Lazarov: Kiel and Madrid can go all the way again

The ehfTV.com Match of the Week of THW Kiel and Atlético Madrid on Sunday (17:15 hrs local time, live-streamed free of charge and with English live commentary) is the third clash of both powerhouses in only three months and was the final of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in May, won by the Germans. Atlético had beaten defending champions Kiel at Doha in the final of the IHF Super Globe in September, before the Germans took revenge in the Spanish capital in the first match of the Group Phase of the VELUX EHF Champions League.

Now, in Round 7, both teams face again – and Madrid’s top scorer Kiril Lazarov (32 goals in six matches) hopes that his side can turn the page in Kiel’s cauldron.

Before the final round before the winter break until February, Kiel are second ranked but already four points below the group leader MKB Veszprém KC, Madrid are already six points away from the top position in their group.

In this interview with ehfCL.com the Macedonian – twice top scorer of the EHF Champions League – talks about the situation in their group and the chances Madrid have in this VELUX EHF Champions League season.

ehfCL.com: Atlético Madrid lost the first match against Kiel at home – how do you rate the chances to win at THW?

Kiril Lazarov: After we had beaten Kiel at Qatar to become world champions of club teams, THW were much more motivated and much better tactically prepared when they played at Madrid. Now I hope that we are able to turn it around to the opposite side with higher motivation and better preparation to surprise Kiel. But we have full respect for them of course.

ehfCL.com: It is already the fourth time Madrid and Kiel face in only six months – do you know everything about THW now?

Kiril Lazarov:  Kiel are a big team with a great handball tradition. Both sides know each other inside out and as usual, little things will decide about the winner.

ehfCL.com: Madrid and Kiel lost already two, respectively three matches – did you expect this?

Kiril Lazarov: It was clearly expected that we could lose some matches, as we had so many major changes in our team before this season. Kiel were in a different situation, as they only had a major change on the right back position from Kim Andersson to Marco Vujin. So it was a clear surprise to me that they lost at RK Celje. On the other hand, to lose at or against Veszprém  - what both did – was not a big surprise.

ehfCL.com: Did you expect your former team Veszprém to be so dominant?

Kiril Lazarov: MKB Veszprém currently have the best team ever since the club exists. I expected them to be really good, but I did not expect that that they could manage to play on this level already so early.

ehfCL.com: Can Madrid or Kiel still become number one in your group – or is this position already reserved for Veszprém?

Kiril Lazarov: At the start of the Group Phase I would have said that Kiel and Madrid are able to top the table at the end, but now Veszprém are my number one favourite to finish this group on top.

ehfCL.com: How hard is your team stroke by the injury of Jose Javier Hombrados?

Kiril Lazarov: Hombrados was and is still the soul of our team. Of course we currently feel the consequences of his injury. But we have to look ahead and need to cope with this situation in a competitive way. We have to go straight – of course also for Hombrados.

ehfCL.com: Like before in Zagreb you are a team-mate of Ivano Balić now. Do you feel something special about having him in your team?

Kiril Lazarov: It is very easy for me to play with Ivano, we know in and out for years, so we did not need a long time to adapt.

ehfCL.com: Will the ehfTV.com Match of the Week in Kiel be imprinted by the duel of two Balkan shooters, Kiril Lazarov and Marko Vujin?

Kiril Lazarov: No, both teams can count on a big number of top shooters, so in my opinion it will not be a kind of private duel between me and Vujin.

ehfCL.com: Is it still possible that Kiel and Madrid go all the way to the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne again?

Kiril Lazarov: It will be a really tough challenge for both, but I believe very much that we both can manage it again.