The match against Brest was promising until the zicers started to pose problems for the Montenegrin champions…

One of the favorites in the Champions League capitalized on every opportunity and secured a convincing win in the second round of the tournament with a score of 35:22.

“We weren’t able to execute everything we intended at the start – we squandered 12 clear opportunities from the wing when the game was on the line,” stated Bojana Popović, head coach of the Blues, following the match.

The missed shots came from positions that were least anticipated.

“From our most experienced wing players (Ivona Pavićević and Nina Bulatović), who should have been our strength, we lacked the expected support,” Bojana added.

Such errors shifted the momentum of the game dramatically.

“When a young team experiences this, it affects their energy and confidence. It’s challenging to articulate, but I genuinely felt the impact of those missed shots; it transferred to our defense, and it became difficult to regain momentum. This is expected when facing skilled defenders,” the legendary handball player reflected on the defensive performance.

“The players simply lacked duel quality in defense, with the exception of Klara Monti Danijelson, who brought some energy to that area,” she remarked.

Jelena Radivojević was the sole player in good spirits on the offensive front, collaborating well with her teammates…

“We are not a team that can capitalize on many easy opportunities, and when we create chances but fail to convert them, it adds extra pressure to find the next one,” Bojana expressed.

Captain Ivona Pavićević faced a four-minute suspension due to frustration and ironic applause directed at the referees.

“When we finally found a rhythm at the beginning of the second half, we were momentarily disrupted by being a player down for four minutes. There is no justification for that reaction; she should set an example, especially as the captain,” Popović clarified.

A highlight from this match was the performance of 17-year-old Nina Ramusović, who scored three goals in her Champions League debut.

“I am thrilled to be here and grateful to the coach for affording me the chance to play in the Champions League. I hope our next match will be better, but we’ll keep fighting. It’s my first time out, and though many are older than me, I am genuinely grateful for this opportunity,” Nina shared.

Did this match demonstrate to her that she can compete with Europe’s best?

“I believe I can play in the Champions League, but I will strive to work even harder,” concluded the young hopeful from Budućnost.

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