May 2025

VK Novi Beograd (SRB) 10-10 (5-4P) Zodiac CNAB (ESP) Zivko Gocic, coach, NBG “Indeed, we had to win this match twice. I cannot really recall any game where the referee did a similar call in a similar situation [in the last seconds against Milos Cuk, which led to CNAB’s equaliser], but anyway – what matters is the win. Again, just like in the whole season, it was a great team effort. My players never stopped believing and fought in every moment of the match. This is the only way this team can win matches in the Champions League, and we proved our quality again.” Angelos Vlahopoulos, player, NBG “I’m really proud of our team, we used our chances really well and did some really great defending. Most of our young players don’t have the experience to play at this level, to play a semi-final in the Final Four. That’s why this win is even more valuable, as they all grew up to the occasion. This is a great success, to be in the final for the third time.” Elvis Fatovic, coach, CNAB “First of all, congratulations to Novi Beograd, they deserved this win. We haven’t played at the level we wanted, and that we are able to. We missed too many man-ups during the match, this was the key. We are disappointed, obviously, we came here for a better result, but in the Final Four you need a better performance at this level.” Gergo Burian, player, CNAB “We spent two weeks preparing for this match, mapping out Novi’s weak points. We did a lot of video sessions – but now we made loads of mistakes and this makes it impossible to win a match like this. We had some better moments, when we took the lead, but again we started missing man-ups when we could have led by two or more goals. We had our chances but hurried our shots perhaps. I think, all in all, our defence worked well, we lost because of our errors in offence. We had way too many, that’s why we couldn’t win this game.” FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) 14-11 CN Marseille (FRA) Balazs Nyeki, coach, FTC “It was a great game, a great effort from Marseille whom we really respect as they showed their quality once more. This is the Champions League Final Four, you will never have easy matches here. Even if we led by four goals, I knew it would not be over, as Marseille really have the potential. Also, we committed more mistakes than acceptable at this level, mainly in the third period and at the beginning of the fourth. But my team proved their quality once more, as we could add that extra gear to stage a great finish and win the match by three at the end. I’m proud of my players, they kept their calm and focus in the most crucial moments, just like they did in the league final, and this was the key to win another match when the stakes were really high.” Stylianos Argyropoulos, player, FTC “It was a great game and difficult as well, which is usual for the Final Four. The pressure was already on us before the match and once we led by four goals thanks to our great start, this pressure kind of grew as we were supposed to maintain this level. At the same time, Marseille had nothing to lose, so they could play without any pressure, while we started to make mistakes which also helped them to come back. But we are a great team, we could really add that extra gear even at the end of the match. Now we are in the final again and I’m really looking for playing for the title on Sunday.” Milos Scepanovic, coach, Marseille “Congratulations to Ferencvaros, they proved again why they are the best team in the world. We tried to give our best, but we didn’t start the match the way we wanted. And it’s really energy consuming when you chase a rival once you go four goals down – especially when the rival is Ferencvaros. We could equalise but we lost a couple of players with three fouls, and we didn’t have the necessary energy to keep up with them in the finish. I think we did our best today, but the reality is that Ferencvaros are the better team, and they deserved this win.” Andrija Prlainovic, player, Marseille “Our bad start had an impact on the rest of the match. We fought hard, we came back but we lost two players with three fouls, like [Alessandro] Velotto, who was out already in the third period. We don’t have such a rotation as Ferencvaros, so we really need every key player to keep a certain level in our game. Losing one player in a game like this already affects our play, so losing another one is too much. I’m sorry we couldn’t achieve more tonight. We showed why we are here, but we met the best team of Europe, and they also showed their quality when it really mattered.” Watch all the Champions League Men Final Four action live on www.euroaquaticstv.com and stay up-to-date with live results/tables and real-time updates through the European Aquatics App. Download it here: Google Play. Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

FTC-Telekom Waterpolo have reached their fourth final in the last six editions, while this is going to be VK Novi Beograd’s third final in four years. Still, however frequently these two greats have made the gold medal match, Sunday will be their first title bout. Elsewhere, the bronze will either go to Zodiac CNAB or CN Marseille. Champions League MenFinal Four, FinalsSunday, 1 June 2025(Local times shown) 19:30: Bronze Medal GameZodiac CNAB (ESP) v CN Marseille (FRA)21:30: Gold Medal GameVK Novi Beograd (SRB) v FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) Sunday’s final match in Malta between the Hungarian and Serbian giants is not only about the coronation of their respective seasons, as both teams are looking to achieve historical feats. Ferencvaros are aiming to become the first Hungarian team to retain the Champions League crown – Magyar clubs have clinched the most prestigious trophy nine times in the past, but