Wisła Płock claimed a narrow victory over RK Vardar 1961 in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, the final whistle confirming a 33:32 scoreline. The result keeps the Polish side second in the group standings on four points from three matches, while Vardar remain winless and sit fourth with three draws.
The visitors had turned the tables just six days earlier, winning 32:26 at home, so the question was whether Wisła Płock could respond. They did, cutting Vardar open at will in the opening half, though the Macedonian side picked up two bookings in five minutes and refused to fold. By the time the interval came, the hosts had built a cushion, but Vardar's discipline meant the gap never stretched beyond double digits.
We had called this one—home win, 53% confidence—and the match played out largely to script. Wisła Płock have the deeper squad, and that showed in the second half when the visitors' legs began to go. And here's the thing: the score stayed tight because Vardar kept their heads, but the hosts gradually pulled the strings, moving the ball with a rhythm the away side could not match.
The margin of victory—just one goal—mattered more than the total. Vardar created chances, but Wisła Płock punished them when it counted, converting the moments that decided the game. The hosts had been on a good run, winning four of their last five before this, and the win extends that momentum.
Wisła Płock now sit two points clear of third place, though the table does not tell the full story. Vardar have drawn all three of their matches and remain in the mix, but a win would change everything. The gap between them and the leaders is still small, and the group has only just begun to take shape.
