Nexe beat Olympiacos 32:29 in a club friendly match on Thursday evening. The result gives the Croatian side a narrow victory over the Greek outfit in a game that stayed close until the final whistle. By then the scoreline had settled into a pattern neither team could break.
Nexe came into the match with mixed results from their warm-up games. They had lost 27:33 to Vardar and 21:26 to Trebnje in the days before, but bounced back with a 33:32 win over Besiktas on August eighth. And here's the thing, that late surge against Besiktas showed they could still finish strong when it mattered.
Olympiacos arrived with their own recent history to consider. A 24:25 loss to Trebnje followed a heavier 27:39 defeat to Vardar, and neither result suggested confidence. To be fair, they had found their rhythm against AEK Athens in May, winning three of five games in that stretch.
The final score reflected a game where both sides traded blows without finding a decisive edge. Nexe's three-goal margin was not convincing, and neither team looked particularly comfortable for long periods. The result extended Nexe's unbeaten run from their last two friendlies while ending Olympiacos' recent losing streak.
The match meant little in any competition sense, but the margin suggested Nexe had the edge in these preparations. Both sides still have work to do before the real season begins. By then these friendlies will be remembered as small steps rather than decisive moments.