November 2023

Six spots taken, two up for grabs With one round of games to go, the field for the quarter-final round is shaping up nicely, as six spots have been secured and three teams have their place as group winners. Title-holders Recco, last season’s bronze medallists Barceloneta and 2019 champions Ferencvaros already made the cut on day four, and in round five they also made sure they’ll finish top of their respective groups. Jadran Split, Olympiacos and Novi Beograd also joined them by passing their tests in the penultimate round. In two-weeks’ time, Sabadell and Brescia will go for the second place in Group A, and Marseille and Spandau will fight for the other one in Group D. These won’t be face-to-face clashes though, as their final ranks depend on the outcome of parallel matches (see below). Brescia on the brink Brescia is facing their earliest exit in the Champions League since 2016 – provided Sabadell get at least two points against Novi Beograd on the last day. Since the Serbs have already qualified and were beaten by the Spaniards at home on day three, this is a realistic scenario (even if we take Brescia’s win against bottom-ranked Steaua for granted). This would be a huge setback for the Italians, who have been part of the show in the Final Six/Eight for the last six editions. After three failed quarter-final attempts, they finally made the semis in 2021 and 2022, even winning the bronze in 2021 – their best showing so far. Last year they won their group, only to fall to fourth-placed Vouliagmeni in the quarters, which was the biggest shock of the past Champions League season. Now, they don’t look that strong or complete as in previous seasons, for example their 13-5 loss in Belgrade on Wednesday was one of their heaviest in recent years. Also, the way they were defeated was unusual, as they couldn’t score in the last (pretty much) 14 minutes, while Novi Beograd staged an astonishing 8-0 rout after 5-5. And all this happened after the Serbs missed two penalties within 10 seconds (Alvaro Granados and Filip Filipovic, which was an extraordinary scene). But still, Brescia could carry on, turn things around, and make the quarters again. All will be revealed. Marseille: Fewer goals than hoped Marseille looked to be edging towards the next round and would have done if they’d built on their three-goal lead against Spandau in the last period when they were 10-7 up. Just one more unanswered strike would have given them a crucial head-to-head better goal difference, as the Germans won their first encounter 13-10 in Berlin on day two. Spandau, however, reduced the deficit to two, so they remain in the hunt going into the final day. The Germans face Vouliagmeni in Greece, where winning – which will also need to be in regular time – may prove to be a difficult challenge, as the hosts will not want to bow out with six straight defeats, especially just months after their miraculous run to the semis in last season’s Final Eight. Still, a single point would be enough for Marseille to progress regardless, though claiming a positive result against Barceloneta… well, that’s even more challenging. Playing at home, winning at home Home sides ruled round five in a rare scene, winning all eight matches. Though on day two, when the reverse match-ups were played, seven of this week’s victors won away, with Spandau the only team able to break that pattern by beating Marseille at home. Back to day five, three winning sides – Jadran Split, Barceloneta and Olympiacos – all netted 16 goals, while four teams – Recco, Marseille, Novi Beograd and Sabadell – each scored 13, and one, FTC, set a new single-game scoring record for this season by hitting 20. Dobozanov’s heroics Lazar Dobozanov enjoyed an exceptional match in Novi Beograd’s goal – the young goalkeeper was instrumental in NBG’s crucial win as he produced a 76% saving percentage, making 16 stops from 21 shots. Limiting Brescia to five goals is an outstanding feat – and holding the Italians 0 for 12 in man-ups is something one may have never seen before. Two of Brescia’s goals also came after Dobozanov saves, with the Italians only managing to score at the second attempt. Dobozanov also kept a clean sheet in the last 13:43 minutes, though by then the Italians were broken, as the young goalie made only five saves after 5-5, but his first 11 were the ones that made the difference.

