention that this will be a match between two great friends currently coaching two clubs, former teammates and gold-medalists from Atlanta Olympics back in 1996 Zlatko Saracevic and Slavko Goluza. Many reasons to come to the hall near Drava river on Wednesday (19.00 CET).
Zlatko Saracevic, PPD Zagreb coach:
We’re proceeding with this tough rhythm. Our next opponent will be a team which managed to beat us with five-goal difference first time we met. It won’t be easy, I expect a match similar to the one we played in Nasice. Considering match-days roster, we expect Lucin to come back to the team after recovering from a minor injury while on the other side Zarko Markovic left which means we’ll have to figure it out without him. I hope Vuglac will be ready. Slavko Goluza will lead Tatran tomorrow, he is a big friend of mine and I’d like to say it will be a big challenge to beat him. Tough match is ahead of us, a match we must win and I hope fans will be there to support us on Wednesday.
Valentino Ravnic, PPD Zagreb player:
We must close the year in the right way. I believe anything but win is unacceptable. Tatran is also our opponent in Final Four race and we can’t afford ourselves to make any mistakes. We must give our best in order to open and finish the match in the right way.
Slavko Goluza, Tatran coach:
We’ve got two road challenges ahead of us - against Zagreb and Celje. Goal is to deliver the same kind of performance we delivered in Brest, play a quality match without any pressure on our shoulder. From our side, we must give all we’ve got in order to be able to take advantage of an opportunity when it occurs.
Ante Babic, Tatran player:
I expect a tough match. PPD Zagreb will surely be motivated after a loss in our first encounter of the season in Presov, revenge is surely all that matter for them. However, we’ve already proved we can come up big in such matches, even win them. We’ll give our best and try to take full bags back home.
Match will be broadcasted on Arena Sport channels, Sport TV (Slovenia) and ehf TV.