Bell rings before the rooms. AtticGo Elche faces ZORK Jagodina this Sunday at the Esperanza Lag pavilion (18:00, TeleElx). The first leg of the EHF European Cup round of 16 places the Serbian league leaders on a mission to get their qualification back on track for the next round.
Unlike the two qualifiers held entirely in Elche, the team led by Joaquín Rocamora needs a solid result in this opening clash to secure favorable conditions for the rematch in Serbia in two weeks.
Máría Flores, captain of AtticGo Elche, poses with the ball in the Esperanza Lag pavilion. AXEL ALVAREZ
One side in front remains undefeated in their domestic competitions and in the previous European tour, having only needed to play once. They won a 53-45 aggregate, eliminating Greek side Anagennisi Artas from the competition.
AtticGo Elche endures a tough European campaign
david marin
change of dynamics
AtticGo Elche has found solid momentum, securing two consecutive wins in the Iberdrola Guerreras League. The streak lifted the team to sixth place, helping move them out of the relegation zone and into position for the European Tag Team Championship.
Rocamora, noting the absence of Ivet Musons due to injury for this clash, highlighted that their opponent has won all their games this season with an average of 30 goals in 20 contests, and he pointed to a strong game moment for the rival. He also stressed the opponent’s readiness and quality in key moments.
Emphasizing that ZORK Jagodina is a tough competitor, Oriolan’s coach explained, “They deploy a 6-0 defense, a style that tests us because of the size of our players.” He identified two pivotal positions and the presence of decisive players in goal that could influence the match outcome.
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In terms of individual names, the Balkan side’s top scorer in the EHF European Cup is Katarina Bojicic with 12 goals, followed by Aneta Adzic with 10. The scoring leaders for the French and Greens are Danila So Delgado with 17 goals and Tessa van Zijl along with Zaira Benítez with 11 goals each.
To stay on course for a place in the quarter-finals, Elche has to keep its focus tight at home and then handle the Serbian challenge away. Each goal could set the tone for the tie. “It will be very difficult and a comeback is possible, but we hope to stay competitive and draw strength from the competition,” commented the coach of the Franjiverdes fighters.
AtticGo Elche aims to maintain momentum and cement their place among the top eight of the second European Cup. This round of 16 carries historical weight for the club, as beating the Serbs would be a strong statement and a step toward deeper progression in the tournament.
Last season, Rocamora’s team reached the quarter-finals of the EHF European Cup, narrowly losing to Rocasa Gran Canaria. A year later, they will at least attempt to replicate that performance, if not surpass it.
Jagodina brings a broad international footprint, having only played outside Europe once since 2010. Their best results have come in the round of 16, and the club has endured relegations in the previous Champions League campaigns, which adds a layer of unpredictability to this clash. [Citation: AtticGo Elche communications archive]