Brescia, semi-finalists in 2021 and 2022, are on the verge of an early exit after suffering a heavy defeat in Belgrade. Two-times runners-up Novi Beograd staged a powerful 8-0 run in the second half to book their spot in the quarters, meaning the Italians’ fate is no longer in their own hands. In the other group, the favourites delivered, as Recco secured the top spot and Olympiacos also marched to the best eight. Group A: Astralpool Sabadell (ESP) v Steaua Bucharest (ROU) 13-6, Novi Beograd (SRB) v AN Brescia (ITA)13-5. Standings: 1. NBG 12, 2. Sabadell 10, 3. Brescia 8, 4. Steaua 0 Group B: Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) v Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) 16-8, Pro Recco (ITA) v Jug Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO)13-9. Standings: 1. Recco 15, 2. Olympiacos 11, 3. Jug 4, 4. Dinamo 0 In the most crucial match of the day, rather the round, Novi Beograd and Brescia staged a huge battle in Group A, though it wasn’t reminiscent of their thriller from the 2022 semi-final, played in the same pool, where the decision came only in the last seconds. For a while on Wednesday night, this game threatened to be a similar even contest, but from the third period NBG put their foot down and took full control, while Brescia faded. Defences dominated the opening period, as for more than seven minutes only a penalty shot from each side could do some damage, before Nikola Lukic’s missile from distance put the home side ahead 33 seconds before the first break. Seven man-ups were missed in the first period (4-3), then this pattern slightly improved in the second. Brescia were yet to score a ‘clean’ six on five goal, but they buried two second attempts twice, while Radomir Drasovic put one away ‘cleanly’ for the hosts. This period ended in a similar vein, with another rocket by Lukic from the perimeter, so the Serbs retained a 4-3 lead at halftime. The tide started changing in the third, after 5-5, when the Serbs managed to hit three unanswered goals that broke their rivals. The Italians were unable to beat Lazar Dobozanov again in NBG’s goal, as the young goalie had an exceptional night, delivering a series of crucial stops (finishing the evening with 16/21, 76.2%, truly outstanding), and was instrumental to hold Brescia 0 for 12 on man-up. On contrary, the hosts put away two six on fives early in the fourth and closed down the contest. Brescia have rarely been shut out in such a way – they were unable to score in the last 13:43 minutes, while NBG enjoyed a magnificent 8-0 run after 5-5 to book their spot in the top eight. At the same time, Brescia, semi-finalists in 2021 and 2022 are now on the brink of elimination. Elsewhere in Group A, Sabadell did a professional job at home against bottom-ranked Steaua. The Spaniards, who are very much in the race for a quarter-final berth, opened the match with a 5-0 run and that set the tone. After scoring just a single goal in the entire first half, the Romanians netted three in the third, but Sabadell’s lead was never in any danger. All the Spaniards need now is a win against Novi Beograd at home in the last round – a mammoth task, but they did beat the favourites in Belgrade (10-12) on day three. In Group B, Olympiacos bagged three points with ease at home against Dinamo. The Greeks had some early struggles, as the underdogs jumped to a surprise 0-2 lead, but they soon hit back and were 4-3 ahead at the end of the first period. This led to the abrupt substitution of Marko Bijac after eight minutes, something that rarely happens to the classy Croatian goalie, but this also woke up his team-mates, who then staged a 6-1 rush to decide the game by halftime. After another sluggish third quarter, won by Dinamo (1-2), the Greeks geared up once more and fired in five more goals to add a little more gloss to the scoreline and march into the quarter-finals. Wednesday