News

After an impressive start to the season, with 14 consecutive wins, including two matches in the EHF European Cup against Lithuania’s Klaipeda Dragunas, HC Alkaloid is gearing up for its second European challenge of the season.

In the third round—the last to be played in 2024—HC Alkaloid will battle Austria’s West Wien over two legs for a spot in the Round of 16.

West Wien is a club with a rich, nearly 80-year history and an impressive record, including six domestic championship titles and a semifinal appearance in the EHF Champions League.

Their most recent championship win came in 2023, but financial difficulties forced the club to withdraw from the top league that same season.

They quickly bounced back, reclaiming a spot in the top division and winning the Austrian Cup, securing their place in this year’s EHF European Cup.

In the second round, West Wien played two matches in the Faroe Islands against Vestmanna IF. They won the first leg 29-22 and defended their aggregate lead despite a 30-34 loss in the second leg.

Both matches will be played at the Avtokomanda arena, scheduled for Friday (November 29) and Saturday (November 30), with both games starting at 19:00h.

HC Alkaloid held a press conference today, with head coach Kiril Lazarov and player Martin Serafimov previewing the upcoming two-legged tie.

“We cleared the second round against a tough Lithuanian team. Now we’re up against a well-coordinated side composed of young Austrian national players, a team that our youth team faced to a draw this summer.

This opponent is technically sound and excels in fast-paced play. That suits us because we also play a similar style of handball. Fans will get to enjoy two high-quality matches within 48 hours. Our goal is to win, but to do that, we must perform at our best. We need to approach these games with maximum seriousness and continue to build on our system. I hope to see a strong crowd in the Avtokomanda arena because these players have earned the support, especially in European matches,” said Lazarov.

Martin Serafimov also shared his thoughts, emphasizing the team’s determination to secure two wins.

“After a strong start in the European Cup, we now face two home games against West Wien. We are ready to take on the challenge, deliver on our objectives, and, of course, win both matches. I hope the fans will come out and support us,” said Serafimov.