PARIS
vs
RK Celje in brief
RK Celje (Rokometni klub Celje) or literally Celje Handball Club or Celje Pivovarna Laško, has been dominating national handball for almost 70 years and has made its mark on every European competition that the team undertakes. Its presence is such that it is considered to be one of the best sports teams in Slovenia.
The story began in the former Yugoslavia where Celje Handball Club was known for its academy with a reputation of excellence and success. As a result of this know-how and being, Celje managed to stay in the first division of the handball league and to reach the final of the Slovenian Cup.
It was in 1991, that the Slovenian club took on a completely new dimension. The club changed its name to Celje Pivovarna Laško and won numerous national titles and performed brilliantly in the European championships.
RK Celje performances
RK Celje is a fierce opponent! This team has won no less than 52 trophies in recent seasons, including 24 Slovenian Championship (Liga NLB).
Tomaž Ocvirk and his team are currently in the first place of the championship and are in the quest for a new title. Since their victory in the EHF Champions League in the 2003-2004 season, the Slovenian players are in search of another title. Led by their top scorer Žiga Mlakar, RK Celje will have to beat a Paris Saint-Germain Handball team in the Round of 16, motivated to win their first EHF Champions League title.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
The Rouge et Bleu and the Slovenians have faced each other several times in the last seasons in the Champions League. The confrontations have often turned to the advantage of Paris Saint-Germain Handball. To not change this occurrence, Mikkel Hansen and his teammates will have to not be surprised by RK Celje in the quest for their second European title.
After the victory of the Parisians in the first leg (37-24) on April 01st 2021, the two teams faced each other in the Champions League round of 16 on April 08th 2021. Raul Gonzales' players were able to maintain the efforts of the first leg by winning 31-23 thanks to a great Dylan Nahi (10 goals).
Players to follow Duel
Elohim Prandi was destined to become a handball player. Son of Raoul Prandi, former half-center who played for US Ivry, and Mezuela Servier, former captain of the French Handball Team. From the 98 generation, he has already won everything with the French Youth and Junior Teams, including a Gold Medal at the 2016 Under-18 European Championships, as well as a Gold Medal at the 2017 World Youth Championships. On December 18th, 2019, for one of the last matches of the year 2019, Elohim Prandi and his former USAM Nîmes team were playing on the Saint-Raphaël field. The left-back made a very nice performance punctuated at 8 / 13 on shooting
Vid Poteko, Slovenian pivot, perpetuates the training values of RK Celje. Coming from the training center of the Slovenian team, Vid Poteko made his first steps as a professional from 2010 to 2017. During these ten years, he managed to be called for the first time in the national team in 2013 and to win his first world medal in 2017, finishing third in the World Handball Championship held in France. After two seasons from 2017 to 2019 with the Belarusian team? Meshkov Brest, he decided to return to his hometown and his training club in Slovenia.
Zlatorog Arena
Opekarniška cesta, 3000 Celje, Slovenia
Zlatarog Arena is a young multi-purpose sports arena. Built in 2003, the arena is capable of hosting 5,500 people, as was the case for the European Handball Championship in 2004 and more recently the European Basketball Championship in 2013.
This sports complex is also the home of RK Celje, which hosts its opponents during the team's home games.
The Zlatorog Arena is only 50 minutes away from the capital Ljubljana by car and 3 minutes away from the city center of Celje by foot, which makes it easily accessible for its visitors.