no side has managed to repeat the victory the following year. At the same time, Novi Beograd are hoping for a case of third-time lucky, as they lost their previous two gold medal matches. Recco’s mighty team beat them on both occasions, in NBG’s pool in Belgrade. The Serbs were close in the first, then lost in the shootout in 2022, while Recco blew them away a year later. Still, the challenge ahead of Zivko Gocic’s team is no smaller, as once more, just like in 2022 and 2023, they have to face the title-holders and this time they play away from home. Last season, NBG also clashed with Fradi here, in the semis, and they could gain some confidence from that match as they managed to force a shootout against the Hungarians, while surviving a four-minute man-down due to Filip Filipovic’s ejection in the second half. It is interesting to see how Novi fought themselves back to the ultimate match of the season, despite losing many of their key players last summer. Some called it a day, some joined arch-rivals Radnicki, still, NBG’s young aces grew up quickly and only lost one single Champions League match in the entire season. In the Champions League, they posted the same win-loss ratio as Ferencvaros, 12-1, which really shows the strong character of the team. However, few would say Fradi are not the overwhelming favourites to win the final. They remained steady in the entire season – while NBG had some ups and downs, and fell in the league final to Radnicki, while Fradi never lost a high-stakes match. Their only defeat came in Barcelona on Day 4 in the Champions League Quarter Final Stage, in a shootout, and their mind-blowing overall win/loss tally stands at 47-1. This means that in 48 matches they didn’t lose in regular time, so the Serbs will need to be on the very top of their game to spoil that run. Some may call Novi Beograd’s shootout win over Barceloneta an upset, but at the end of the day, the two Quarter Final Stage group-winners reached the final, just like last season. The runners-up, CNAB and Marseille, have had to settle for playing the bronze medal. Indeed, this is nothing new to the Spaniards, as it appears they suffer from some kind of semi-final curse. They have reached the top-four eight times since 2013, but lost seven of their semis. Consequently, this is going to be their seventh consolation game, and their record stands at 4-2 in their previous six. For Marseille, a bronze would mean the world perhaps, as this is their first appearance in the Final Four and a medal would definitely be the cherry on top of their cake – a great finish to cap their historical run. However, it’s going to be a huge challenge, as the Spaniards upended them twice in the Group Stage. Head-to-heads Final Novi Beograd (SRB) v FTC-Telekom (HUN) 1-4 2023-24 (semi-final): 13-13, pen: 4-5. 2022-23: 12-14, 14-13. 2021-22: 10-11, 11-14 Bronze medal match Zodiac CNAB (ESP) v CN Marseille (FRA) 5-1 Group Stage: 12-9, 19-14. 2022-23: 9-7, 13-12. 2012-13: 15-4, 10-11 Watch all the Champions League Men Final Four action live on www.euroaquaticstv.com and stay up-to-date with live results/tables and real-time updates through the European Aquatics App. Download it here: Google Play. Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

Hungarian giants FTC Telekom Waterpolo’s grip on the Champions League trophy remains firmly intact, as they started and finished strongly against CN Marseille to book their place in a second successive final. The French fought back to level at 10-10 in the fourth, but FTC stepped up another gear to claim the win. Earlier, unlike last year, when Novi Beograd lost the shootout to Ferencvaros in the semis, the Serbs edged out Zodiac CNAB on penalties to advance to the Champions League final for the third time in four years. The endgame couldn’t have been any more dramatic, but the Serbs buried all their five shots. Champions League MenFinal Four, Semi-FinalsFriday, 30 May 2025 VK Novi Beograd (SRB) 10-10 (5-4P) Zodiac CNAB (ESP)FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) 14-11 CN Marseille (FRA) Final Four, FinalsSunday, 1 June 2025(Local times shown) 19:30: Bronze Medal GameZodiac CNAB (ESP) v CN Marseille (FRA)21:30: Gold Medal GameVK Novi Beograd (SRB) v FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) In Friday’s second semi-final in Malta, title-holders Fradi took a monstrous start, as in less than five minutes, Stylianos Argyropoulos hit a man-up, Dusan Mandic came up with a trademark 6m blast and Vendel Vigvari sent the ball home in a dying six on five for 3-0. Marseille were unable to make any of their six on fives – they had three, but FTC goalkeeper Soma Vogel and his defenders did a splendid job. Then Andrija Prlainovic used all his experience to halt this fall and put the French on the scoreboard from their fourth man-up after six minutes. However, Ferencvaros’ cannons carried on shooting, as Marton Vamos buried their next six on five and a crucial block denied Marseille in their next man-up. At the other end, Krisztian Manhercz’s pinpoint shot also ended up behind Petar Tesanovic in the Marseille net. Prlainovic kept his side above the water as he also sent the ball home from an extra with 1.9 seconds on the clock, but the first eight minutes belonged to the title-holders who led 5-2. The first four minutes of the second quarter were somewhat balanced, as Fradi missed their first extra while Michael Bodegas scored from close. However, Edoardo di Somma quickly blasted one from action and the Hungarians killed Marseille’s next two man-ups, the third thanks to a turnover. Then Thomas Vernoux sent a rocket from the perimeter, as he enjoyed some free space and since Tesanovic started to ‘meet’ the balls, Marseille had a chance to come closer. Still, another turnover ruined