Croats in Foreign Leagues
'Stroll' through European pools and busy weekends of stronger national leagues, we start exceptionally this time in Greece. For a simple reason that something unusual happened there.
GREECE
Koljanin's Olympiacos draws at home
It is absolutely surprising, but also a confirmation of the obvious crisis in Hrvoje Koljanin's team. They are not playing particularly well in the Champions League, and now they played a draw at home against Chios. Luka Lončar played in Olympiacos, but not Andro Bušlje.
Round 4 results:
Olympiacos – Chios 8:8
PAOK – Peristeri 13:7 (Delić 2 for the winner)
Panathinaikos – Hydraikos 12:9
Palaio Faliro – Vouliagmeni 5:16
Apollon Smyrna – NE Patras 25:10
NO Patras – Ethnikos 13:13
Glyfada – AEK 11:7
Group A Standings: Panathinaikos 12, Vouliagmeni 12…
Group B Standings: Olympiacos 10, Apollon 9…
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ITALY
Hat-trick for Begu
Our center Ivo Bego was in good form for one of the three Rome-based top league teams, for Onda Forte away in Sicily, but the host was one goal stronger. Onda Forte remains, after 4 matches, at the bottom of the league table being the only team without points.
Round 4 results:
Trieste – Roma 11:12 (Visković 1 for the guests)
Catania – Onda Forte Roma 14:13 (Bego 3 for the defeated)
De Akker Bologna – Ortigia 12:10 (Milaković 1 for the winner)
Pro Recco – Quinto Genova 18:4
Savona – Palermo 12:7
Florentia – Brescia 8:21
Standings: Brescia 12, Pro Recco 12, Savona 9, Roma 9…
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FRANCE
One goal by Borna Sirovec
From the last round of Le Championnat and Croatian performances, one goal worth mentioning is Borna Sirovec's in Nice, despite the team being defeated away against Sete.
Round 4 results:
Sete – Olympic Nice 11:9 (Sirovec 1 for the guests)
Strasbourg – Taverny 20:12
Pays d’Aix – Marseille 6:9
Montpellier – Reims (to be played in December)
Standings: Marseille 12, Strasbourg 11, Pays d’Aix 9…
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GERMANY
Croats dominate the top of Bundesliga
Among all foreign leagues, after France where Croats have been generally the most numerous foreigners, now there are the most Croats in the Bundesliga. Primarily in the two best local clubs, Waspo 98 Hannover and Spandau 04 Berlin. Confirmed even in the last round.
Round 4 results:
Spandau 04 – Potsdam Berlin 20:9 (A. Vukojević 3, Čulina 3, Stahor 2 for the winner)
Duisburger – Waspo 98 Hannover 8:22 (Pavičić Capucho 1/Buha 4, Milardović 3, Macan 2, Lozina 2)
Duisburg – White Sharks Hannover 17:12
Neuköln Berlin – Ludwigsburg 12:11
Standings: Spandau 04 12, Waspo 98 Hannover 12, Potsdam 6 (-1)…
Gronih and Džaja win the U18 Cup
In the city of Chemnitz, in eastern Germany, the final tournament of the German cup for girls under 18 was held, with three teams participating.
In the third match of the tournament, which actually was the final, Esslingen defeated Chemnitz 12:9. Two Croatians, Iva Gronih and Mara Džaja, played for the winning team, with Džaja scoring 5 goals in the final and being the top scorer of the match.
Prior to that, Esslingen defeated Waspo 98 Hanover impressively with 31:6. In that match, Mara Džaja also scored 5 goals, while Iva Gronih scored 1.
The tournament was played in one afternoon, with three matches literally following one after another.
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SPAIN
Radić couldn't do it alone
Dubrovnik native Robert Radić scored almost half of the goals for his team away against Barceloneta, led by coach Elvis Fatović. However, the hosts were much stronger, as confirmed by their victory with a 17-goal difference.
A noteworthy victory for Ceuta, a new top-tier team, over the once powerful Catalunya. In Ceuta's win, Šibenik native Nikola Štrkalj scored one goal.
Round 5 results:
Ceuta – Catalunya 9:8 (N. Štrkalj 1 for the winner)
Barceloneta – Mediterrani 26:9 (Radić 4 for the defeated)
Sabadell – Sant Andreu 16:6
Real Canoe – Echeyde 10:9
Terrassa – Mataro 15:10
Barcelona – Rubi 19:6
Standings: Barceloneta 15, Barcelona 13, Terrassa 12, Sabadell 11…
