AtticGo Handball Elche prepares for a crucial Saturday evening clash at 19:00 as they host ZORK Jagodina in the return leg of the EHF European Cup. The first match, played in Belgrade last Sunday at the Esperanza Lag pavilion, finished with a commanding 31-19 score in favor of the visitors. The Elche squad aims to overturn that deficit on home soil, with coach Joaquín Rocamora signaling the importance of a strong start to the tie and urging his players to maintain focus from the opening whistle.
A win that AtticGo Elche will dream of in Europe (31-19)
attacking the tie with intent, the Elche side faces the challenge of a high-caliber opponent. The visitors showed resilience in the first leg, building a substantial lead in the early stages. Yet Elche demonstrated they could mount a comeback when they play with precision, discipline, and energy at both ends of the court. The upcoming match will test the team’s ability to convert several scoring opportunities and to manage moments of pressure from Jagodina.
Key
Back home, Jagodina took the initiative in the first quarter and briefly led, signaling the difficulty of the task ahead for Elche. The coaching staff stresses that the result of the first game may look decisive, but it is misleading. Jagodina has been unbeaten in the league this season, and Elche delivered their best performance of the campaign to date. The team was highly focused and active on both defense and attack, according to Rocamora in an interview with this newspaper.
Beginning
The green-and-green coach believes the key to a comeback lies in how the team handles the opening minutes. The opponents will press hard, aiming to establish an early advantage once again. The Elche head coach emphasizes stepping onto the court with the same attitude and concentration that characterized the best moments of the first game. It will be crucial to halt the opponents at the start and to perform at the highest level from the very first moments.
Rocamora announced a squad update, noting that several players were away from the Belgrade trip in the previous appointment. The list includes several team members who were unavailable but are expected to return, including Nuria Andreu and others who missed the last match. The club has also named a few players who remained with the squad and trained ahead of the big confrontation. A preparatory session took place on Friday afternoon as the team geared up for the decisive clash. AtticGo Handball Elche hopes to keep making history by advancing to the quarter-finals of the European tournament.
league championship
In the Iberdrola Warrior League, Rocamora’s team has been climbing the table in recent weeks. The squad has overcome a spate of injuries that hampered the start of the season and now sits in a stronger position. Elche holds a spot around the middle of the standings, showing consistency and progress despite the early setbacks.
The next league match is scheduled for Wednesday, January 18, with Gurpea Beti-Onak, a team currently in ninth place, just one point behind Elche. The game is set for an eight o’clock start at the Esperanza Lag pavilion in Elche.