31.08.2013, 04:43
Dream of Wisła and Lijewski’s Nightmare

PREVIEW: Płock reinforcements hope to repeat the Champions League appearence in the new uniforms this season. Polish runners-up trail by two goals against Montpellier after the first leg of the Wild Card knock-out

Dream of Wisła and Lijewski’s Nightmare

Last year Orlen Wisła Płock slightly missed the opportunity of playing in the VELUX EHF Champions League, losing their Wild Card battle against HSV Hamburg – eventual  winners of the whole competitions. This year Polish Ekstraliga runner-up is ahead of evenly difficult task, but after losing away game against Montpellier by just two goals (27:29), Wisła can keep their dream alive.
 
Beautiful Dream
 
"Our goal is to qualify to the Champions League, and despite the fact that Montpellier are still favourites, we don’t regard ourselves as outsiders," says Mariusz Jurkiewicz who moved to Wisła this summer from Spanish Atlético Madrid. “If we play really a good game, I think we have a chance”.

If it wasn’t for the second half, Wisła could be in much better mood. After 30 minutes Polish team led 15:11, but after the break Montpellier dominated.

“We are good at defence and counterattacks, but Montpellier prefers similar style,” explains Manolo Cadenas assistant Krzysztof Kisiel. “A lot will depend on goalkeepers and defence. We got the result, that leaves the battle open in the rematch in Płock. Cause the game in Montpellier was just the first half."
 
Worst Nightmare
 
Apart from Jurkiewicz, Wisła strengthen their squad with another experienced Polish international Marcin Lijewski, who has some old matters with Thierry Omeyer, who got back to France from THW Kiel.
 
“He is my nightmare,” says Lijewski about French goalkeeper. “Great player, who made my blood up a few times, and took away a few titles. I respect him a lot. Not many times I had the pleasure to beat him, but now he plays with different defence in different system. I hope I will be able to take my small revenge on him, by eliminating Montpellier from the Champions League,” says Lijewski, who won the trophy with Hamburg last season.
 
“We still need to remember though, that Montpellier is not just Omeyer,” adds ‘Sheriff‘, who scored three goals in France’. “Their first seven seems impressive. Needless to say. They are strong."

Further information

Follow the match live on ehfTV.com on Sunday at 16:00 hrs local time

TEXT: Kacper Zieliński / br