night’s other encounter in Group B – Recco at home against Jug – didn’t spring any surprises. The Croats knew they were already eliminated following Olympiacos’ earlier victory, and they never looked like troubling the hosts’ perfect record. Recco was always in charge, leading 5-3 after the first period, then 7-4 at halftime, and although the down-and-out visitors kept briefly in touch, the result was never in doubt. As the Italians celebrated a fifth successive victory, left behind in the pool was the broken Jug, who miss out on the quarter-finals for the first time since 2014.   Catch all the live action from the Champions League here: https://lenchampionsleague.eurovisionsports.tv/event/14/group-stage-2023-24 And keep up with all the results, including video replays of all the key moments, here: https://championsleague.europeanaquatics.org/calendar/

Jadran Split is the next team to book its spot in the quarter-final round after winning an epic 30-goal thriller against Jadran Herceg Novi in Group C. Ferencvaros secured the top spot with a new scoring record in this group stage as they hit 20 goals past Crvena Zvezda. Elsewhere, Barceloneta clinched first place in Group D, while Marseille beat Spandau in a crucial match, but the winning margin was less than the French had wished for, which leaves the door open for the Germans in the final round. Group C: FTC-Telekom (HUN) v Crvena Zvezda (SRB) 20-6, Jadran Split (CRO) v Jadran Herceg Novi (MNE) 16-14.Standings: 1. FTC 15, 2. Split 9, 3. Zvezda 4, 4. Herceg Novi 2 Group D: Zodiac CNA Barceloneta (ESP) v Vouliagmeni (GRE) 16-10, CN Marseille (FRA) v Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) 13-11.Standings: 1. Barceloneta 15, 2. Marseille 9, 3. Spandau 6, 4. Vouliagmeni 0 In Group C, Ferencvaros didn’t leave much chance for their visitors, Crvena Zvezda, in Budapest as they turned the match into a one-sided contest. The Serbs did some efficient play until they were trailing 6-4, then, in the middle of the second, they missed a penalty (Daniel Szakonyi saving it with his head) and soon the Hungarians were sailing away and out of sight. Indeed, they staged a remarkable 9-0 rout and were 15-4 ahead early in the fourth. The number of shots on target told it all, 19-7 it stood before the last quarter. The hosts stopped at 20 goals, a new single-game scoring record in regular time during this group stage, and was a stylish way to secure the top spot. Jadran Split soon ensured they would be joining FTC in the quarter-final. The Croats didn’t miss their second chance to make the cut as they bounced back from their shocking 12-11 loss to Zvezda in Belgrade. Though the other Jadran, Herceg Novi, got off to a better start and led 1-3, the hosts netted four unanswered goals to turn the tide. The Montenegrins fought back to 5-5 before the turnaround, and they even went ahead once more at 5-6 early in the third, but the home side responded sharply with three quick goals inside 103 seconds to edge 8-6 in front. An action-packed third quarter saw 12 goals in total, with seven fired in by the home side, but their rivals never gave up, not even when they fell three goals behind. A late penalty brought the visitors back to 12-10 and they kicked off the fourth period with two brilliant action goals for 12-12. Then, the ‘second generation’ stepped up to save the Croats, Luka Bukic and Loren Fatovic scored brilliant goals (the respective fathers of both were also outstanding players) to make it 15-13. Ivan Nagaev kept up with them, the Russian leftie hit his sixth from a man-up for 15-14 with 2:46 to go. However, the Montenegrin defence didn’t click, another action goal from the left wing, this time by Marino Cagalj, reset the two-goal gap and that was enough to bag three points and a spot among the best eight. In Group D, Barceloneta dominated their home clash with Vouliagmeni, and after