Media Information VELUX EHF Champions League Season 2018/19 Last 16, Leg 1 HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) vs HC Vardar (MKD) Arena Zagreb (Zagreb, CRO) Saturday 23 March, 20:30 hrs
HC PPD Zagreb (CRO) vs HC Vardar (MKD) Last 16 Saturday 23 March 2019, 20:30 hrs Playing hall Arena Zagreb Laniste 30 10000 Zagreb Croatia Capacity: 15,200 Leg 1 Most games vs Vardar: Zlatko Horvat 9 Igor Vori 8 Josip Valcic 7 Denis Spoljaric 6 Niksa Kaleb 4 Tin Kontrec 4 Stipe Mandalinic 4 Dobrivoje Markovic 4 Valter Matosevic 4 Matevz Skok 4 Tonci Valcic 4 Most goals vs Vardar: Zlatko Horvat 22 Stipe Mandalinic 21 Igor Vori 20 Mirza Dzomba 15 Dobrivoje Markovic 13 Regional league SEHA-Gazprom League Last 3 games: 13/03 vs Tatran Presov L28:29 09/03 @ Meshkov Brest L31:26 06/03 @ Zeleznicar Nis W32:33 Next game (SEHA Final 4): 02/04 vs RK Nexe Final standings regular season: 1. Vardar 18 512:467 42 2. Zagreb 18 484:442 39 3. Nexe 18 469:420 39 4. Brest 18 573:483 39 10. Izvidac 18 444:529 4 Both sides boasted some of the strongest defences of the VELUX EHF Champions League Group Phase 2018/19, with Zagreb conceding 388 goals and Vardar 390. In attack, however, Vardar outscored Zagreb by 47 goals. Neither of the two Croats in the Vardar squad, Igor Karacic and Ivan Cupic, has played for Zagreb. Arena Zagreb hosted the CL match with the highest attendance so far this season: 9,134 fans against PSG. Croatia s Igor Karacic (to Kielce) and Latvian giant Dainis Kristopans (PSG) will leave Vardar. Vardar played Zagreb both seasons they reached the VELUX EHF FINAL4 (2016/17 and 2017/18): Vardar won three times, Zagreb once. In the group phase, Zagreb got seven of their 11 points at home, Vardar got nine of their 19 points in away matches. Zagreb are the record CL participants with 25 appearances in 26 seasons; Vardar are in their 13th CL season. In the all-time CL ranking, Zagreb are fourth with 270 matches (119 wins, 30 draws, 121 defeats). Vardar have played 136 CL matches (64 wins, 15 draws, 57 defeats). Vardar are the only team from former Yugoslavia to win the VELUX EHF FINAL4 (in 2017), and the second to win the CL (after Celje in 2004). In January, Zagreb replaced coach Lino Cervar, who now fully focuses on the Croatian national team, with Branko Tamse. Zagreb only have players from former Yugoslavia: CRO, SLO, MNE, SRB, BIH. Vardar's squad contains 10 nationalities: MKD, SRB, MNE, GER, CRO, RUS, BRA, LAT, ALG, SLO. Vardar coach Roberto Parrondo won the CL twice as a player - with Ciudad Real in 2008 and 2009. Zagreb s team captain and left wing Zlatko Horvat is the third-best CL scorer still in competition with 73 goals, behind Barys Pukhouski (HC Motor Zaporozhye/80) and Andy Schmid (Rhein-Neckar Löwen/78). Vardar s best scorer is Dainis Kristopans with 61 goals. Vardar reached at least the quarter-finals in each of the last five CL seasons. Both sides have qualified for the final tournament of the SEHA-Gazprom League, staged in Brest on 2/3 April. Playing each other earlier this SEHA League season, both sides won their home matches: Zagreb 26:23, Vardar 28:23. Vardar are the record winners of the SEHA League with four trophies (2012, 2014, 2017, 2018). Zagreb won the title once (2013). Most games vs Zagreb: Vlado Nedanovski 6 