MOTW live blog: Barça defeat Zagreb for fifth win of the season

• HC Zagreb host Barça in the MOTW for round 5 of the Machineseeker EHF Champions League 2024/25 
• also on Wednesday: Aalborg defeat Szeged 29:28, SC Magdeburg vs HBC Nantes at 20:45 CEST
• read the round preview here and find group standings here
• check out the MOTW interview with Zagreb's Luka Lovre Klarica here
• watch live on EHFTV (geo-restrictions and subscription apply)
• follow on social media: X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube
• all photos © PIXSELL/HC Zagreb

20:35

The other 18:45 CEST match was also a cracker, with Aalborg Håndbold beating OTP Bank - PICK Szeged 29:28 thanks to a penalty in the last minute taken by Jack Thurin. Aalborg had stretched ahead by four goals, but Szeged came right back after an equally close first half. That bumps Aalborg ahead of SC Mageburg in the group B standings ahead of Magdeburg's game with HBC Nantes which starts very soon.

20:30

We'll be bringing you the match highlights when we get them, but in the meantime, enjoy this bit of magic from Domen Makuc!

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18:40

Here's the key facts and stats to look out for tonight!

• Barça are leaders of group B with the maximum of eight points, while Zagreb are second to last with two
• last week, Barça defeated Aalborg (35:27) thanks to Emil Nielsen’s stunning performance (17 saves)
• in the meantime, Zagreb were defeated at home by Szeged (35:30), despite Ihar Bialiauski scoring nine, his new record in the EHF Champions League
• the two teams have played 25 times against each other in the competition, Zagreb only won once (in 2012) and one game ended in a draw, in the 1999 final
• Luka Lovre Klarica is Zagreb's best scorer so far this season with 27 goals; Aleix Gómez and Melvyn Richardson have both netted 19 times for Barça
• last weekend, both teams came out victorious out of their domestic confrontations: Zagreb against Rudar (45:25) and Barça against Cangas (45:38)

18:35

Don't forget to follow us on social media for updates from the match. Coverage is also now starting on EHFTV - geo-restrictions apply in addition to the subscription requirement.

18:30

What are their chances?

18:23

The warm-up is well underway!

18:15

Here's the 16 players that Carlos Ortega has brought to Zagreb for today's game.

18:10

On paper, Zagreb certainly seem to be the underdogs tonight, but right back Luka Lovre Klarica thinks there is no reason why his side should not be in with a chance of beating Barça. Klarica knows Zagreb managed to throw away a few games last season with mistakes in the closing minutes, and he says they are ready to face up to their visitors. 

Find out more in this week's Match of the Week interview by EHF journalist Danijela Vekić!

18:00

Welcome to our live blog for the Match of the Week for round 5 of the Machineseeker EHF Champions League 2024/25, where we find out how HC Zagreb will contend with the might of record champions Barça. The match throws off at 18:45 CEST, and to begin, take a look at the round preview.