24.04.2009, 10:37
Ciudad prepare for victory

Goalkeeper Sterbik is confident before the semi-final game in Hamburg.

Ciudad prepare for victory

The Spanish title holder of the Champions League will have a tough fixture this weekend. Ciudad Real will step on court against Hamburg, exactly the same semi-final opponent as last season.

The team of coach Dujshebaev have been playing in promising form in the Spanish League and they continue to occupy the top of the Asobal table. In addition to a good performance, the coach can count on all his players again. Even Davis retuned this week from injury.

By the way, Asobal: the Spanish League will be decided between Ciudad and Barcelona. Currently, the Catalonians are two points behind, but they could take over with a victory in Ciudad Real on 9 May.

Such a big game could be just one more tiring exercise for the players before a CL Final. However, it is too early to think about that… The focus is entirely on the Hamburg game. Only Urios Fonseca is not 100% fit. Metlicic, Dinart and Davis have overcome their injuries.

Nevetheless, Davis, Zorman and Urios Fonseca will not travel with the team to Germany. Kallman and Chema have completely recovered and they are among the 15 players travelling to the North of Germany.

Sterbik not afraid

One of the key players, goalkeeper Árpád Sterbik, wants to clinch a victory in Hamburg:

“We hope that it will be just as a big battle as it was last season. I think it will be similar to that one, though they have some new players in their team,” Sterbik says.

The goalkeeper knows that HSV have a team with good physical attributes and a tough defence:

“They are very good and complete team,” he says. “We are going there to win and to get a good goal difference in our favour. It doesn’t matter if we play nice handball or not; only the result counts in a semi-final. In case we would not reach the result we wanted, there will be still 60 minutes to play in Ciudad Real.”

TEXT: Fernando Urra Goni