Ilija Abutovic 4 Stevche Alushovski 4 Joan Cañellas 4 Luka Cindric 4 Ivan Cupic 4 Timur Dibirov 4 Rogerio Ferreira Moraes 4 Aleksandar Jovic 4 Jorge Maqueda 4 Mijajlo Marsenic 4 Zoran Petkovski 4 Daniil Shishkarev 4 Arpad Sterbik 4 Stojanche Stoilov 4 Most goals vs Zagreb: Ivan Cupic 17 Aleksandar Jovic 17 Stevche Alushovski 16 Regional league SEHA-Gazprom League Last 3 games: 12/03 @ HC Izvidac W28:31 10/03 @ RK Nexe L24:21 05/03 vs Meshkov Brest L30:32 Next game (SEHA Final 4): 02/04 vs Meshkov Brest Final standings regular season: 1. Vardar 18 512:467 42 2. Zagreb 18 484:442 39 3. Nexe 18 469:420 39 4. Brest 18 573:483 39 10. Izvidac 18 444:529 4 2
Previous matches in European Cup competitions HC PPD Zagreb vs HC Vardar 5-1-4 (267:262) 11:9 10.11.2002 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje vs RK Zagreb, EHF Champions League Group D 25:28 (13:11) 08.12.2002 RK Zagreb vs Vardar Vatrost. Skopje, EHF Champions League Group D 30:25 (17:9) 03.04.2005 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje vs RK Zagreb, Cup Winners Cup Semi-final 23:21 (10:11) 10.04.2005 RK Zagreb vs Vardar Vatrost. Skopje, Cup Winners Cup Semi-final 34:26 (16:11) 07.10.2007 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb vs HC Vardar PRO Skopje, EHF Champions League Group C 28:28 (10:16) 10.11.2007 HC Vardar PRO Skopje vs HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb, EHF Champions League Group C 26:34 (12:16) 22.10.2016 HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League Group B 28:27 (12:17) 11.02.2017 HC Vardar vs HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League Group B 25:20 (14:8) 01.10.2017 HC Vardar vs HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb, VELUX EHF Champions League Group A 28:21 (13:10) 11.11.2017 HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs HC Vardar, VELUX EHF Champions League Group A 23:29 (10:15) Details of last HC PPD Zagreb vs HC Vardar match: 11.11.2017 (Z agreb, CRO) HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb vs HC Vardar 23:29 (10:15) (VELUX EHF Champions League, Group A) Referees: Jonas Eliasson/Anton Palsson (Iceland). Suspensions: 6 0 (Susnja 2, Tonci Valcic 2, Vuglac 2 ). Number of 7m: 3/2 7/7. Attendance: 9,200. Urh Kastelic Sporting CP <- Matevz Skok --- Al-Duhail SC <- Zarko Markovic (1) Luka Mrakovcic (2) Josip Bozic Pavletic Tin Kontrec (1) retired <- Igor Vori (2) Zeleznicar Nis <- Dobrivoje Markovic Zlatko Horvat (3) Leon Susnja (2) retired <- Josip Valcic (1) retired <- Tonci Valcic Füchse Berlin <- Stipe Mandalinic (6) Matej Hrstic retired <- Mario Vuglac (3) Damir Bicanic (2) Arpad Sterbik -> Veszprém Strahinja Milic -> left in 2018 --- Stojanche Stoilov (4) Dainis Kristopans (1) Rogerio Ferreira Moraes (3) Jorge Maqueda -> MOL-Pick Szeged (2) Igor Karacic Ilija Abutovic -> Rhein-Neckar Löwen (2) Joan Cañellas -> MOL-Pick Szeged Luka Cindric -> PGE Vive Kielce (7) Ivan Cupic (2) Timur Dibirov (1) Daniil Shishkarev (6) Vuko Borozan (1) Janja Vojvodic Mijajlo Marsenic -> Füchse Berlin 3
