Zagreb hopes to surprise PSG in their third encounter this season.
PPD Zagreb and Paris Saint-Germain Handball will meet for the third time this season on April 23, 2016, but this time, it is in the quarter-final where stakes are higher than in first two matches. Over two games, both teams want to book their tickets to Cologne’s Final Four tournament for the first time.
Before the most important clash of the season, Zagreb has injury problems. Sandro Obranović is definitely not having a comeback this season, as his shoulder injury got worse, and now he needs to have surgery. Luka Šebetić’s appearance on the court is still doubtful for Saturday due to torn hamstrings.
Even though they have problems, Zagreb players still believe they have a chance of winning. After Zagreb won in Mannheim, coach Veselin Vujović said to Croatian Television that no one wins three straight times in one season against him. It seems like his players also share his mindset and think they can win for the first time against a star-filled team of PSG.
PSG is a firm favorite for going trough to the final four, as they are considered somewhat of a dream team of European handball. Packed Arena Zagreb will once again welcome French stars Nikola Karabatić, Luc Abalo and the most feared player in Croatia; goalkeeper Thierry Omeyer. As if that is not enough, one of the best players in the World, Danish star Mikkel Hansen is also in the team, as well as a few more great players, including ex-captain of the Croatian national team, Igor Vori.
Vori announced the today’s game for the EHF official website by giving Zagreb an advantage in the first leg, but he feels that his team should prevail in the second one.
Kickoff is scheduled at 20.30 CET, and the second leg is to be played next weekend in Paris.
