Budvanska hosted RK Drama in the European Cup on Friday, September 19, securing a narrow 25:24 victory. The hosts finished ahead after a tight contest where every point mattered. The local side delivered a sharp turn of events following their heavy defeat earlier in the month.
To be fair, the visitors had dominated the previous encounter on September 12, running out 32:24 winners at the same venue. By then, the momentum sat firmly with RK Drama, who looked comfortable against the home defence. Tonight, however, Budvanska tightened things up and refused to let the visitors dictate the pace. The final score of 25:24 reflected a much tighter contest than expected. The hosts showed significant improvement compared to the earlier meeting.
The home side arrived with confidence following a run of results. They had beaten RK Sutjeska Nikšić 29:26 and Budućnost 31:24 in May. They also secured a win against Mornar before a defeat to Rudar.
RK Drama came into the fixture with their own storylines. They had beaten Budvanska comfortably, then secured a 36:33 victory over PAOK on March 30. Their campaign included a heavy defeat against Olympiacos and a win against Diomidis Argos, showing they can score freely. They also added a 41:25 win over Feronas to their tally.
And here's the thing about handball: one game does not define a season, yet pride remains on the line. Budvanska avoided further embarrassment against the Serbian side and kept their European hopes alive. The narrow margin suggests the gap between the two teams is closing.
The result places Budvanska on a positive note after the earlier setback against Drama. They now face upcoming fixtures with renewed belief and momentum. They will hope to carry this energy into the next round.