Most goals in one game for HC PPD Zagreb vs HC Vardar: Mirza Dzomba 9 10.11.2007 HC Vardar PRO Skopje-HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb 26:34 Stipe Mandalinic 9 01.10.2017 HC Vardar-HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb 28:21 Renato Sulic 8 08.12.2002 RK Zagreb-Vardar Vatrost. Skopje 30:25 Slavko Goluza 8 10.04.2005 RK Zagreb-Vardar Vatrost. Skopje 34:26 Zlatko Horvat 7 10.04.2005 RK Zagreb-Vardar Vatrost. Skopje 34:26 Igor Vori 7 10.04.2005 RK Zagreb-Vardar Vatrost. Skopje 34:26 Ljubo Vukic 7 07.10.2007 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb-HC Vardar PRO Skopje 28:28 Most goals in one game for HC Vardar vs HC PPD Zagreb: Aleksandar Jovic 8 10.11.2002 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje-RK Zagreb 25:28 Kiril Atanasovski 7 08.12.2002 RK Zagreb-Vardar Vatrost. Skopje 30:25 Ivan Markovski 7 03.04.2005 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje-RK Zagreb 23:21 Ivan Markovski 7 10.04.2005 RK Zagreb-Vardar Vatrost. Skopje 34:26 Alex Dujshebaev 7 11.02.2017 HC Vardar-HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb 25:20 Ivan Cupic 7 11.11.2017 HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb-HC Vardar 23:29 Last 10 games in the VELUX EHF Champions League: HC PPD Zagreb: current run winless three 03.03.2019 Szeged HUN @ MOL-Pick Szeged HUN D 26:26 24.02.2019 Zagreb CRO vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt GER L 21:22 17.02.2019 Paris FRA @ Paris Saint-Germain HB FRA L 33:28 10.02.2019 Zagreb CRO vs Skjern Handbold DEN W 32:29 01.12.2018 Varaždin CRO vs HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR W 27:25 24.11.2018 Zagreb CRO vs HBC Nantes FRA D 27:27 18.11.2018 Celje SLO @ RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO L 30:21 10.11.2018 Zagreb CRO vs RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko SLO W 24:22 03.11.2018 Nantes FRA @ HBC Nantes FRA L 23:20 14.10.2018 Zaporozhye UKR @ HC Motor Zaporozhye UKR L 35:27 HC Vardar: current run won two 02.03.2019 Skopje MKD vs Montpellier HB FRA W 33:27 23.02.2019 Kristianstad SWE @ IFK Kristianstad SWE W 30:32 16.02.2019 Skopje MKD vs Telekom Veszprém HC HUN L 27:29 06.02.2019 Mannheim GER @ Rhein-Neckar Löwen GER W 27:30 01.12.2018 Skopje MKD vs PGE Vive Kielce POL W 28:27 24.11.2018 Brest BLR @ HC Meshkov Brest BLR D 31:31 17.11.2018 Barcelona ESP @ Barça Lassa ESP L 34:26 11.11.2018 Skopje MKD vs Barça Lassa ESP L 26:30 03.11.2018 Skopje MKD vs HC Meshkov Brest BLR W 30:23 14.10.2018 Kielce POL @ PGE Vive Kielce POL L 31:27 4
HC PPD Zagreb vs Macedonian clubs 12-1-5 Season Opponent Home Away Competition 2002/03 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje 30:25 28:25 EHF Champions League Group D 2004/05 Vardar Vatrost. Skopje 34:26 21:23 Cup Winners Cup Semi-final 2005/06 Pelister Bitola 37:13 31:30 EHF Champions League Group G 2006/07 RK Metalurg Skopje 32:24 22:18 EHF Champions League Group D 2007/08 HC Vardar PRO Skopje 28:28 34:26 EHF Champions League Group C 2011/12 HC Metalurg 26:21 18:19 VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 2014/15 HC Metalurg 19:17 22:20 VELUX EHF Champions League Group A 2016/17 HC Vardar 28:27 20:25 VELUX EHF Champions League Group B 2017/18 HC Vardar 23:29 21:28 VELUX EHF Champions League Group A HC Vardar vs Croatian clubs 6-2-6 Season Opponent Home Away Competition 1995/96 Zadar Gortan 31:31 24:33 EHF Cup Round 2 2002/03 RK Zagreb 25:28 25:30 EHF Champions League Group D 2004/05 Medvescak Infosistem Zagreb 36:20 31:26 Cup Winners