The Neretvanac team is gearing up for a crucial seventh-round derby this Sunday, playing at home after a recent victory in sibenik.The league standings paint a picture of a tightly contested season, with the top teams separated by a mere handful of points, highlighting the league’s competitive parity.
Currently, Sloga and Zagora are neck-and-neck at the top of the table, both boasting 13 points. Neretvanac trails closely, just three points behind the leaders. At their home ground, the Neretva Podvornica, Neretvanac has secured two wins and two draws, demonstrating a solid defensive record with a 5:1 goal difference. Their away form shows one draw and one defeat.
Neretvanac’s coach, Josip Tosic, expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance in their recent match against Sibenik. He noted the team’s strong reaction against an opponent known for it’s ambition to reach the top of the league.The “Blues” delivered a standout performance, ultimately earning a well-deserved victory. With the Sibenik match behind them, the team is looking forward to the upcoming derby against Zagora with considerable optimism.
Historically, matches between these two clubs have always been captivating, whether played at home or away in Unešić.A strong bond of camaraderie traditionally exists between the home fans and the visiting supporters, suggesting that Sunday’s derby is highly likely to draw a large and keen crowd to the Podvornica.
Assistant coach for Neretvanac, Mate Zonjic, shared his thoughts on the upcoming derby:
“We’ve played very well in our last two matches, against both Jadran and Sibenik. The third league is a tough challenge, especially for players making their debut, but they are gaining valuable experience with each game. The league table itself shows how even the competition is, and that the ‘favorites on paper’ don’t always come out on top. The team spirit is fantastic, and the win in Šibenik has further fueled our motivation for the Zagora match.Of course, we’re not getting carried away; we’re staying grounded and taking things one step at a time.”
Mate Zonjic, Assistant Coach, Neretvanac
Zonjic continued, detailing the team’s preparation and outlook:
“We’ve had a good week of preparation and are eagerly anticipating Sunday’s game. Zagora has been a consistent presence at the top of the league for a while now; they have a quality squad. We’ve analyzed their recent performances and goals, and we know where the greatest threats will come from. However, we are playing at home, and our goal is to secure a victory and earn another three points. From the opening whistle, we need to be strong, assertive in our duels, and it would be a important advantage if we could take an early lead and control the flow of the match.”
Mate Zonjic, Assistant Coach, Neretvanac
He concluded by emphasizing the positive team dynamics:
“The team’s situation is excellent, and the atmosphere is at a high level, especially after our win at Subicevac. The players are fully engaged in training and are showing a great attitude. As a player, I participated in many games against Zagora, and I’m now sharing those experiences with our current squad.”
Mate Zonjic, Assistant Coach, Neretvanac
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