Trailing at halftime in a must-win derby for their rivals, Veszprém flipped the script against Pick Szeged and took a decisive step toward the Hungarian league title, winning 30–24.
With both teams having played 21 of 26 matches, Veszprém entered Monday’s clash with a five-point cushion at the top of the table. For Szeged, the equation was simple: anything but a win would all but end their title hopes. Even with a victory, they would still have had to make up three more points in just four rounds against a side that had not dropped a single point all season.
The build-up was anything but calm. Szeged had been shaken by internal turmoil following the firing of star playmaker Jim Gottfridsson, adding further tension to an already heated rivalry.
And for one half, Szeged rose to the occasion.
Szeged surged into a 14–11 halftime lead after an impressive opening 30 minutes, capped by a strong finish before the break. The momentum, however, shifted immediately after the restart.
No mercy in the second half
Three straight goals from Veszprém wiped out the deficit in an instant, and soon after, Ivan Martinović fired them ahead at 18–17. From there, the home side took full control.
Veszprém dominated the second half 19–10 to secure a convincing 30–24 victory. Mikael Appelgren delivered several crucial saves at key moments, while Martinović, Nedim Remili and Ahmed Hesham dictated play from the backcourt with authority.
Szeged, by contrast, struggled badly in attack after the break. Their offensive rhythm disappeared, allowing Veszprém to pull away decisively.
In the end, what started as a tense and finely balanced derby turned into a statement win. With a perfect record still intact and the gap effectively unassailable, Veszprém now have one hand firmly on the league trophy.