Cup Quarter-final 2004/05 RK Zagreb 23:21 26:34 Cup Winners Cup Semi-final 2007/08 HC Croatia Osiguranje-Zagreb 26:34 28:28 EHF Champions League Group C 2016/17 HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb 25:20 27:28 VELUX EHF Champions League Group B 2017/18 HC Prvo plinarsko drustvo Zagreb 28:21 29:23 VELUX EHF Champions League Group A Fan to present 'Player of the Match' trophy The Match of the Week 'Player of the Match' trophy, introduced by EHF Marketing GmbH last season, is being awarded at all MOTWs in the VELUX EHF Champions League 2018/19 season. The trophy will be handed over on court shortly after the match by alternating sponsors throughout the season. At HC PPD Zagreb vs HC Vardar the trophy will be handed over to the awardee by the fan who wins the Match of the Week experience activation. Awardees 2018/19: Round 1: Arpad Sterbik (Telekom Veszprém HC) Round 2: Ivan Pesic (HC Meshkov Brest) Round 3: Dika Mem (Barça Lassa) Round 4: Timur Dibirov (HC Vardar) Round 5: Emil Nielsen (Skjern Handbold) Round 6: Benjamin Buric (SG Flensburg-Handewitt) Round 7: Zlatko Horvat (HC PPD Zagreb) Round 8: Aron Palmarsson (Barça Lassa) Round 9: Mirko Alilovic (MOL-Pick Szeged) Round 10: Melvyn Richardson (Montpellier HB) Round 11: Rok Ovnicek (RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko) Round 12: Dainis Kristopans (HC Vardar) Round 13: Nicolas Claire (HBC Nantes) Round 14: Viachaslau Shumak (HC Meshkov Brest) 5
HC PPD Zagreb players career statistics against HC Vardar Goalkeeper GP W D L G AVG HI PIM Arian Jovic CRO 0 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 Urh Kastelic SLO 2 0 0 2 0 0,00 0 0 Stipe Puric CRO 0 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 Radivoje Ristanovic MNE 0 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 Ivan Vekic CRO 0 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 Player GP W D L G AVG HI PIM Damir Bicanic CRO 5 3 1 1 24 4,80 9 4 Josip Bozic Pavletic CRO 2 0 0 2 0 0,00 0 0 Senjamin Buric BIH 3 1 0 2 8 2,67 4 2 Josip Eres CRO 3 1 0 2 0 0,00 0 0 Zlatko Horvat CRO 9 4 1 4 22 2,44 7 6 Matej Hrstic CRO 2 0 0 2 1 0,50 1 0 Lovro Jotic CRO 1 1 0 0 2 2,00 2 0 Tin Kontrec CRO 4 1 0 3 3 0,75 0 0 Tin Lucin CRO 0 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 David Mandic CRO 0 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 Luka Mrakovcic CRO 3 0 0 3 8 2,67 3 (2) 0 Nikola Potic SRB 0 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 Gregor Potocnik SLO 0 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 Valentino Ravnic CRO 1 0 0 1 0 0,00 0 0 Ivan Srsen CRO 1 0 0 1 6 6,00 6 0 Leon Susnja CRO 3 0 0 3 4 1,33 2 (2) 4 Josip Vekic CRO 1 0 0 1 0 0,00 0 0 Filip Vistorop CRO 0 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 Aleks Vlah SLO 0 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 Igor Vori CRO 10 4 2 4 25 2,50 7 16 Mario Vuglac CRO 2 0 0 2 3 1,50 3 8 (D) Damir Bicanic (Reale Ademar 2009/10); Senjamin Buric (HC Izvidac 2011/12, HBC Nantes 2017/18); Josip Eres (HC Izvidac 2011/12); Urh Kastelic (RK Celje Pivovarna Lasko 2014/15 DNP); Ivan Srsen (MOL-Pick Szeged 2017/18); Igor Vori (PSG Handball 2013/14) 6
