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is now open, although there are still 60 minutes left to play in the return leg.

The players expressed satisfaction with their game, execution, and result, but emphasized that they would not allow any complacency ahead of next weekend’s return match at the Avtokomanda Arena.

IVAN GALEVSKI:

“Regardless of the opponent, we always prepare to the max and give it 100%. That’s exactly what happened tonight, and we earned this victory against Brixen. We stuck to our game plan with the support of our staff and secured a dominant win. We will, however, approach the next game in Skopje with complete focus, as we have a demanding week ahead with home games against Fruitland Borec and Eurofarm Pelister. Brixen is not a team to be underestimated; they have excellent shooters who score well from nine meters and dynamic wingers who relentlessly drive the play. I believe our physical condition made the difference tonight and perhaps we were stronger with better rotation and speed, especially considering that our opponent relied on the same players for most of the match.”

MARKO KIZIKJ:

“Our opponents were no pushovers; it took some time for us to break their resistance and build a solid lead. The key was maintaining our rhythm for the full 60 minutes. Brixen fought hard until the very end, they kept coming back, but we showed greater resilience and quality. We won’t take the return leg lightly, relaxing is not an option. We are fully aware of our advantage, but our goal remains to win the return leg as well.”

MARTIN IVANOVSKI:

“I feel great at Alkaloid. As many have already pointed out, this club operates at a highly professional level. From my teammates to the management and staff, everyone has been incredibly welcoming. I’m very satisfied with the professionalism of every club member. This match marked my European debut for Alkaloid—I managed to notch two goals, which I’m pleased with, but there’s no room for complacency. As a team, we have immense potential, and I’m confident that our hard work will soon pay off.”

FRANCISCO E. SILVA:

“It was a great game for us, but also physically demanding, as we had to keep running non-stop. We managed to break away in the opening minutes and kept the tempo high throughout. I didn’t expect such a fast pace in a single match; it’s one thing to watch and analyze it, but another entirely in live action. Brixen proved to be a very fast team.

For the return match, I expect us to win again – that’s what we’re working towards. We now have a clearer understanding of our opponent. We’ll work on tightening our defense to concede fewer goals.

We give 100% in every match. Coach Lazarov is working to introduce a different playing style to the league, implementing a new system. He brings a wealth of experience that benefits us at every training session. I’m pleased with how things are progressing and I hope we continue to improve”, said Francisco e Silva.