Veszprém defeats ETO in first handball prep match; Bence impresses

The first preparation match of the season between Hungarian handball powerhouses ETO and Veszprém saw Veszprém secure a commanding 44-25 victory in Győr.

The game served as an early indicator of player form, with Veszprém's Imre Bence and Emil Nielsen demonstrating their value to the team. Bence, in particular, was a focal point for the visiting fans, who eagerly anticipated his on-court presence. Veszprém's performance suggests a strong start to their campaign, with aspirations for a "triple" including the Champions League.

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The team and the atmosphere are very friendly, everything is super so far. Of course, we still have a lot to develop. Individually, everyone is a good player; the focus is on gelling together.

For ETO, the result, while a loss, is viewed as a starting point for improvement under coach Zsolt Kopornyik. The team, which added nine new players, aims to overcome the inconsistency that plagued its performance in the latter half of the previous season, particularly its poor away record. ETO's challenge begins immediately with a demanding schedule in the Hungarian top division, facing the top five teams from last season in its opening five fixtures.

Győri Mátyás, who recently joined ETO from FTC, expressed satisfaction with the team's atmosphere and integration process. "The team and the atmosphere are very friendly, everything is super so far," Mátyás stated. "Of course, we still have a lot to develop. Individually, everyone is a good player; the focus is on gelling together." He acknowledged the team's fatigue in the final stages of the match, attributing it to a morning training session, but emphasized the team's overall focus on physical conditioning.

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The team and the atmosphere are very friendly, everything is super so far. Of course, we still have a lot to develop. Individually, everyone is a good player; the focus is on gelling together. Today could have been closer, we saw a big difference in the end, but the emphasis is still on fitness. We also trained in the morning, so that extra fatigue showed in the final part.