HC Vardar players career statistics against HC PPD Zagreb Goalkeeper GP W D L G AVG HI PIM Kalifa Ghedbane ALG 0 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 Daniel Gjorgjeski MKD 1 1 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 Marko Kizic MKD 0 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 Dejan Milosavljev SRB 0 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 Andrej Petkovski MKD 0 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 Player GP W D L G AVG HI PIM Vuko Borozan MNE 4 2 0 2 13 3,25 6 0 Ivan Cupic CRO 6 4 1 1 21 3,50 7 0 Timur Dibirov RUS 6 4 0 2 17 2,83 4 (2) 4 Christian Dissinger GER 3 1 0 2 11 3,67 6 4 Rogerio Ferreira Moraes BRA 4 3 0 1 2 0,50 1 (2) 0 Sergei Gorbok RUS 9 6 2 1 40 4,44 7 (2) 0 Gleb Kalarash RUS 2 0 0 2 3 1,50 3 8 (D) Igor Karacic CRO 5 2 1 2 19 3,80 9 2 Dmitrii Kiselev RUS 2 0 0 2 1 0,50 1 0 Dainis Kristopans LAT 4 3 1 0 15 3,75 7 2 Marko Mishevski MKD 0 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 Vlado Nedanovski MKD 6 3 1 2 5 0,83 2 (2) 6 Martin Popovski MKD 0 0 0 0 0 0,00 0 0 Daniil Shishkarev RUS 4 3 0 1 5 1,25 2 0 Stas Skube SLO 4 4 0 0 6 1,50 5 0 Stojanche Stoilov MKD 5 3 0 2 3 0,60 2 4 Janja Vojvodic SRB 2 2 0 0 3 1,50 2 0 Vuko Borozan (HC Metalurg 2014/15); Ivan Cupic (Rhein-Neckar Löwen 2010/11); Timur Dibirov (Chehovskie Medvedi 2006/07); Christian Dissinger (Kadetten Schaffhausen 2011/12 DNP, Kadetten Schaffhausen 2012/13, THW Kiel 2015/16); Sergei Gorbok (ZTR Zaporozhye 2004/05, Rhein-Neckar Löwen 2008/09, Rhein-Neckar Löwen 2013/14, MOL-Pick Szeged 2016/17, MOL-Pick Szeged 2017/18); Gleb Kalarash (St. Petersburg HC 2013/14); Igor Karacic (HC Bosna BH Gas 2010/11, HC Bosna BH Gas Sarajevo 2011/12); Dmitrii Kiselev (St. Petersburg HC 2013/14); Dainis Kristopans (HC Meshkov Brest 2016/17); Stas Skube (MOL-Pick Szeged 2016/17, MOL-Pick Szeged 2017/18); Stojanche Stoilov (RK Metalurg Skopje 2006/07) 7
English commentary on knockout phase matches The VELUX EHF Champions League knockout phase has started on Wednesday (20 March) with EHF Marketing GmbH implementing a valuable addition to the TV coverage of the decisive part of the season. For the very first time, VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 and Quarter-final matches will be produced and delivered with English commentary. This will complement the usual English commentary available for the Match of the Week in each round and the full coverage of the VELUX EHF FINAL4. Tom O'Brannagain, Chris O'Reilly and David Bregazzi will be the voices of the exciting knockout phase matches in Europe s premier club handball competition. Head of TV & Media at EHF Marketing GmbH Miguel Mateo said: The distribution of the decisive matches of the season with English commentary will satisfy the needs of our current TV partners, strengthen our presence in markets like the USA or the United Kingdom, as well as give us the option to attract new markets, especially in Asia. We also do not want to forget all our fans around the world following the competition on ehftv.com. With this new addition, they can enjoy these thrilling matches with the commentary from Tom, Chris and David. ehftv commentator Chris O Reilly said: With so many fascinating matches to look forward to, selecting just one for Match of the Week is always a tough task, so adding English commentary to every single match is an exciting move. The knockout phase of the