We Need to Break the Lines of Ludwigsburg’s Speedy Players
Photo: Dejan Starčević/ŽRK Budućnost
The Budućnost handball team’s objective in their match against Ludwigsburg is to capitalize on their opponents’ errors and secure a favorable outcome, according to coach Bojana Popović.
The match, part of the fifth round of the Champions League, will take place tomorrow in the “Morača” hall between the Montenegrin and German teams.
During the off-season, the German team changed its name from Bittingheim, the name they used when they reached the Champions League final, to Ludwigsburg.
Popović noted that Budućnost performed well against Đero and aims to maintain that standard.
“They haven’t altered their back line. It appears they’re still searching for consistency. This could potentially work in our favor, allowing us to disrupt their rhythm, just as we did against Đero, causing them to focus on us and feel somewhat disoriented on the field,” Popović stated at the press conference.
She stressed that despite the recent match, Budućnost’s players should not assume they have become unbeatable overnight.
“We need to continue improving and repeat our strong performances. There’s still much to address, as we made a number of technical errors. However, we don’t dwell on this after matches where we earn points. We made 17 mistakes, which is quite serious at this competitive level,” Popović remarked.
Budućnost and Ludwigsburg have faced each other six times, with both teams securing three victories.
Last season, the German side triumphed in both encounters, winning 27:22 in Morača and 34:16 at home.
Popović believes Budućnost can find opportunities if they can halt their opponents’ fast transitions. “Their reputation for extreme pacing is well-founded. They often push for quick breaks, which can lead to more mistakes. When they struggle with this, they face challenges in scoring. That’s our target. We noticed this against Djer as well. They average over 20 fast breaks in a match, which is considerable for the Champions League. Their young players are eager to showcase their talents and are great shooters,” Popović added.
Budućnost began the season with three consecutive losses against Bucharest, Brest, and Odense but managed a draw against Djerba in the last round.
Ludwigsburg has one win and three losses so far.
The match in the Morača hall is set to commence at 16:00, and entry to the venue is free.
News