This weekend, the city of Saarbrücken will once again become the epicenter of elite European club table tennis, as it hosts the 2025 HYLO Champions League Final 4. Among the semifinal clashes, 1. FC Saarbrücken TT will face off against Polish KS Global Pharma Orlicz 1924 Suchedniów in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
The German powerhouse will be represented by a formidable lineup featuring Patrick FRANZISKA, Darko JORGIĆ, Cedric MEISSNER, Eduard IONESCU, Truls MOREGARD, and Yuto MURAMATSU. On the Polish side, Robert FLORAS, Deni KOZUL, Mateusz ZALEWSKI, and Jeongwoo PARK are set to take the stage, hoping to continue their club’s historic run.
For Darko JORGIĆ, the upcoming semifinal is more than just another match – it’s a chance to bring glory to a team and city that have supported him throughout the season.
“The Final 4 is coming up, a very important tournament for us,” said JORGIĆ. “It’s crucial that we achieve a triumph in front of our amazing crowd. I believe we’ll have great support, and that will give us extra energy and a positive push. Our first match is against the Polish team – I know their players very well, especially Deni Kozul. I think reaching the semifinals was a great result for them, but I also believe they are strong on all three positions. They’re playing without pressure, they have nothing to lose against us, and that makes them very dangerous. They can take risks in the match against us.”
While Saarbrücken may come into the tie as favorites on paper, JORGIĆ remains grounded and focused.
“We are calm and composed, we have more experience than they do, and I believe we can win. As for the final – if it’s Borussia Düsseldorf, I think they are the favorites. Still, you never know. I honestly hope we’ll be in top form. Starting Wednesday, we’ll train together, talk about tactics, and set our strategy. It’s not easy right after the World Championships, but this is the Champions League, the biggest club competition in Europe and I hope we can bring joy to all of Saarbrücken.”
The Slovenian star also reflected on his recent performance at the World Table Tennis Championships in Doha, where he narrowly missed a place in the quarterfinals. Five out of six players from Saarbrücken’s list played in Qatar.
“Everything’s good with me, solid overall. In Qatar, I had two match points but couldn’t manage to reach the quarterfinals. It was an open match until the very last moment, but in the end, Shunsuke TOGAMI’S composure made the difference. I was overcome by nerves, so the Japanese player deservedly won. Had I reached the quarterfinals, I would have played against Truls, and it would have been great if one of Saarbrücken’s players had already secured a medal at that point – but even without that, MOREGARDH managed to do it. He beat the Japanese player and made it to the semifinals. I congratulate him on that.”
With strong momentum, home advantage, and a focused squad, 1. FC Saarbrücken TT enters the Final 4 with high expectations — and the clear intent to deliver.