their next six on five – and Adam Nagy also halted their momentum with another action blast from 7m for 7-4. With 38 seconds remaining, the French could have had a shot to cut the gap to two – instead, another turnover and a counter, finished off by Szilard Jansik from Nagy’s incredibly smart assist, made it 8-4 at half-time. It could have more early in the third, but Fradi wasted two six on fives, while Romain Marion-Vernoux scored a fine one from extra. The French couldn’t build on that, and even though FTC weren’t that fierce either, when the pressure mounted, Argyropoulos put their man-up away for 9-5 deep into the third. Bodegas netted one from the centre to keep Marseille in the game, what’s more, Ugo Crousillat cut the gap to two with 1:45 remaining. Fradi looked a bit unbalanced, but experience and another man-up saved them as Marton Vamos decided he had seen enough from the slow passing and made it 10-7 with 32 seconds on the clock. However, this time the French came back to two at 10-8, as nothing could stop Vernoux’s rocket with 0:04 remaining. Scoring four in the third showed that the French were on the comeback trail – and they had eight minutes to create a miracle. Prlainovic opened the final quarter with a fine blast from the perimeter – beating Vogel, who wasn’t on top of his game – and soon Marseille had a man-up to come back to even. It was on the edge, but Bodegas pushed the ball in from close and with 6:14 on the clock, Marseille were level at 10-10. Again, Mandic graced the scene to save the day for Fradi, and it was an incredible shot from 8m in a dying six on five that put them back in front. Luck was also on Fradi’s side when a rebound fell into Erik Molnar’s hand after Tesanovic’s stop in a man-down and he reset the two-goal gap at 12-10 with 4:35 remaining. The French had the next bit of good fortune, as after Vogel’s big save, Vernoux was gifted a second attempt and he took it. Still, FTC also showed some class while setting up Miguel de Toro in a six on five for 13-11. The Magyars, defending well once more, managed to burn some time with two shots saved to corners at the other end. Then they forced a man-up and Nagy finished it off to make it 14-11 with 1:29 remaining. It left no way back for the French, and Vogel could finally deny Vernoux twice and that ended the contest. The title-holders cruised to the final with a great 4-1 run after 10-10 and are now looking to make history on Sunday night by becoming the first Hungarian side to retain the Champions League crown. Earlier, in the first semi-final, VK Novi Beograd got off to a flying start, as in a span of a minute they had stormed into a 2-0 lead – thanks to a patiently-played man-up, put away by Vasilije Martinovic, followed by a quick counter, finished off by Luka Gladovic. Between the two, a pass in a Zodiac CNAB man-up landed outside the field, showing they were yet to settle into the match. They failed to take advantage of their second six on five as well, as Milan Glusac stopped Bernat Sanahuja’s late shot, and only back-to-back saves from Unai Aguirre prevented NBG from expanding the gap. Then, after 5:18 minutes, the Spaniards

Teams • FTC-Telekom (HUN) Titles: 2 (2019, 2024)Last season: winnerF8/6/4 appearances: 5 (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)Semi-finals: 3 wins (2019, 2021, 2024), 1 loss (2022)This season (CL): 11-1At home: won the league and the national cup •VK Novi Beograd (SRB) Titles: 0Last season: 4th in the Final FourF8/6/4 appearances: 3 (2022, 2023, 2024)Semi-finals: 2 wins (2022, 2023), 1 loss (2024)This season (CL): 11-1At home: runners-up in the league, won the national cup • Zodiac CNAB (ESP) Titles: 1 (2014)Last season: 3rd in the Quarter-final StageF8/6/4 appearances: 8 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023)Semi-finals: 1 win (2014), 6 losses (2013, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023)This season (CL): 11-1At home: won the league and the national cup CN Marseille (FRA) Titles: 0Last season: 3rd in the Quarter-final StageF8/6/4 appearances: 2 (2021, 2022)Semi-finals: never reachedThis season (CL): 7-5At home: won the league and the national cup Semi-finals – Head-to-head • Novi Beograd v Barceloneta 2-0 (1 draw)2022-23: semi-final – 8-8, pen: 4-2. 2021-22: 12-12, 11-9 • Ferencvaros v Marseille 3-1CL: 2019: 13-7. 2020-21: quarter-final: 14-6. 2022-23: 9-8, 7-13Other: 2019 Super Cup Final (in Marseille): 14-11 General • Ferencvaros are looking to become the first Hungarian team ever to defend the Champions League title. Hungarian teams lifted the trophy nine times in the past, but were unable to retain their respective titles the following season. • Three of the four teams have reached the gold medal match in the past and two of them have lifted the trophy. Ferencvaros advanced to the final three times (2019, 2021, 2024) and won twice (2019, 2024). Barceloneta had one shot at the title and made it (in 2014). Novi Beograd played two finals (2022 and 2023) and lost both. However, FTC are the only team which could achieve this feat away from home. Barceloneta and NBG both made the final while playing on home soil – one of them shall break that tradition on Friday. In contrast, this is Marseille’s first-ever appearance in the semis. • Among the players, Marseille’s Andrija Prlainovic is hoping to lift the trophy for a 6th time in his illustrious career. The two-time Olympic champion Serbian ace achieved the unique feat of winning the Champions League with four different clubs, a record till date. Between 2011 and 2017, he was almost synonimous with victory in the CL: whichever team he played for, they ended up on top 5 times in 7 seasons: Partizan in 2011, Recco in 2012, Crvena Zvezda in 2013, Recco in 2015 and Szolnok in 2017. Should he win