three straight goals early in the second gave them a 6-2 lead, the Spaniards never looked back. Though the Greeks could climb back to 9-7 in the third, three goals from the hosts pushed the match back to its ‘original’ path as the visitors were unable to add another one for nearly seven minutes. The Spaniards hit 16 by the end, but their coach Elvis Fatovic still wasn’t happy as the Greeks also reached double digits, though Barceloneta’s victory and their first place was never in danger. Elsewhere in Group D, the opening period of the big match of the day promised a scoring festival, with 10 goals in eight minutes, as Marseille charged to a 6-4 lead at home against Spandau. But then, the next hit came after five long minutes in the second, by Spandau’s Tyler Abramson, and he scored another one 23 seconds from time to make it 6-6. With some luck, Thomas Vernoux ended Marseille’s struggles, by flicking in a rebound with 1.9sec on the clock to put the French 7-6 ahead at half-time. The last-gasp goal killed Spandau’s momentum, with the home side scoring two more from their next two possessions and they managed to keep a three-goal gap till the end of the third (10-7). Since Marseille lost by three in Berlin, they were hunting a four-goal winning margin here – but Spandau refused to lie down and hit two in 50 seconds to cut the difference to 10-9 early in the fourth. The French side scored two more, however the Germans kept hitting back to never let the hosts regain a three-goal advantage, let alone the desired four. With 48 seconds to go, Vernoux scored a magnificent one from the centre for 13-11, but Marseille couldn’t regain the ball, so they won yet it wasn’t enough to secure a quarter-final berth. Now they will need at least a point at home against Barceloneta to progress, if Spandau beats Vouliagmeni in Athens in the final round of games. Catch all the live action from the Champions League here: https://lenchampionsleague.eurovisionsports.tv/event/14/group-stage-2023-24 And keep up with all the results, including video replays of all the key moments, here: https://championsleague.europeanaquatics.org/calendar/

While Recco (ITA), Ferencvaros (HUN) and Barceloneta (ESP) have already reached safe waters by booking their spots in the next round, the remaining five quarter-final berths will be at stake in a series of crucial encounters in the penultimate games of the Champions League group stage. Group A is the only one where everything is still wide open. Leaders Novi Beograd – runners-up in the last two editions – are in the best position. A win at home against Brescia would send the Serbs through, while any other outcome would further postpone the decision. Elsewhere, Sabadell host Steaua in what is a must-win match before their final-day showdown with NBG in Spain in two weeks. Recco secured their place in the quarters as expected on day four – now they can also make sure they finish top of Group B. The Italian giants play at home against Jug, whose recent form is unlikely to prevent Recco from recording another fine victory. The Croats have a very slim chance to make the quarters after their record-loss to Olympiacos in the fourth round – indeed, the odds are firmly stacked against them as they look set to miss the cut for the first time since 2014. Olympiacos are also on course to go through, as beating Dinamo in Piraeus would be enough to see them progress. Jadran Split blew one chance to advance from Group C when they fell to Zvezda in Belgrade in the previous round. Now they have another shot – a home match against the other Jadran, Herceg Novi from Montenegro, where a victory would secure the Croats’ spot among the best eight. Crvena Zvezda will need to deliver more heroics – this time in Budapest against Ferencvaros – if they are to keep their mission (almost) impossible alive. The hosts, however, never offer free gifts to visiting