Big Tests for Jug and Mladost
This Thursday and in the 4th round of the Eurocup, is truly a big, but by no means an easy day for both Croatian representatives in this competition. Dubrovnik and Zagreb are currently in a position on the table that they cannot afford any failures. More precisely, a failure would significantly decrease their chances of advancing to the second part of the competition, or to secure one of the first two places in their Eurocup group.
Jug Adriatic Insurance is currently in third place in Group A after three rounds. Brescia has a 6-point lead already, while Strasbourg is 'escaping' by 3 points. This can be caught up, but on the condition that they do not lose in the upcoming away game in Athens.
Mladost is in an equally difficult position because the team is in third place in Group C, trailing just one point behind Szolnok who is coming to visit them. However, Zagreb must win. If the Hungarians go up by 4 points, with two rounds remaining… Let's start with the Athens match first, scheduled for 6:30 PM Croatian time.
Weakened in Greece
Jug's squad has traveled to Athens significantly weakened. In Dubrovnik, three injured players have been left behind – experienced standout player, national team member Maro Joković, and the young but increasingly important players under coach Gospar, Maro Šušić and Mauro Prkoča.
We are defending last season's title, and after losing some previous matches, we now have an imperative to defeat Apollon to progress further – says Vjekoslav Kobešćak, the coach of Jug, and continues.
We've lost a lot of games. It would be good to string together a few positive results, not just in Athens, but also two days later against Crvena Zvezda in the Premier League. Then Strasbourg is up next, followed by Radnički, and then the Cup final in Zagreb. Given the situation, injuries, a lot of young players in the squad, our goal is for the game to get better and better, and to reduce mistakes – says coach Kobešćak.
By the way, in the first match between these two clubs in Gruž, Jug Adriatic Insurance won 14-10.
Mladost in a Make-or-Break Situation
Among the last matches (alongside the Barcelona - Panathinaikos game), Mladost will take on Szolnok in the pool. They are facing a very strong and dangerous opponent as Szolnok visits them at 8:45 PM. The team, with a 6-1 record in the Hungarian Championship, has only been defeated by Ferencvaros. They won against Mladost in their own pool in a penalty shootout (18-17), hence they have a one-point lead.
We are aware that this is a crucial match for us at this moment - says Mladost's captain, Ante Vukičević.
We have now had a few more training sessions with coach Milanović where we have already adopted and grasped some of the coach's visions. I think we are more cohesive, that we have significantly improved, especially in the defense which was necessary for us. That will be the key against Szolnok, a team with many Hungarian players who usually score a lot of goals. They have a center who once played for the national team, Bedo. Tricky to guard. Then playmaker Gergo Kovacs who previously played for OSC from Budapest, and then on the left Schmolcz. Those are the three most important players, plus goalkeeper Mark Banyai who is the 2nd or 3rd goalkeeper for the national team. Their quality reflects the Hungarian school. Fast, all are shooters - says Ante Vukičević.
