NEXE hoping for a chance, Vardar aware of favorite role

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Vardar

Every time NEXE arrives to Skopje for SEHA Gazprom League crowd can be sure that the match will be full of uncertainty despite of the fact their opponent might be a clear favorite. And that is exactly the situation we will have on Wednesday (20.15 CET) with Croatian vice-champions meeting Vardar

NEXE are coming to Skopje after a triumph over Vojvodina in Novi Sad a few days ago, fully aware of how tough match is ahead of them. Two teams have already met this season, on ‘Vardar Tournament 2015’ with hosts reaching an easy 36:26 victory mostly due to an excellent first half.

Hosts from Našice have already proved good form on the beginning of the season and are coming to Skopje to play well, show good resistance and, of course, take some points if they get a chance.

Last year Macedonians were better twice, with 32.21 at home and 30:27 in Našice. In their 8 clashes so far in SEHA Gazprom league NEXE have managed to win once (at home 32:25 back in season 2013/14), there was on draw (27:27 ) and 6 victories for ‘red-black’.

Home-team coach Raul Gonzales will not have Alexander Dereven, Filip Lazarov and petar Angelov in his squad for the match due to injuries. Dereven has problems with his ankle, Lzarov with knee and Angelov with back. Good thing is that Alex Dujshebaev will return to team after a one week break.  

Raul Gonzalez, Vardar’s coach:

We will tomorrow play without Lazarov, Dereven and Angelov. We know how good they are despite of the fact we’ve managed to beat them easily few weeks ago. They are in really good form playing 6-0 defence which can also transform into 5-1. They run a lot but our goal is to win and prepare for upcoming CL’s challenges.

Blaženko Lacković, Vardar’s player:

We will face a team which was only a step away from reaching a big victory against PPD Zagreb a week ago. They have rapidly risen in form in past few weeks and it won’t be the same match like the one from couple weeks ago, that’s sure. We have to take this match and every other serious, firstly because we have some injured players and because we have to build winning mentality. It is important to reach 3 points in each match because clash against Montpellier is not far away and it would be great to face them unbeaten.

Zdenko Kordi, NEXE’s coach:

Vardar are favorites, not only in this match but in the League, they are among few best teams in Europe. That makes them the biggest motive and challenge for us. It will be interesting to see how we’ll perform after matches in Zagreb and Novi Sad. We’ve prepared some special tasks for our players and we’ll see how they will respond.  

Josip Božić-Pavletić, NEXE’s player:

We came to Skopje directly from Novi Sad so we will play two matches in three days. Vardar is a very strong team, one of the best in Europe.  We must fight and give our maximum. That is the only way how to play against a quality team like Vardar. We will wait for our chance and if it arises hopefully we will take it.