Stressful round for Jug and Mladost
Thursday brings the 5th or penultimate round of the Eurocup. A round in which both of our clubs, Jug Adriatic insurance and Mladost, are 'chasing' the 2nd place in the group and progression to the next stage. Each with their own chances, flaws, virtues, problems, and favorable circumstances.
Jug still weakened
In Gruž on Thursday, the French team Strasbourg will arrive. This is the team that in the 2nd round, a month ago, 'pushed' Dubrovnik into problems. The French team defeated Jug 16:13 then, and now the situation is such that our vice-champion needs to win by a margin of 4 goals to surpass Strasbourg in case of equal points. With two rounds to go, Brescia is secured in progression (12 points), but Strasbourg has 6, Jug Adriatic insurance has 3 points, just like the Greek team Apollon Smyrnis.
Jug will face the French, and then the Greeks in the final round, and to ensure progression, the best scenario is victories in both matches. Again, we remind you, conditional on a high victory over the French. Only problem is that there are health problems hovering over Dubrovnik.
We are certainly without Joković against Strasbourg, and Prkoča has not recovered either, while Djerkovic is with the Canadian national team for World Championship qualifiers – coach Vjekoslav Kobešćak will explain the staff issue at the beginning. Of course, we are missing players such as Joković, who are hard to replace. I think we also have problems with physical condition, as the match rhythm is intense. The Premier League is so competitive and strong that there are no more easy games, so we are now more focused on ourselves than the opponent. However, all this does not mean that we are not going to defeat Strasbourg. Clearly, that is our goal, but right now I am thinking only of victory, not even considering goal difference. Victory, for a start.
Mladost on the brink of European glory
Mladost will head to Italy early Wednesday morning. There, they will face a team that needs no introduction. Two words are enough – Pro Recco. The match will take place in Imperia, a city near the Italian-French border and just 20 km from San Remo. Who will sing near the festival city remains to be seen.
I think we did a big part of our job a round earlier when we defeated Szolnok at home – goalkeeper of Žabac, Ivan Marcelić, before the trip.
Indeed, we are not mathematically safe yet. It could still get complicated for us if Pro Recco loses the last round against Szolnok. Which, again, is not impossible because the Hungarians have shown that they are a serious and very unpleasant team. As for Pro Recco, they are a perfect team. We are not indifferent to how we will play on Thursday, but I have the impression that we are more focused on the following week and the Cup semifinals against Jadran because that is a battle for the trophy.
As for the situation in group C where the Zagreb team is, Pro Recco has 'cemented' their progression with 12 points. Mladost has 7, Szolnok 5, while Duisburg is out of the competition, without points.
The Hungarians will surely defeat the Germans on Thursday and have 8 points. Mladost would secure progression with a victory, even a defeat in a penalty shootout, one round before the end. In the worst-case scenario, if they are defeated in Imperia, Mladost will be a little anxious in the final round. Then they will surely defeat Duisburg at home, it is not in question, but they will hope that Pro Recco does not lose in Szolnok.
Moreover, as we have learned, Pro Recco will likely play without the injured Gonzalo Echenique (possibility of surgery), and Mladost is still without defender Ivan Buljubašić.
