Celje defeated Ivančna Gorica 35:21 in the first round of the 1. NLB League on Wednesday evening. The match took place at Celje's home court on 2 September 2026. By then both sides carried no official points, though their recent friendlies told a different story.
The hosts opened the scoring quickly and never looked back. Ivančna Gorica struggled to find their rhythm against a side that camped in the final third from the opening whistle. The visitors managed one brief spell of pressure, but the decision was overturned when their best chance fizzled out.
Celje have the deeper squad, and that showed in the second half. They rotated players without losing intensity, while Ivančna Gorica grew tired chasing shadows. The captain dragged his side through it, but the gap had already opened beyond reach.
Recent results suggest this is not a fluke. Celje lost to Tataňany on 14 August, then fell to Kielce and Veszprém in mid-August friendlies. Yet against a local opponent they found a way back into form, ending a barren spell of heavy defeats.
The result leaves Celje top of the table, though the standings remain empty on paper. Both teams sit at zero games and zero points in the official record. What matters is the momentum — Celje won, and Ivančna Gorica will need to regroup.