sides, and even though they’ve already completed their own mission, they’ll be chasing a single point that would cement them first place too. A real do-or-die encounter awaits Marseille and Spandau, who are both locked on six points in Group D with two rounds to go. If the French beat their rivals by more than three goals (as Spandau stunned them on day two with a 13-10 victory in Berlin), that would be enough for them to clinch a spot in the next phase. It’s yet to be seen how the abrupt change on Spandau’s bench will impact the Germans’ performance (they ‘released’ Athanasios Kechagias last week and replaced him with Vladimir Markovic). In the other game, Barceloneta meet Vouliagmeni – last June the bronze medal was at stake in this battle, now much less. The Spaniards may need a point to finish top, while the already-eliminated Greeks will just want any positive performance and result. Watch all this week’s action live on LEN TV – https://lenchampionsleague.eurovisionsports.tv/event/14/group-stage-2023-24 Follow all the results here – https://championsleague.europeanaquatics.org/calendar/ Champions League, Group Stage, Round 5 (all times are CET) Group A (Wednesday) 19.30 Astralpool Sabadell (ESP) v Steaua Bucharest (ROU) 19.45 Novi Beograd (SRB) v AN Brescia (ITA) Standings: 1. NBG 9, 2. Brescia 8, 3. Sabadell 7, 4. Steaua 0 Group B (Wednesday) 18.00 Olympiakos Piraeus (GRE) v Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) 20.30 Pro Recco (ITA) v Jug Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO) Standings: 1. Recco 12, 2. Olympiacos 8, 3. Jug 4, 4. Dinamo 0 Group C (Tuesday) 18.30 FTC-Telekom (HUN) v Crvena Zvezda (SRB) 19.00 Jadran Split (CRO) v Jadran Herceg Novi (MNE) Standings: 1. FTC 12, 2. Split 6, 3. Zvezda 4, 4. Herceg Novi 2 Group D (Tuesday) 18.45 Zodiac CNA Barceloneta (ESP) v Vouliagmeni (GRE) 20.00 CN Marseille (FRA) v Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) Standings: 1. Barceloneta 12, 2. Spandau 6, 3. Marseille 6, 4. Vouliagmeni 0 Results/Stats so far Group A Astralpool Sabadell (ESP) v Steaua Bucharest (ROU)Results so far:SAB: 9-10 (pen) BRE (h), 11-8 STE (a), 12-10 NBG (a), 10-11 BRE (a)STE: 7-19 NBG (a), 8-11 SAB (h), 8-17 BRE (h), 5-12 NGB (h)Head-to-head: 1-2Day 2: 11-8. 2017-18: 9-10, 10-11 Novi Beograd (SRB) v AN Brescia (ITA)Results so far:NBG: 19-7 STE (h), 13-8 BRE (a), 10-12 SAB (h), 12-5 STE (a)BRE: 10-9 (pen) SAB (a), 8-13 NBG (h), 17-8 STE (a), 11-10 SAB (h)Head-to-head: 4-1 (1d)Day 2: 13-8. 2022-23: 9-12, 11-9. 2021-22: 11-11, 16-13 (prelims), 14-13 (semi-final) Group B Olympiakos Piraeus (GRE) v Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)Results so far:OLY: 16-15 (pen) JUG (h), 19-6 DIN (a), 11-12 REC (a), 15-5 JUG (a)DIN: 6-15 REC (a), 6-19 OLY (h), 5-12 JUG (h), 9-16 REC (h)Head-to-head: 4-1Day 2: 19-6. 2022-23: 21-9, 19-10. 2021-22: 20-9, 11-12 Pro Recco (ITA) v Jug Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO)Results so far:REC: 15-6 DIN (h), 14-7 JUG (a), 12-11 OLY (h), 16-9 DIN (a)JUG: 15-16 (pen) OLY (a), 7-14 REC (h), 12-5 DIN (a), 5-15 OLY (h)Head-to-head (since 2014): 8-3 (1d)Day 2: 14-7. 2021-22: 8-11, 10-0 (wo). 2020-21: 18-3, 12-11. 2017-18: 9-8 (semi-final). 2016-17: 9-5, 11-8 (prelims), 9-10 (semi-final). 2015-16: 14-6, 5-5 (prel), 14-15 (pen, semi-final) Group C FTC-Telekom (HUN) v Crvena Zvezda (SRB)Results so far:CRV: 13-16 JSP (a), 6-16 FTC (h), 20-21 (pen) JHN (a), 12-11 JSP (h)FTC: 9-7 JHN (h), 16-6 CRV (a), 13-11 JSP (h), 17-10 JHN (a)Head-to-head: 3-0Day 2: 16-6. 2018-19: 15-6, 19-7 Jadran Split (CRO) Jadran Herceg Novi (MNE)Results so far:JHN: 7-9 FTC (a), 10-11 JSP (h), 21-20 (pen) CRV (h), 10-17 v FTC (h)JSP: 16-13 CRV (h), 11-10 JHN (a), 11-13 FTC (a), 11-12 v CRV (a)Head-to-head: 1-2Day 2: 11-10. 2019-20: 11-14, 6-12 Group DZodiac CNA Barceloneta (ESP) Vouliagmeni (GRE)Results so far:VOU: 13-15 MAR (a), 11-12 BAR (h), 13-14 SPA (a), 9-12 MAR (h)BAR: 16-6 SPA (h), 12-11 VOU (a), 9-7 MAR (h), 13-6 SPA (a)Head-to-head: 4-0Day 2: 12-11. 2022-23: 11-7, 13-6 (prelims), 14-13 (pen, bronze medal) CN Marseille (FRA) Spandau 04 Berlin (GER)Results so far:MAR: 15-13 v VOU (h), 10-13 v SPA (a), 7-9 v BAR (a), 12-9 VOU (a)SPA: 6-16 v BAR (a), 13-10 v MAR (h), 14-13 v VOU (h), 6-13 BAR (h)Head-to-head: 4-2 (1d)Day 2: 10-13. 2022-23: 9-11,