with Marseille, he would join the exclusive club of six-time winners, featuring Djordje Perisic (YUG/SRB all with Partizan) and Maurizio Felugo (ITA all with Recco) so far. • There are two more players in Malta who had three titles with three clubs. Felipe Perrone won the CL with Recco in 2012, with Barceloneta in 2014 and with Jug in 2016. Dusan Mandic did the same, with Partizan in 2012, with Recco in 2021 and with Ferencvaros in 2024. Mandic also holds a record in the current field as besides the three victories, he played Champions League finals three more times, with Primorac Kotor in 2010, with Recco in 2018, and with NBG in 2022. • There are three former Finals’ MVPs in Malta for this F4 – not surprisingly the three greats mentioned before: Perrone (2015, 2016), Mandic (2021, 2024) and Prlainovic (2017). • Previous top scorers are also with us for this edition – Perrone (2013, 2017), Alvaro Granados (2023, 2024) and Angelos Vlachopoulos (2022). For this year, Fradi’s Stylianos Argyropoulos is ranked first before the finals. • As for the coaches, it’s Hungary vs the former Yugoslavia. Ferencvaros is coached by Balazs Nyeki, while Serbia’s Zivko Gocic is in charge of Novi Beograd, Croatia’s Elvis Fatovic leads CNAB and Montenegro’s Milos Scepanovic is the boss in Marseille. • All four teams are a great mix of outstanding local players and classy foreigners. Besides Fradi, we have Hungarians in CNAB (Vince Vigvari and Gergo Burian) and in Marseille (Daniel Angyal). Besides NBG, we have Serbians in Fradi (Dusan Mandic) and in Marseille (Andrija Prlainovic). Besides CNAB, we have Spanish in Fradi (Miguel del Toro) and in Marseille (Marc Larumbe). Further nations keeping their eyes on their players: Italians: Edoardo di Somma (FTC), Alessandro Velotto (Marseille), Francesco de Michelis (ITA) Greeks: Stylianos Argyropoulos (FTC), Angelos Vlachopoulos and Dimitrios Skoumpakis (NBG) Montenegrins: Petar Tesanovic and Vladan Spaic (Marseille), Djuro Radovic and Miroslav Perkovic (NBG) Netherlands: Bilal Gbadamassi (NBG) Watch all the Champions League Men Final Four action live on www.euroaquaticstv.com and stay up-to-date with live results/tables and real-time updates through the European Aquatics App. Download it here: Google Play. Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

In Malta, the stage is set for another thrilling edition of the men’s Champions League Final Four. Hungary’s FTC Telekom Waterpolo, Serbia’s VK Novi Beograd, Spain’s Zodiac CNAB and France’s CN Marseille are ready to battle for the ultimate prize this weekend. Champions League MenFinal Four, Semi-FinalsFriday, 30 May 2025(Local times shown) 19:30: VK Novi Beograd (SRB) v Zodiac CNAB (ESP)21:30: FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) v CN Marseille (FRA) Final Four, FinalsSunday, 1 June 2025 19:30: Bronze Medal Game21:30: Gold Medal GameThe opening press conference for the men’s Champions League Final Four was held in a unique and special place – as it would be hard to find somewhere with a more picturesque setting than the old harbour in Malta. It’s all about history spanning across centuries – and now the four remaining teams are all about adding a great chapter to the history of their respective clubs as well. Title-holders Ferencvaros and Novi Beograd, who finished fourth last year, already have experience of playing in Malta. Zodiac CNAB, the 2014 champions, return to the big stage after being absent last year, while for Marseille, this is going to be their first appearance in the top four. The semi-finals on Friday promise outstanding clashes. In the first match, Novi Beograd take on Marseille. The Serbs are the only team in the field who couldn’t win their national league – Euro Cup runners-up Radnicki edged them out in the final – still, their side have some great experience on the European stage. Indeed, this is their fourth consecutive appearance in the finals, and they made the semis in their previous three visits (just like this time) – a unique feat among the participants in Malta. What they have been missing so far is the trophy, as they lost back-to-back finals in their home pool in 2022 and 2023, to Pro Recco. Barceloneta are back in business after last season’s painful failure when they came unstuck in the quarter-finals. The Spaniards are no newcomers to the grand stage, though. They have missed the finals only twice (2017 and 2022) in the last 11 seasons and missed the top four on two more occasions (in 2016 and in 2021). Still, CNAB’s semi-final performances are less impressive, as they have played seven, but won only one, in 2014, on home soil, when they lifted the trophy at the end. In the second semi, title-holders Ferencvaros clash with newcomers CN Marseille. The Hungarians are having another formidable season. After finishing 40-1 last year, they are 46-1 coming here. Unlike in 2024, when they had had a straight loss (in Piraeus to Olympiacos), this spring their only defeat came in a shootout (away against Barceloneta), so they are yet to lose a match in regular time this season. In Hungary, while staging a 3-0 rally in the league finals against Vasas, they’ve just completed a 100-match unbeaten run versus their local rivals in the domestic competitions. In the Champions League, they posted an 11-1 win-loss ratio and nine of those victories were by seven goals or more. However, they have to recall that a year ago they could only oust NBG in a shootout in the semis and edge out Recco by a single goal in the final – so the Final Four is not the event where winners enjoy easy cruises. Also, Fradi need to overcome the Magyar clubs’ historical curse – Hungarian teams lifted the trophy nine times in the past, but neither of them could retain their respective titles. Marseille don’t have any similar