Nove Veseli — Jicin: 27:23, Extraliga

Nové Veselí beat Jičín 27:23 in the Extraliga on Saturday, keeping their perfect start intact. The hosts took two points from two games and sit top of the table with four points. Jičín remain in eighth place after drawing one and winning one of their opening fixtures. To be fair, the result was never in doubt from the opening whistle. Nové Veselí had already shown they could control games, as their previous victories over Bělsko and Kopřivnice suggested. Jičín's recent form — a win against Frýdek-Místek followed by a loss to Lovosice — made them vulnerable against a side playing on home ice. And here's the thing about handball: momentum matters more than anything in the first hour. The home side scored early and never looked back, while Jičín struggled to find their rhythm after a shaky start. We had given a prediction before the match — a home win with 58 per cent confidence — and it came through without drama. By then, the visitors had already made their mistakes. A poor defensive transition in the opening minutes cost them dearly, and they never recovered. Nové Veselí's goalkeeper kept them in the game when it mattered, while Jičín's attack grew increasingly frustrated. The result means Nové Veselí extend their unbeaten run to eight matches across all competitions. Jičín's hopes of a top-four finish took a setback, though they remain unbeaten in league play. Two points separate the sides in the table, but the gap feels wider after today's performance.