competition never fails to entertain and throw up a few shocking results along the way and we will be there to guide you all the way. Top-class handball action is already available via the 39 broadcasters showing VELUX EHF Champions League matches in more than 80 territories and through worldwide coverage on the OTT platform ehftv.com*. Full schedule for the VELUX EHF Champions League 2018/19 Last 16 matches: First leg: Second leg: Rhein-Neckar Löwen vs HBC Nantes 34:32 PGE Vive Kielce vs HC Motor Zaporozhye Wednesday 20 March, 19:00 local time Saturday 30 March, 16:00 local time HC Motor Zaporozhye vs PGE Vive Kielce Telekom Veszprém vs Sporting CP Saturday 23 March, 18:30 local time Saturday 30 March, 17:30 local time HC Meshkov Brest vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt HBC Nantes vs Rhein-Neckar Löwen Saturday 23 March, 20:00 local time Saturday 30 March, 19:00 local time MOTW: HC PPD Zagreb vs HC Vardar HC Vardar vs HC PPD Zagreb Saturday 23 March, 20:30 local time Saturday 30 March, 19:30 local time Orlen Wisla Plock vs MOL-Pick Szeged MOL-Pick Szeged vs Orlen Wisla Plock Sunday 24 March, 16:00 local time Sunday 31 March, 17:00 local time Sporting CP vs Telekom Veszprém HC SG Flensburg-Handewitt vs HC Meshkov Brest Sunday 24 March, 17:00 local time Sunday 31 March, 19:00 local time *Geo-blocking applies for ehftv.com for the territories with existing TV rights 8
Media accreditation for three top club events of the season starts The 2018/19 club season will culminate in May and June with three most prestigious tournaments taking place in three different venues. The DELO WOMEN S EHF FINAL4 will be played over 11 and 12 May in the Papp Laszlo Budapest Sportarena. One week later, the focus of the handball world will shift to the AKQUINET EHF Cup Finals in the Sparkassen-Arena in Kiel, Germany and the season will reach its climax with the VELUX EHF FINAL4 on 1 and 2 June in the majestic LANXESS arena in Cologne. The EHF Media and Communications Department is launching the accreditation procedure for all three events at the same time and requests from media representatives are now being accepted. Written and online media, photographers, TV and radio representatives can submit their request for accreditation via online forms below. Requests can only be made online. DELO WOMEN S EHF FINAL4 11/12 May 2019, Papp Laszlo Budapest Sportarena Deadline: Friday 19 April 2019 AKQUINET EHF Cup Finals 17/18 May 2019, Sparkassen-Arena, Kiel Deadline: Friday 3 May 2019 VELUX EHF FINAL4 1/2 June 2019, LANXESS arena, Cologne Deadline: Friday 10 May 2019 Click here to enter the media accreditation page or visit http://accreditation.ehf.eu/ Media accreditation is only open to professional media representatives working at the event. Freelance media representatives may be asked to provide additional evidence of their work. There are limited places and it may not be possible to accept all requests for accreditations. By applying for a media accreditation, media representatives also agree to the Media Terms and Conditions (EHF Events). Please read them carefully before making your application. VELUX EHF Champions League 2018/19 - MOTW #15 Media Information by EHF Media & Communications, 22/03/2019 Contributors: Björn Pazen, Roy Knoppert 9