La Croazia non nasconde la sua felicità: 'Dopo di averlo fatto, sentivamo che niente poteva più fermarci'

Handball club Zagreb defeated Paris Saint Germain 29-28 on Tuesday night at the Arena Zagreb, securing a crucial victory in the fifth round of the Champions League group stage. The Croatian champions trailed by five goals midway through the second half before mounting a late comeback to claim the win. This result ends a string of narrow defeats for Zagreb this season and positions them near confirmation of third place in Group C. The match began with the French visitors establishing early control. PSG led 17-13 at halftime, extending their advantage further into the second period. However, Zagreb’s defense tightened and their attack gained momentum during the final segment of the game. With five minutes remaining, Filip Glavaš scored to level the score at 27-27. Shortly after, Giorgi Chkvravadze struck to give Zagreb a 28-27 lead. The decisive goal came with just 27 seconds left on the clock when Davor Gavrić finished off the comeback, sparking celebrations among the home crowd. Post-match interviews highlighted the contrasting emotions of the two coaching staffs. Hrvoje Horvat, the Zagreb coach, expressed pride in his team's resilience. He noted that the squad remained calm despite trailing by four goals at the break. Horvat stated that everything went smoothly for them in the second half, citing effective defense and attack. He added that the fans provided additional motivation, creating a feeling that nothing could stop the team once they found their rhythm. Chkvrabadze echoed these sentiments, describing the encounter as difficult, similar to the earlier meeting in Paris this season. He acknowledged that while he scored several goals, the significance of the victory outweighed individual statistics. The player emphasized that the team believes in its quality for European competition and viewed this win as particularly meaningful. He pointed out that the team must replicate this performance one week later when they travel to Slovenia to face Celje. Stefan Madsen, the head coach of PSG, conceded that Zagreb deserved the win. He admitted that his opponents controlled the entire endgame completely. Madsen accepted responsibility for the defeat, stating that he made mistakes during the match. Although he praised his players for giving their all on the court, he expressed deep sadness over the loss, which snapped PSG’s winning streak. The Danish coach indicated that the team would need to draw lessons from the setback, progress, and move forward. Statistical data from the match showed high scoring performances from both sides. For Zagreb, Ihar Buialouski was the top scorer with eight goals, followed by Chkvrabadze with seven and Glavaš with four. On the losing side, Ferran Solé led the PSG attack with ten goals. The match marked a rare upset against the French giants, who had arrived in Zagreb unbeaten in official competitions this season. Background information reveals a historical dominance by PSG in meetings between the two clubs. In 17 previous encounters in the top-tier European club competition, Paris has won 14 times, with one draw and two victories for Zagreb. Zagreb is the third most frequent opponent for PSG in this tournament, behind German club Kiel and Hungarian club Veszprem. The teams met earlier this season in Paris, where Zagreb lost 34-30 despite having a lead with eight minutes remaining. That previous match saw PSG overturn the deficit in the closing stages, a scenario reversed in Zagreb. Before the match, Zagreb’s manager Horvat had addressed the team’s recent struggles, noting they owed a debt to themselves and their supporters after the last home game against Aalborg. He aimed to avoid situations where the team had to chase down multi-goal deficits against high-quality opposition. Health concerns were present prior to the fixture, with Dion Cekic unavailable due to injury and Jovica Nikolic doubtful following a shoulder issue sustained in a domestic league match against Spacva. The stakes for Zagreb extended beyond immediate pride. While a win did not guarantee advancement to the knockout phase directly, it kept them close to securing third place in Group C. This position would allow them to enter the playoffs for the European League group stage. The club hopes to play additional matches in the European League, requiring them to navigate the playoff phase successfully. To achieve this, they must complete their remaining group stage fixtures, including the upcoming away trip to Celje. PSG entered the match competing for first place in the group with Aalborg, with both clubs holding seven points each. The French team had displayed formidable attacking form in Europe, scoring 113 goals in their first three Champions League rounds. They shared the top spot for offensive output with Hungarian club Szeged. Key contributors for PSG included wing players Yahia Omar and Elohim Prandi, who consistently threatened defenses throughout the season. Despite their regularity in domestic leagues, where they recorded six wins in six matches, the Zagreb victory represented a significant disruption to their campaign. The atmosphere in the Arena played a pivotal role in the outcome. Fans rallied behind the home side as the gap narrowed, contributing to the shift in momentum. Horvat credited the supporters for lifting the team past the point of no return. The victory serves as a confidence booster for Zagreb heading into the final group stage match, where they aim to solidify their standing ahead of Czech rivals in the table. The team will look to maintain the aggressive start and consistent intensity that characterized their successful second-half performance against the French champions.