pressure. The French team, a fine blend of local players and renowned international stars, have enjoyed their best-ever run on the European stage so far. They reached the F8 on back-to-back occasions in 2021 and 2022, but could never pass through the quarters. Now they managed to qualify for the F4 for the first time – at the expense of Greek giants Olympiacos – and they have their eye on something much bigger than just getting here and enjoying the atmosphere. What they really need is proof they can play at a really high level on the road, too. While they were 5-1 at home this season in the Champions League, they could win only twice in their six away matches. Opening Press Conference Highlights Kyriakos Giannopoulos, Vice-President, European Aquatics “On behalf of European Aquatics, it is my pleasure to welcome you all here to our top water polo event of this year, the Champions League Final Four. We are delighted to return to Malta, this magnificent pearl of the Mediterranean, where people really love water polo. “We have the four best clubs here who showed great performances throughout the whole season. In association with the organisers in Malta, we are also doing our best to create a great showcase of water polo and to stage another memorable edition of the Champions League Final Four. “Let me thank the Government of Malta, the Ministry of Sport, Sport Malta and the ASA of Malta for their fantastic support and I’m convinced we will enjoy another fantastic water polo spectacle here.” Clifton Grima, Minister for Sports in Malta “We are very proud to host this event with the four best teams competing for the ultimate prize. It is also a pleasure to welcome all of you here, in the most beautiful harbour in the world, a perfect place to promote this great event. Our aim is to invest more and more in sport and hosting such top competitions leads us to have a true and proper legacy for our sporting community.” Karl Izzo, President, ASA of Malta “Not long ago, we had only a couple of coffees with the Minister and we reached the agreement to bring this event to Malta. And Mr Grima said, not only for one year but for three years. Now here we are, in the second year, and after having the press conference in a hotel a year ago, now we are here, in a

The excitement levels are growing as we are getting closer to the pinnacle of the water polo club season, the Champions League Final Four. Once again, the stunning and picturesque island of Malta will welcome the top four clubs and, as usual, the weekend will offer four thrilling matches and much more. Champions League MenFinal Four, Semi-FinalsFriday, 30 May 2025(Local times shown) 19:30: VK Novi Beograd (SRB) v Zodiac CNAB (ESP)21:30: FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) v CN Marseille (FRA) Water polo fans are about to set their eyes on Malta – Europe’s water polo paradise, where the Champions League Final Four shall take place for the second time. From 30 May to 1 June, title-holders FTC-Telekom, 2014 champions Zodiac CNAB, two-times runners-up Novi Beograd and newcomers CN Marseille will play for the most prestigious trophy in club water polo. The pearl of the Mediterranean, Malta is a top tourist destination any time of the year – and now a site where four elite teams and their respective players will land next week, eyeing the Champions League trophy and thinking they are perhaps destined to lift it on Sunday evening. In association with VisitMalta, the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta will once more create a perfect environment for the participants, players, coaches, officials and fans. As European Aquatics President Antonio Silva put it in his welcome notes, ‘European Aquatics is extremely grateful to the Government of Malta, especially Mr. Clifton Grima, Maltese Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, Sports Malta, CEO Mr. Mark Cutajar and mostly to the president of the ASA of Malta; Mr. Karl Izzo, for once again hosting this tournament on their magnificent island. ‘The ASA of Malta has been a trusted partner of European Aquatics for many years and has established a tradition of consistently delivering exceptional and memorable water polo events. ‘Our fantastic hosts will once more excel, by creating an amazing atmosphere and environment for all the players, officials, fans, and the media alike.’ First Vice-President Josip Varvodic praised the efforts of the water polo family. ‘As we prepare for the grand conclusion of another remarkable season of Champions League water polo, I’m sure you’ll join me in feeling a sense of great pride and satisfaction with all that we’ve witnessed over the past 12 months. ‘The passion, skill, and dedication displayed by the teams, coaches and players across the continent has been nothing short of inspiring, leaving us with sensational moments that will be remembered for years to come. ‘The European Aquatics Bureau, alongside the devoted members of the European Aquatics TWPC, is constantly looking for ways to elevate water polo to its highest potential, and to ensure the best possible experience for players and fans alike.’ This year’s edition shall be a special one as the event is going to be the highlight of the centennial celebrations at ASA Malta. ‘2025 marks the Aquatic Sports Association’s 100 years since its foundation and I could think of no better way to mark this milestone than by successfully bidding to host the European Aquatics Water Polo Champions League Final 4 event in Malta for three consecutive years – 2024-2026,’ President Karl Izzo said. ‘It is indeed an ambitious project for us, being one of the European Aquatics’ smallest but proudest members, and a testimony of the European Aquatics’ vision of entrusting such events to non-conventional traditional venues.’ Again, the world-class Tal-Qroqq Sports Complex will be the venue for the Final Four. The schedule for the semi-finals has already been confirmed for 30 May. First, Novi Beograd and Barceloneta will face-off from 19.30, followed by the clash of Ferencvaros and Marseille, kicking off at 21.00. Two days later, the bronze medal match and final will be staged in the same time-frame. For the clubs, 31 May is a rest day, but it will still offer plenty of action. The traditional meeting to discuss the competitions’ details for the upcoming 2025-2026 season, involving the National Federations’ and clubs’ representatives, will be held in the morning, while in the afternoon, the SportMalta Centenary Super Cup Final will take place in the pool. Watch all the Champions League Men Final Four action live on www.euroaquaticstv.com and stay up-to-date with live results/tables and real-time updates through the European Aquatics App. Download it here: Google Play. Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

1. With the completion of the Quarter Final Stage, the semi-finals are set for the Final Four in Malta. On Friday 30 May, Novi Beograd will clash with Zodiac CNAB from 19.30, while FTC-Telekom face CN Marseille from 21.00 on the picturesque Mediterranean island. The two group winners, Ferencvaros and Novi Beograd have experience of playing in the iconic Tal-Qroqq Sports Complex in Gzira, as they were both part of the show last season. For Barceloneta and Marseille, this is going to be their first Champions League tour to Malta – though not the first occasion to play the finals. Well, for Marseille, it can still be considered a debut, as this is the first time they managed to reach the top four. This is going to be the sixth straight appearance for Ferencvaros, whose players lifted the trophy last year and right away upon their first try in 2019. Barceloneta missed the cut a year ago, now they are back and playing in the finals (F4, F6 or F8) for the ninth time in the last 11 editions (they won in 2014). Novi Beograd have also been a constant feature since 2022, as after playing back-to-back finals in 2022 and 2023, they finished fourth in 2024. Marseille have made the F8 twice before, in 2021 and 2022, but were unable to survive the quarters. 2. Title-holders Ferencvaros came up with another strong performance in the last round of games in the Quarter Final Stage, a 20-10 blast against Oradea, to maintain their perfect home record. Sabadell were the last team to beat them in Budapest in 2023 in the last round of the Group Stage. Since then, Fradi have won all 12 Champions League matches they’ve played at home. And a lot more indeed – their win-loss count stands at 45-1 this season. If you add their total from the previous one: 46-1, they are 91-2 combined so far – stats that make it clear why the Hungarians are considered the overwhelming favourites in Malta. Beating Oradea was a little like a walk in the park, and how the match started underlined why this side is a real superpower. Here is the list of players who netted Fradi’s first four goals: Erik Molnar, Zoltan Pohl, Zsombor Vismeg and Vince Varga. Definitely not the household names for FTC. Even in a game like this, usually the top scorers kick off the party and once the lead is substantial, those players also add a couple of goals. Those names tend to do the bulk of defending, making space for the master shooters, and so on. Still, in this match, these players put Fradi on the right track, then entered the stars like Stylianos Argyropoulos, who hit three and is on his way to becoming the top scorer for this season. 3. Zodiac CNAB also did a clean job in Group B – the 17-10 trouncing of Savona was another spectacular win for the Spaniards. They are now on a five-game winning streak after losing the opener to Fradi in the Quarter Final Stage. Indeed, they are also 11-1 combined in the Champions League (Group Stage and Quarter Final Stage), just like the Hungarians. And so far, they are the only ones who could beat FTC across all competitions, even if only in a shootout. It was a flawless performance against the Italians – and the result also marked the end of an era… With Recco skipping the top competition and Brescia falling in the qualifications, Savona remained Italy’s only hope, but they just barely survived the Group Stage and never had a realistic chance to qualify for the Final Four. So, 2025 will mark the first year since 2013 when the finals will begin with no Italian team on the grand stage. Indeed, since the Champions League format took shape, replacing the home-and-away duels in 1997, Italian sides were missing from the finals only in 2000, 2004 and in 2013, for obvious reasons, when they did not enter the competition. This year marks the very first time when an Italian club was fighting for the ultimate prize, but couldn’t make the cut. 4. Obviously, Olympiacos’ water polo teams wanted to contribute to their club’s 100th anniversary celebrations with much better results. The women got the bronze in the Final Four at least – but the men’s campaign was derailed completely in the quarters. Still, they wanted to restore some pride and offer some consolation to their fans, and showed strength and quality against Marseille to land a great 12-8 win on day six of the quarters. We’ll never know how this game may have unfolded if the Greeks had had a chance to advance – indeed, they managed to lead 12-7 late in the match before conceding a late goal from a penalty (after having lost 7-12 in Marseille). Had it been a different scenario, the results against each other may have really mattered… Marseille were still the happier side at the end, even if they dropped to second place in Group A. From their perspective, making the Final Four is already a tremendous feat, perhaps even surpassing their previous top achievement – their 2019 Euro Cup triumph. And even if they are set to play with title-holders Ferencvaros in the semis, a game against Barceloneta wouldn’t have looked any easier either. 5. For understandable reasons, Jadran Split let the last match go, as the Croats were focusing on their league final (vs Mladost Zagreb) and rested their top players. Well, they were already heading towards the exit after losing their first three games, and their Piraeus heroics were short-lived. Fielding youngsters paved the way for Novi Beograd to clinch an easy win – and it also put the Serbs back on top of Group A, as Marseille’s four-game winning streak came to end in Piraeus. Credit goes to NBG, as they are no longer the formidable team that lined up most of the Serbian aces – who were Olympic