Recco was the third team to advance to the quarter-finals after an easy win in Tbilisi. Olympiacos took a huge step to follow the Italians as the Greek champions hammered Jug by 10 goals, the worst-ever home defeat for the Croats on the European stage. Brescia won a thriller against Sabadell, while Novi Beograd regained the top spot in Group A. Group A: Steaua Bucharest (ROU) v VK Novi Beograd (SRB) 5-12, AN Brescia (ITA) v Astralpool CN Sabadell (ESP) 11-10 Standings: 1. NBG 9, 2. Brescia 8, 3. Sabadell 7, 3. Steaua 0 Group B: Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) v Pro Recco (ITA) 9-16, Jug Adriatic Osiguranje (CRO) v Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) 5-15 Standings: 1. Recco 12, 2. Olympiacos 8, 3. Jug 4, 4. Dinamo 0 Forcing Brescia to a shootout on the opening day and a stunning win in Belgrade over NBG made Sabadell a serious contender for the quarters, though the other two had been considered outstanding favourites in Group A before the start. And the Spaniards almost did it again, as at 8-8 early in the third quarter they were giving the hosts a tough time in Brescia. Then the Italians caught a wave, hit three goals and killed three man-downs, including a six on four. With 1:43 to go in the third, Brescia seemed to have the game under control at 11-8, even though Sabadell pulled one back soon. Then in the fourth, the home side’s offence vanished. The Spaniards pushed hard, saving a penalty, then burying one themselves with 4:01 minutes remaining to climb back to 11-10. Sabadell then had a six on five to level the score, but the Italians hunted down the last pass, then Brescia missed their own powerplay to set up a thrilling endgame. Sabadell went for seven on six in its last possession and Francisco Valera’s ball found its way to the net from the perimeter with 0:02 on the clock, however, a turnover call on a 2m violation annulled the goal which would have sent the match to a shootout, just like on Day 1. Novi Beograd bounced back from its shocking 10-12 defeat to Sabadell on Day 3, at the expense of Steaua. Apart from a minor drop in their playing level in the second period, which saw no goals, the Serbs were dominating right from the first quarter. Though the Romanians took the lead after just 22 seconds, their next goal came 16:07 minutes later, when NBG was already 1-5 up. Last season’s runners-up further expanded the gap to claim the must-win match with ease, and now face only tougher challenges in the remaining two rounds. The big game of the day – Jug versus Olympiacos – didn’t offer the same thrills as on Day 1, when the Greeks had to come back from 3-8 down to beat Jug in the shootout. This time, Olympiacos didn’t let the Croats into the game. Taking an early lead, they shut out the hosts for 12:08 minutes while building a massive 2-6 advantage which was never given away. What’s more, the Greeks’ powerful finish to the match was devastating, as they added six more goals after 5-9 in the last period to hand Jug its worst-ever home defeat on the European stage. Recco had no headaches in Tbilisi. Despite a sluggish start, with the first quarter ending 2-2, three unanswered goals after 3-3 put the title-holders on the expected track. Thankfully for Dinamo, the Italians weren’t in their usual lethal mood, as the hosts were able to fight back in a few brief spells, but ultimately a 0-5 rush by Recco after 5-7 put the game into bed. This win also sealed Recco’s ticket to the quarter-finals.