News

After concluding the regular season of the Super League and before the Playoffs commence, HC Alkaloid faces a new challenge in the EHF European Cup. The team will host Romania’s HC Minaur Baia Mare in a crucial match for a spot in the semifinals of the European competition.

The first leg in Romania ended in a 31-31 draw, meaning HC Alkaloid will play at home for a chance to reach the top four teams in Europe. Aware of the challenges ahead and what it takes to achieve further success in Europe, head coach Kiril Lazarov and defender Marko Stojkovikj shared their thoughts at a press conference.

Kiril Lazarov (Head Coach of HC Alkaloid):

“We are entering a crucial phase where we are fighting for a spot in the semifinals of a European competition. This match is extremely important not only for our club but also for Macedonian handball and sport as a whole. We will approach the rematch with Baia Mare cautiously. I would like to take this moment, since the match wasn’t broadcast live, to congratulate my players on everything they went through before, during, and after the game, especially when facing a formidable Romanian side and the challenges of playing on their home turf. I am proud of the quality we showed and the positive result we achieved. It might not be obvious during the games, but it’s important to understand that, based on my experience, away matches can present unpredictable challenges. That’s why I try to keep the team alert and motivated, especially since our squad is composed of 99% Macedonian players, with 90% being young and full of promise.

I’m extremely cautious and a bit anxious about what’s ahead on Sunday. The club received incomplete footage of the previous match—the second half wasn’t recorded at all—so we lack that important review material. Despite this setback, our plan is to regroup and deliver a quality performance. There were several moments when players were nearly sent off, yet only two cautions were issued. This is a squad packed with national team talent along with a dozen foreign players, so an extra push is needed to secure our spot in the semifinals. I also expect our fans to show their support. Baia Mare is arriving two days early, having postponed their championship game to better consolidate their lineup.

Marko Stojkovikj (HC Alkaloid player): “I would like to express my sincere condolences to the families affected by the Kochani tragedy, and I wish the injured a speedy recovery on behalf of myself and all our players. We’ve thoroughly analyzed our opponent and are preparing diligently to achieve a positive result that will see us through to the semifinals. I urge our fans to come out in large numbers to support us so that we can eventually celebrate together. We’re going into the match cautiously, but with a clear intent to secure a win.”

The match between HC Alkaloid and HC Baia Mare is set for March 30 at 7:00 PM at the Avtokomanda arena in Skopje. The main referees, Mads Dalby Fremstad and Jorgen Jorstad from Norway, will oversee the game, with Branka Maric from Serbia serving as match delegate.

The winner of this two-legged match will advance to the semifinals of the EHF Cup, where they’ll face either HC Olympiacos from Greece or HC Runar from Norway.