For the Buducnost Bemaks handball players, the duel with Danish Esbjerg will be a good test, against a top team, coach Bojana Popović said.
Buducnost Bemaks and Esbjerg will play a match of the second round of Group B of the EHF Champions League in Podgorica on Saturday. Popović said that Esbjerg is one of the favorites to win the Champions League this year as well.
According to her, nuances were decisive in the duel against Đero at the start of the new season of the Champions League.
"Esbjerg also showed power in that match, the handball players of that team are physically strong, psychologically stable. A good team that has been working together for many years. They have strengthened with the Norwegian trio and with a couple of Danish handball players they look powerful," said Popović at the press conference.
She recalled that it was physically difficult for the Podgorica handball players in last season's duels with them.
"We felt that they were really powerful. We worked on that in particular, to prepare a little better physically, to be better in running and physical exercises. It's funny to compare the profiles of their and our young players," said Popović.
Speaking about the expectations in the upcoming match, she said that Buducnost can only face its rival if it plays well as a team.
"We have to come in as a team, work together and fight in all fields, not only in defense. If the attackers are not concentrated and do not score a goal, when we create a chance, a counterattack follows and then it is difficult to defend," Popović said.
She emphasized that this is why all segments are important, that aggression and good energy are needed, which should start from the defense.
"With good energy and fight, giving ourselves through teamwork, I think we can match them. It's hard to prepare for someone who knows everything, and they know everything," Popović said.
Bubućnost started its 27th season in the best club handball competition in Europe with a 40:27 triumph in Turkey against Kastamonu.
The Danish team, which played in the semi-finals of the Champions League last season, was defeated at the start by Djerba 31:29.
Budućnost and Esbjerg were rivals in the group last season, and both duels between them went to the Danish representative. He won 35:20 in front of his fans, and 36:25 in Podgorica.
He ended the season in the Champions League at the final tournament, but suffered defeats in both matches and finished in fourth place. In the semi-final, he was defeated by Djerba 32:27, and in the match for third place he lost to the French Metz 32:26.
The duel in Bemax Arena will start at 16:XNUMX.
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