Title-holders Ferencvaros enjoyed an easy cruise against Oradea to finish top of Group B and will face Marseille in the semi-finals of the Final Four in Malta. The French fell in Piraeus to eliminated Olympiacos, as the Greeks restored some much-needed pride by ending Marseille’s four-match winning streak with a fine victory. The result allowed Novi Beograd to regain the top spot in Group A, as the Serbs beat Jadran in Split without any headaches. In the semis, the Serbs will meet Barceloneta, who delivered an expected big win over Savona on the final day of the Quarter Final Stage on Wednesday night. Champions League MenQuarter Final StageDay Six, Wednesday 15th 2025 Group A VK Jadran Split (CRO) 7-15 VK Novi Beograd (SRB)Olympiacos SFP (GRE) 12-8 CN Marseille (FRA) Standings: 1. Novi Beograd 15pts, 2. Marseille 12pts, 3. Olympiacos 7pts, 4. Jadran Split 2pts Group B FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) 20-10 CSM Oradea (ROU)Zodiac CNAB (ESP) 17-10 RN Savona (ITA) Standings: 1. FTC 16pts, 2. Zodiac CNAB 14pts, 3. Savona 6pts, 4. Oradea 0pts Champions League MenFinal Four, Semi-FinalsFriday 30th May FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) v CN Marseille (FRA)Zodiac CNAB (ESP) v VK Novi Beograd (SRB) Olympiacos ended their Champions League campaign on a high note, with a convincing win against Marseille. However, it was a mere consolation for the Greeks, who had lost their previous four games and consequently were already heading to the exit before this last round. The result also dropped the French to second place in Group A, so they now have the daunting task of facing the title-holders FTC in the semis in Malta. Hosts Olympiacos got off to a flying start in their final game, and several fine finishes from man-ups earned them a 4-1 lead after eight minutes. Though the second period saw one goal apiece, it was still a crucial phase for Olympiacos, as they managed to kill five of Marseille’s six man-ups. The French side were relentless in attack, demonstrating how keen they were to take the top spot, but they couldn’t outplay the Greek’s disciplined defence. The third period was a sharp contrast to the first half, as both defences could no longer withhold the powerful forward play. It was an eight-goal blast, four apiece, but Olympiacos never lost control of their lead. At 9-4, they seemed to have it, but the French giants pulled two back with great action goals from Thomas Vernoux and Vladan Spaic, and Vernoux added another one from a six on five for 9-7 early in the fourth. The French even had a possession to cut the deficit to one, but Emmanouil Zerdevas produced a fine save and Zalanki’s blast ended Marseille’s momentum. Indeed, it finished the visitors off, as they were unable to score for seven minutes, while Olympiacos netted two more to bag at least a home win in the Quarter Final Stage. VK Jadran Split fielded a really young team in the final game, as they rested their star players for the Croatian championship final, where they face tough rivals Mladost. In contrast, NBG didn’t risk anything and sent their best side to the battlefield. The Serbs also benefited from some weekend rest, as their opponents in the Serbian league, Radnicki, played the Euro Cup final on Saturday against Recco. Jadran’s young guns managed to keep up with the visitors for eight minutes when they trailed 3-4, but next came three Serbian hits in a row, two from fast counters, finished by Luka Gladovic. He also netted one with three seconds remaining on the clock for a 5-9 half-time lead, which put the writing on the wall for the hosts. NBG took care of business at the back in the second half, conceding only two more goals, while their attack added six more to their total. The win landed them the top spot in Group A and a thrilling semi-final match-up with Spaniards Barceloneta. FTC made no mistakes against Oradea and added three more points with ease. They never let the Romanians think they might have the tiniest chance, as a robust 5-1 start set the tone. Their rivals fought hard in the second period and trailed 9-5 with 1:39 to go until half-time, but the class of Fradi was demonstrated once more as they took just 36 seconds to add two more – with a penalty save between the two hits – to lead 11-5. The visitors, coming from a tough semi-final in their league, started running out of steam in the third as Fradi netted four more to stage a 6-0 run in total. FTC’s defence was less tight in the fourth, as Oradea netted four more – just like they had in the second period – but they couldn’t prevent Fradi from setting a new single-game scoring record in the Quarter Final Stage. The pressure on the Romanian defence was tremendous, with the number of shots on goal being 30-13, so it was Oradea’s goalies’ 10 stops that saved their team from an even heavier defeat. Also, the 20 goals Fradi scored equalled Barceloneta’s top effort in the Group Stage – a fine tuning for their Final Four appearance, which is due at the end of May. Barceloneta weren’t really hoping to reach the first place, as miracles rarely happen in water polo – but the Spaniards still played at full throttle, as they’re preparing for their domestic final and for the Final Four. Early in the second quarter, Savona managed to pull one goal back for 4-2, but the next phase of the match saw a 6-0 rush from CNAB, and after 10-2 only the winning margin was in question. It took 11 minutes for the Italians to score again, while Barceloneta led 12-5 after three periods. The Spaniards’ defence eased up in the fourth, letting Savona double the number of their goals, but it was still a powerful victory for CNAB, with just two of their outfield players failing to make the scoresheet. – Watch all

