Zagreb Opens Champions League Season Against Familiar Rival Celje

Zagreb's new Champions League campaign begins with a meeting against one of its oldest European rivals. On Wednesday, Sept. 9, the Croatian champions will welcome Slovenia's Celje Pivovarna Laško to Arena Zagreb.

The clubs know each other well. They have faced off 24 times in European competition, with Zagreb winning 11 matches, Celje 12, and one ending in a draw. Both teams have also lifted the European title. Zagreb won in 1992 and 1993, while Celje claimed the Champions League in 2004, the biggest success in its history.

“

The preparations went well and all the players are healthy and ready for the match with Celje, which is the most important thing at this moment.

Zagreb coach Hrvoje Horvat said preparations had gone well and that all his players were healthy and ready. The team has added eight players and a new coach, while adapting to new technical and tactical demands. Horvat said the squad had worked particularly hard on defense, including returning quickly and organizing both 6-0 and 5-1 defensive systems.

“

We directed much of our work toward the defensive side of the game because we believe defense will be our strength.

The most recent European meetings came in the 2020-21 season, when Celje won both group-stage games. It won 30-22 in Zagreb, while the match in Celje ended 29-28. Zagreb player Marko Mamić said the demanding preparations had left the squad physically and tactically ready, and that every player understood the importance of the opening match.

The first half of Group C will also send Zagreb to Paris Saint-Germain on Sept. 16. The team will complete that portion of the group stage with an away match at Celje on Oct. 28. Denmark's Aalborg Håndbold is the fourth team in the group.

“

We felt that we had taken a step forward and that we were well prepared physically and tactically.