Final match: PPD Zagreb (CRO) vs Vardar (MKD), Wednesday 3rd of April, 20:00 local time (19:00 CET)

The final of the 2018/19 SEHA - Gazprom League is already the fifth duel of PPD Zagreb and Vardar in this season, and the third match of the two powerhouses within eleven days: The Croatian and Macedonian champions clashed in the Last 16 of the VELUX EHF Champions League, and Vardar had the better end by winning both matches 27:18´and 32:30. Both teams even arrived at Brest in the flight, as they duelled on Saturday night already. The constellation of the final is exactly the same as one year ago at Skopje, when Vardar had won the thrilling match 26:24. In 2013, Zagreb had beaten Vardar in the final 25:24 after extra time – so the “score” in this final series is 1:1.

Can Zagreb raise the trophy for the second time after 2013, or can record SEHA - Gazprom League champions Vardar win their hat-trick and in total fifth title of the competition after 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2018? This is the main question before the final on Wednesday in the Viktoriya Arena in Brest. Vardar had eliminated the hosts in the semi 25:23, Zagreb had beaten Nexe 28:23.

In the regular season, Vardar has lost the away match in the Croatian capital 23:26, but won on home ground 28:26. Vardar had finished the regular season on top for the third time in a row, Zagreb ranked second, but gave the top position from their hands only in the last match, losing against Presov.

The final is a very special match for Zagreb’s team captain Zlatko Horvat, who plays his eighth SEHA – Gazprom League Final 4 and his third final. On the other hand, Zagreb will face some Croats on the other side, like Igor Karacic (who will leave Skopje after this season) and Ivan Cupic.

Best scorers of both sides so far are Horvat by 75 goals for Zagreb and Dmitriy Kiselev by 57 strikes for Vardar.