The Final Four spots may have been booked in the penultimate round of the men’s Champions League, but the semi-final line-up will be determined in the last round on Wednesday night, as all four teams can still finish top of their respective groups. Group A Wednesday 14 May 2025(CET times shown) Standings: 1. Marseille 12, 1. NBG 12, 3. Olympiacos 4, 4. Jadran 2 20.00 Olympiacos SFP (GRE) v CN Marseille (FRA) Previous results:MAR: LWWWWOLY: WLLLLHead-to-head: 2-2Day 3: 7-12. 2020-21: 8-9, 11-7, 13-12 (F8, 7-8th place) A win for Marseille would keep them in first position, which would be a fitting ending to the French side’s outstanding run this season. However, their trip to Greece is going to be a tough challenge, provided Olympiacos are looking for some consolation points after a series of disappointing performances in front of their fans. In the Champions League, the Greeks have played five home matches so far and won only one (against Sabadell, in the Group Stage). This is anything but worthy of a team which had set their eyes on the grand prize at the beginning of the season – only to lose four matches in a row in the quarters and the chance to make the finals. It’s also a sharp contrast to Marseille’s impressive march, which included a 12-7 blast on Day 3, which kind of pushed Olympiacos off the cliff. Ultimately, to finish as group winners, Marseille just need to match Novi Beograd’s performance in Split, as their results against the Serbs favour the French team (14-15, 14-9). Still, Olympiacos have the quality to deliver a knockout blow and they can play with no pressure at all. 20.00 VK Jadran Split (CRO) v VK Novi Beograd (SRB) Previous results:JAD: LLLWLNBG: WWWLWHead-to-head (CL): 0-5Day 3: 7-18. 2023-24, QF: 11-15, 10-15. 2021-22: 12-17, 7-14 Jadran are in the middle of tough domestic series at home, a big fight with Mladost in the Croatian league final, so those fixtures may have an impact on this upcoming encounter where Jadran’s fate is already decided. In view of their last home Champions League game, which ended in an embarrassing rout when Marseille blew them away (6-18), it’s hard to see them putting up a big fight against Novi Beograd. Furthermore, unlike Jadran, who played their second match with Mladost in Zagreb on Saturday, NBG enjoyed a free weekend. They are also very much part of the Serbian final, but their rivals, Radnicki, had other commitments – the first leg of the Euro Cup final with Recco – so that allowed some extra recovery time for the NBG players. When you add that Jadran have failed to beat Novi in the Champions League in five matches – that suggests another Serbian win. As stated earlier, NBG’s final ranking also depends on how Marseille’s visit to Piraeus unfolds. Group B Wednesday 14 May 2025(CET times shown) Standings: 1. FTC 13, 2. CNAB 11, 3. Savona 6, 3. Oradea 0 20.00 FTC-Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) v CSM Oradea (ROU) Previous results:FTC: WWWLWORA: LLLLLHead-to-head: 1-0Day 3: 18-7 Mathematically, FTC could lose their grip on first place, but that would require the biggest upset of the year – a regular time win by Oradea in Budapest. The title-holders are yet to lose a match in regular time this season, as their only defeat happened in the shootout in Barceloneta. Fradi’s win-loss count stands at 44-1 – and they are currently 2-0 up in the Hungarian league final against Vasas – while Oradea have had five losses in a row and none of their matches were close in the Quarter-final Round. The smallest margin was five goals, but Fradi thrashed them 18-7 in Romania. The Hungarians are the clear favourites and are likely to arrive in Malta as group winners. A year ago, they faced Novi Beograd in the semis and it’s possible that fixture is going to be repeated. 20.00 Zodiac CNAB (ESP) v RN Savona (ITA) Previous results:SAV: WLLWLCNAB: LWWWWHead-to-head: 1-0Day 3: 14-10 Barceloneta needed some great heroics from Unai Aguirre in Savona before they could stage a powerful finish to win that crucial game on Day 3. Their brilliant goalie really delivered, first of all a 28m shot to score a goal, then a penalty save in a really heated moment of the battle. That victory was instrumental in having a calm final round now. Considering the most likely outcome in Budapest, the Spaniards are most likely not thinking of the top spot. However, they have other important tasks to focus on, like winning their Spanish final against arch-rivals Sabadell and getting ready for the Final Four, so a good performance is must for them. In contrast, Savona are the only team in this round that failed to reach their domestic championship final, which may not do much for their motivation in these final days of the season. Watch all the Champions League Men action live on www.euroaquaticstv.com and stay up-to-date with live results/tables and real-time updates through the European Aquatics App. Download it here: Google Play. Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics