Big challenges in sight for Berlin, Aalborg and Plock in round 7
The first half of the Machineseeker EHF Champions League 2025/26 group phase concludes this Wednesday and Thursday with round 7.
We are looking forward to meeting one of the biggest teams in the world! We know that we will be playing against a team with a lot of potential and I believe that they have the capacity to win the whole Champions League.
Although One Veszprém are a strong team, we also really believe that we will be able to create a miracle at home in Kolstad Arena.
This is the Champions League, the very top of handball. I know it sounds cliché, but here anyone can beat anyone — that’s what makes our sport so great. Of course, we’re going to Norway for the two points, but it won’t be a walk in the park — we’ll be facing a strong team in a lively, intimate arena.
They are a very strong team that plays fast handball. We have our own plan, which is based on solid defence. I want to show myself in the best possible way, play for the team — and above all, win. It’s always better to play in our own arena, with our fans, to feed off those positive emotions, and then head to Denmark for the next match.
Kielce is a tough place to play with some very enthusiastic fans. But the last couple of years we have had the upper hand against them and I remember two very good games last season where we won comfortably.
It is a team we know well from the last two years, when we faced them in the European League and the Champions League. They reached the EHF FINAL4 of the last edition and have the best player in the world. But above all, it is a game that, more than difficult, is attractive, for all these reasons. And we don't shy away from these kinds of games.
Berlin have never won at Sporting. We want to change that. That says a lot about Sporting's level: they are doing well in the group. They play really well with a lot of variation, a lot of pace and a lot of emotion and power in defence – especially when they play at home. We have to solve that first, and we also have challenges in our own defence. We have to make tactical adjustments there.
We expect a close match against PSG, who will surely be eager to bounce back. We want to play the game on our own terms, and we believe — as always — that we can compete with any team when we perform at our best.
We know how difficult it is to play against GOG — they’re a team that plays with a lot of pace and confidence at home. The first game in Paris was a reminder of how dangerous they can be if you let them get into their rhythm. We want to show a better face this time, with more consistency and control throughout the match.
This is a very emotional match for me. I know every player, but they know me as well — so we will see how that turns out. But this is sport and I'll prepare like I always do. It's not easy to play against them, but we are one of the best teams in Europe and if we show that on court, we will take the two points.
Six rounds into the campaign we're still at zero points, and obviously it is going to be very hard to change that in Germany against Magdeburg. They have a great team full of amazing individuals who are ready to go at you for 60 minutes, possession after possession. They are reigning champions, one of the best teams in Europe at the moment, but we also believe we'll have our chances over there. We'll try our best to prepare well for the game, and we'll wait for our chance.
Szeged are a great team with incredible players in all positions. Their defence is granite, they shoot from everywhere, especially from distance. The team have a great goalkeeper and maybe one of the best wingers in the competition. But we will try to confuse them.
We’re going through a very sad period as a team. Recently, we lost the founder of our club, Dr. Mihály Bérczi, and during the home match against Veszprém, our technical director, Iván Dobozi. We are deeply affected emotionally. On Wednesday night, we expect a tough match against Pelister. In November 2023, we already experienced how difficult it is to win in Bitola, but our goal remains the same – to take the victory.
We will play at the home of the best club in the world and we are very proud of that. We are happy to go to Palau Blaugrana to fight for victory and show that we are perceived as a strong, important team.
